Moving around

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Home : 2003 : March : 16

Moving around
By Kathy

I just came back from an Eric Jensen Workshop, "Teaching with the Brain in Mind" (Excellent by the way) and he had us as adults up and moving every few minutes. I came back convinced that students can do even better if
they are allowed structured activity.
One interesting fact I learned is that school chairs are not even designed to be sat on for long periods of time. (Which suddenly makes it clear why some children wiggle all over their chairs--they're uncomfortable!!) So I would agree with Julianne about "wiggle time."
One activity I've done with my children when I sense they need break is have

them stand up and do some type of aerobic exercise and then sit down when they think a minute is up. (I actually take the clock down and face it towards me. Tell them when to go and then watch to see who sits down right at a minute.) It's great as it gives them time to move, helps teach them "time sense, and they're all sitting down expectantly in at least 75 seconds. (What more could you ask for???)

Another thing I have them do is bring their papers up to me in some organized learning way. (For example, naming a color in Spanish and whoever is wearing that color comes up. Or doing a math fact for their table number or age.)
It's worked great for me. I'd try going with the need for movement rather than trying to stifle it.