Moving to Learn

Just prior to vacation, a former colleague shared with me a poem she uses with her Grade 2 students. She explained that she uses this poem to validate the wonder of being an active, happy youngster.  As they talked, she sometimes noticed that the children had trouble thinking of ways their own shoes might describe their days. Not all children mentioned climbing trees, splashing in mud puddles, or chasing squirrels. When I ask children in our cafeteria to tell me about their own leisure time, certainly video games top the list of preferred activities.  Both common sense and recent research into child development remind us that a balanced approach to activities is important for both health and for learning. Even during our class periods, good teachers know that students need to move to keep their minds engaged.

Many of our students, particularly our boys, could be classified as "kinesthetic learners," that is learners who remember what they DO, what they experience with their hands or bodies. They like to explore and discover by "playing" with resources. These children enjoy using tools or prefer lessons which involve active/practical participation. They can remember how to do things after they've done them once or twice. Many have good motor coordination and enjoy active, out-doors games.  Historically, these might have been the children who did not find success in classes where they were asked to sit quietly for long stretches of time and where teachers shared information only by speaking or in writing. In order to better capitalize on the strengths of these kinesthetic learners, many teachers use instructional strategies that can be duplicated at home.  Parents of these learners might suggest the following:

•   To memorize, pace or walk around while reciting to yourself or using flashcards or notes. 
•   When reading a short story or chapter in a book, try a whole-to-part approach. This means you should first scan the pictures, then read headings, then read the first and last paragraphs and try to get a feel for the book. You could also try skim-reading the chapter or short story backwards, paragraph-by-paragraph.
•   If you need to fidget, try doing so in a way which will not disturb others or endanger yourself or others. Try jiggling your legs or feet, try hand/finger exercises, or handle a koosh ball, tennis ball or something similar.
•   You might not study best while at a desk. Try lying on your stomach or back. Try studying while sitting in a comfortable lounge chair or on cushions or a bean bag.
•  Studying with music in the background might suit you (baroque music is best - as opposed to heavily rhythm-based music).
• Use colored construction paper to cover your desk or even decorate your area. Choose your favorite color as this will help you focus. This technique is called color grounding .
• Try reading through colored transparencies to help focus your attention. Try a variety of colors to see which colors work best.
• While studying, take frequent breaks, but be sure to settle back down to work quickly. A reasonable schedule would be 15-25 minutes of study, 3-5 minutes of break time.
•  When trying to memorize information, try closing your eyes and writing the information in the air or on a surface with your finger. Try to picture the words in your head as you are doing this. Try to hear the words in your head, too.
• Later, when you try to remember this information, close your eyes and try to see it with your mind's eye and to hear it in your head.
• When learning new information, make task cards, flashcards, computer games, card games, floor games, etc. This will help you process the information.

(From: http://www.pesdirect.com/lsitactile.html)

Most importantly, movement is a natural way for children to explore their world.  Even children whose learning style allows them to find success in more traditional classroom environments need the stimulation and enjoyment that comes from more kinesthetic experiences.  I have attached my friend's poem here in the hopes that parents might also use it to prompt conversations with their children. My friend certainly noticed that the conversation seemed to encourage the children to think about their own active play.  As we develop busy, engaged minds, we do not want to forget that the importance of busy, active bodies. They may be adding more mud to our floors this spring, but perhaps it is worth it. This, too, is building 21st Century Skills and happy, productive futures for our children.

"If My Shoes Could Talk" by Karen McGuigan Brothers

If my shoes could talk

I guess they would say

they’ve done a lot

of things today.

They walked along

the garden wall;

they jumped and ran

to catch a ball,

They hopped and shuffled,

they danced and skipped,

they pedaled my bike,

they almost tripped!

They clung to my skateboard

through the sidewalks of town

and walked through a puddle

with mud all around.

If my shoes could talk

I know what they would say.

they’ve had a very

busy day!