If you’re looking for ways to help students improve their learning and to make your classes really zing, make sure you’re incorporating lots of movement into your classroom!
Movement and exercise has been proven to improve learning retention, concentration, motivation and self-esteem. Incorporating movement into learning also reduces the inevitable feelings of stress and frustration we face when we attempt to cross the Line of Opportunity and move into the Learning and Mastery Zones.
Our Wild Brain craves rhythm and movement – in order to gain full access to the cognitive functioning of our Smart Brain, we need to make sure the Wild Brain is fed! Movement helps students relax and feel that they have a grasp on content. When we engage our bodies it can be easier to feel 'back in control' and later recall information.
Providing kinaesthetic learning opportunities where students have to stretch their bodies, not only their brains, will provide a richer and more engaging learning environment for everyone!
“Children who have an opportunity for physical activity and exercise actually learn better.” (Dr Bruce Perry)
TIPS!
Think about holding lessons outside your usual classroom or using the classroom space in new ways
Look for opportunities where students don’t sit at their usual desks
Provide group work tasks where students can move and discuss issues around learning stations
Incorporate your whole classroom environment into the learning task
Regularly incorporate Brain Breaks into your lessons
Use the Quadrants of Engagement within your classroom – regularly ask students to check-in with the progress of their learning by moving into the Zone they are in.
