INTEGRATED LEARNING GYM

INTEGRATED LEARNING GYM

Brain reseachers are gaining new insights into how children learn. Scientists have shown that brain development may be enhanced through movement and play. Social, physical and emotional factors contribute to "neural connectedness. These neural pathways carry signals that allw us to process information throughout our lives.Play and movement enhance cognition , motivation and memory.

Through movement we can creat new learning pathways
Movement anchors new information and experiences into neural networks.
Movement experiences play an integral part in all intellectual processes from birth to death
Brain based learning allows for greater brain growth because both sides of the brain are activated.

ESTABLISHING a "Brain Friendly" ENVIRONMENT

Set up safe environements
Promotes self confidence and love of learning
Students will remember rules and strategies of games they enjoy
The brain needs to make a connection to previous learning of a new concept before retention takes place.
Information is arranged inpatterns so its easily processed,stored and reteived.
7-9 digits is maximum, many times math and locomotor movements are based on patterns which are remembered.
The brain is attracted to novelty when multiple senses are activated. Lessons should integrate color , music , smells, different lighting, taste and touch.

A'fidget" is an object that a child can use in a classroom setting which provides an appropriate abd teacher sancytioned sensory integration stimulus( silly putty, koosh balls , rubber bands, stress balls)

The importance of water in the Classroom

Brain is over 80% water, the body is 70 % water
Within 5 minutes of water, the brain will be more energized
The stress response is lower when water is available

BRAIN BASED COMPONENTS
Cross Lateral Movement
Each brain hemisphere controls the opposide side of the body. By intentionally moving an opposite arm and leg across the midline, the brain fires off both brian hemispheres at the same time, creating and myelinating better neural connections over the corpus callosum. These movements help children coordinate not only gross motor skills , fine motor skills. coordination between upper and lower body, but also help integrate binocular vision and binaural hearing.

VISUAL TRACKING
Tracking is the ability of the eyes to effectively team together to follow an object.When there is not fluid coomunication between the brain';s hemispheres , the eyes compete for dominance in the overlap area, switching on and off.( this causes reading difficulties, word reversals and lack of integration in the vision midfield)Tracking exercises , target games and navagational activities exercise eye muscles makingthe eyes more fit to read.Watching TV screens/video games cause eye muscle atrophy due to locked(eyes) into constant distant vision.

Crossing the Midline
These are the skills necessay for easy two sided(left-right) movement across the midline of the body. This facilitates neural activation in many parts of the brain and equally in both hemishperes of the brain. The increase in blood flow makes the brain more alert and energized for learning. It integrates binocular vision, benaural hearing, and the left/right sides of the brain and body.

Lazy 8's
juggling
Cupstacking
Crossovers
Criss/cross rope walking

Vesibular( static and dynamic balance)
Develops and provides the brain with meaningful information. This motor input is put into a coherent inderstanding of the world around us. This is related to motion or position of the head in relationship to the force of gravity. This sysytem manintains both the staionary and movemnet orientations on a visual , auditory and kinesthetic level, critical for learning

twister
Loco ladder
Mini tramp
Bosu
Belgau boards
Balance beam
Therapy balls

Directionality/Laterality
Laterality is the internal sense of having two sides of the body that work separately and together. Directionality is knowing the left from the right and othe rdirectional terms.Thes econcepts enable children to place numbers in columns, align words and appropriate word spacing. This is also essential for the eyes to scan a page from left to right when READING.
EXAMPLES

Component(crossing the midline)
Academic ( Visual tracking)
Follow a pattern.Start with simple 3 cup stack and work up. Have a partner to verbalize pattterns.

Component( crossing midline, visual tracking, eye-hand coordination)
Academic ( Recite alphabet)
Recite alphabet while juggling
Count by 2's, 5's and 10's forward and backward(100-1)
Jugggle past midline( 2 scarves) and with each toss say a letter or number)

Component( cross midline,eye/foot coordination)
Academic(letter identity and sound identification
Student moves forward and backward down astraight line using cross over(scissor) step
Letters are taped or poly spots on the floor beside the tape(variation)
Student will be able to identify selected letters , sounds and words

Component( cross midline, stimulating both hemispheres)
Academic( Recite letters , sounds , spelling patterns or number retreival)
The studney will be able to skip count to 2's, 5's , 10's or name money values
Recite alphabet , letter sounds or patterns

Component( cross midline , visual tracking)
Academic(cross midline)
Student extends arms in front, clasp hands, thumbs to nose,. Make a lazy 8 pattern in the air with eyes moving while keeping head stationary
Variation( place a whiteboard at eye level, hold crayon or marker, start at midpoint slowly move up to left and around making a lazy 8 figure, make sure tey eyes ony are moving not whole head.