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Learning through movement
Teachers, therapists take part in Brain GymKatherine Hudson Northern News Services Published Thursday, March 8, 2012 About 40 participants took part in Brain Gym for Educators – a movement-based learning program to stimulate brain function in a classroom setting. Professionals from Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Aklavik, Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk assembled in the gym of Sir Alexander Mackenzie School for the two-day workshop while students received days off last Thursday and Friday.
This is the most Northern point of North America the Brain Gym program has been taught, according to Paul Hyman, licensed Brain Gym instructor and consultant.
The philosophy of Brain Gym is based on the idea that humans learn through movement. Participants worked on focus, spatial skills and motor skills by passing bouncy balls to one another, performing breathing and body stretches, and learning about what movements, activities and continued hydration can do to encourage a healthy and productive learning environment.
"There were a variety of simple activities that (Hyman) introduced to us that we can use in the classroom throughout the day to improve the student's focus and readiness for learning," said Meghan Etter, an education assistant at Samuel Hearne Secondary School.
"It works by activating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and forcing them to communicate smoothly with one another. The activities work for all ages and can even be beneficial for the teaching staff as well."
This was the first time Greg Connell, education assistant at SAMS, was introduced to Brain Gym's learning techniques and said he feels it's an effective program for both students and teachers.
"My job consists of working with students one-on-one or in small groups. I look forward to integrating the program into a daily routine and discovering how to use the materials to meet the unique needs of each student to help achieve their maximum learning goal," he said.
SAMS principal Janette Vlanich said the program has been a huge success for regional professionals who attended the workshop.
"It's an awesome program. It's good for personal development but it's also good for the students – for students who are having trouble focusing, students who are developmentally not ready to learn to read," she said, explaining there are certain motor exercises that facilitates learning in a classroom setting.
"It's changing the learning environment and developing activities that help them to be able to focus a little bit better."
The program was first developed in the 1970s by Dr. Paul Dennison, an educational therapist, who found that there is an interdependence between movement, cognition, and applied learning. Brain Gym is founded on the principle that stress inhibits learning and that performing the Brain Gym movements regularly over time improve visual and auditory perception, increase long- and short-term memory and reduces hyperactivity and creates a sense of control.
Hyman led the group of about 40 educators, health care and child care workers by demonstrating stretches and movements and breaking participants into groups to play games to exercise motor, visual and communication skills.
He said when sensory education works best is when it is carried out consistently – at school and at home.
"So parents can be involved, teachers, teaching assistants, special education, occupational therapists," said Hyman.
"It's been a lot of fun. (The participants) have really seen the potential of this in the classroom. They're really excited about using it with the younger children. Children love games so they have the opportunity to really take back the principles that are based on the neuroscience but turn it into a very playful activity."
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