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For parent participants in our Music and the Brain workshop, here are some helpful resources for parents of young children: 125 Brain Games for Babies: simple Games to Promote Early Brain Development by Jackie Silberg (Gryphon 2000) 125 Brain Games for...
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Rumble strips jolted me back from drowsy driving on my afternoon commute. The sun and hum of the road had lulled me into a trance after I sat down for the first time all day. The bridge rail came way too close for comfort. Guess I need to get better sleep...
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Humor is a whole brain experience. It offers refreshment to both students’ and teachers’ mentally stressed minds and bodies. The “real” Dr. Patch Adams tells us, “We have to get people laughing because: It provides balance in people’s lives It helps people...
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UW-Stout held their annual Early Childhood Education Conference April 23-24, 2009. During three sessions of "Move it to Learn it", participants shared their favorite activities using movement to teach young children. A compiliation of those...
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“Pay attention!” It turns out there’s a reason even for their fidgeting, fiddling and incessant talking. They don’t get up in the morning choosing to make us crazy, even if it sometimes seems like that’s what happens. Each child is an individual, but...
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Curriculum crunch sends educators into “Pack and Stack” mode so we can cross topics off our to-do list. The problem is, even though we have “covered” the lesson, it may be wasted effort and energy. When students’ body language tells the teacher they’re...
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Dry mouth, butterflies in the stomach, and tight neck and shoulders signal an upcoming test for many students. They’ve studied and think they know the material, but it flies out of their brains as soon as they start the test. Sitting down to take the...
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Exercise boosts achievement—here’s where to find the proof. SPARK by Dr. John Ratey (Harvard) is a gold mine of research and information we can use to communicate the effectiveness of movement and exercise on learning. Check it out! I had placed a pre...
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Testing creates all sorts of stress for kids, even those who receive extra help in a quiet, supported setting instead of the classroom with the rest of the kids. We offer accommodations with the best of intentions, hoping to help them perform better....
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Psychological Safety is as important as physical safety for learning. Unfortunately, under the restrictions of No Child Left Behind, many educators struggle making the time to teach the social and emotional skills we know they need. Dan Goleman’s books...
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“Sometimes you feel half of the kids are with you and half are zoned out,” said Rachel Parris, a third-year teacher in Greenville South Carolina. Adding movement into her lessons, she observed that “my lower-achieving kids, their reading has gone up....
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Ever wonder why teachers still ask kids to tell about "My favorite part of summer vacation"? It turns out that the brain can’t process both fear and gratitude at the same time. So bringing back the fun memories takes the edge off kids' apprehension...
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Raising a child is incredibly complicated, regardless of their age. So many challenges, so few tools! Actually, you are already preparing your child’s brain for a healthy, happy life in ways you may never have considered. Music has a special place in...
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After flying from Quito to Coca, and spending our first night in the jungle -- really! -- we were gearing up for our first morning hike. Generators turned on at 5 AM, so hot water was to be available by 6. Not sure if it worked, we were too tired to budge...
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If they could only sit still! Children's bodies want to be on the move constantly, given the opportunity. Teachers across the country are making that possible without a power struggle with chair-less classrooms. Exercise (Stability) Balls replace...