| An innovative program designed to teach | | | | Accomplishes - Helps with organizational |
| students to activate their brains through | | | | abilities, study skills, test performance and |
| specific body movements is helping children | | | | sports performance, public speaking, stage |
| throughout the world be better prepared to | | | | performance and reading aloud. |
| learn. With back to school in full swing | | | | |
| now, this is welcomed news for both educators | | | | Arm Activation - Reach up above your head |
| and students alike. The program, Brain Gym | | | | with your left arm, feeling the arm lengthen |
| was developed by former classroom instructor, | | | | from your rib cage. Hold your arm just below |
| Dr. Paul Dennison, and is based on | | | | the elbow with your right hand. Now |
| Educational Kinesiology, which is the science | | | | isometrically activate your left arm for a |
| of enhanced learning through movement. | | | | few seconds in each of four positions away |
| | | | from your head, forward, backward, and toward |
| Dennison intends to awaken students, parents | | | | your ear. Rest your left arm again at your |
| and teachers to an understanding of the | | | | side. Now stand and let your arms hang |
| interdependence of movement, learning, and | | | | comfortably by your sides. |
| brain development. The principles in his | | | | |
| program are so widely accepted that his Brain | | | | Accomplishes - An increased attention span |
| Gym program is becoming the standard in | | | | for written work; improved focus and |
| schools around the world and recommended by | | | | concentration without over focus; improved |
| tutors and teachers and those looking for | | | | breathing and a relaxed attitude; an enhanced |
| better health and well being. Teachers who | | | | ability to express ideas; and increased |
| incorporate the Brain Gym movements within | | | | energy in hands and fingers. |
| their daily classroom routine rediscover that | | | | |
| joy of teaching for which they originally | | | | When students are introduced to Brain Gym, |
| chose their profession. | | | | they seem to love it, request it, teach it to |
| | | | their friends, and integrate it into their |
| The Brain Gym program provides a series of | | | | lives without any coaching or supervision. |
| simple movement activities that optimize | | | | This movement-based system offers additional |
| brain activity, while integrating the mind | | | | assistance to children with learning |
| and body. The lessons taught are profoundly | | | | difficulties and helps them achieve the best |
| simple, can be done anywhere, and work well | | | | of success in their academic paths. |
| for all ages. The concept is so simply, yet | | | | |
| so effective. And that's why it works. | | | | "The teachers in the classrooms are |
| Those who practice the exercises enjoy doing | | | | instrumental in making the Brain Gym program |
| them, so they want to do them consistently. | | | | work," said Dennison. That's why Dennison |
| They also see positive results, which is a | | | | takes great strides in providing detailed |
| driving force for continuing to do them on a | | | | instructions, informational charts, hands on |
| regular basis. | | | | workshops, and all the tools necessary to |
| | | | achieve success. |
| Following are some sample exercises, how to | | | | |
| perform them, and the benefit achieved: | | | | Detailed in Dennison's latest book, Brain Gym |
| | | | and Me, Reclaiming the Pleasure of Learning, |
| Cross Crawl - Simultaneously lift your right | | | | is one pilot program and the positive results |
| hand and left leg, lightly tapping the hand | | | | from it after implementing Brain Gym. The |
| just above your left knee. Then return the | | | | conclusion was that students reported |
| hand and leg to a resting position as you | | | | learning physical skills, trusting their own |
| lift your left hand and right leg, touching | | | | bodies, plus self-esteem and easier reading |
| your left hand to the place above its | | | | while teachers expressed gratitude for this |
| opposite knee. Continue this back and forth | | | | effective tool to enhance teaching |
| pattern for a minute or so, as though walking | | | | strategies. |
| rhythmically. | | | | |
| | | | The book also details how Dennison once |
| Accomplishes - Improved left/right | | | | walked through the halls during one school |
| coordination; enhanced breathing and stamina; | | | | visit, and saw children using Brain Gym |
| greater coordination and spatial awareness, | | | | throughout the school day without teacher |
| enhanced hearing and vision. Helps with | | | | direction. "That was great validation that |
| spelling, writing, listening, reading and | | | | our program works," he said. "If we look |
| comprehension. | | | | inside the classroom, we'll see that active |
| | | | learners are those who are lively and active. |
| Energy Yawn - While pretending to yawn, | | | | Such children physically reach for |
| close eyes tight and massage the areas | | | | information and opportunities to express |
| covering the upper and lower back molars. A | | | | themselves, barely containing their |
| deep relaxed yawning sound is made while | | | | enthusiasm for knowledge as they write, turn |
| massaging the muscles. Repeat the activity | | | | pages and relate with their peers. The |
| three to six times. | | | | children who are not moving will appear |
| | | | stressed, passive and bored. In either case |
| Accomplishes - Perfect for classroom teaching | | | | children can't hide their authentic feelings |
| as students can add to their own movements. | | | | about learning. These feelings are apparent |
| Improved expression and creativity, improved | | | | in their movements, demeanor and body |
| balance, and relaxed thinking during mental | | | | posture." |
| work. | | | | |
| | | | Patty Gottwald, a pre-school teacher at Mason |
| Lazy 8s - The student aligns his body with a | | | | County Eastern in Michigan, was quoted in an |
| point at eye level. This will be the | | | | article in Ludington's Daily News recently |
| midpoint of the 8. The student chooses a | | | | talking about the Brain Gym Program. She |
| comfortable position for drawing the Lazy 8, | | | | states she attended a Brain Gym session, |
| adjusting the width and height to fit his | | | | which showed teachers how their students can |
| needs. He starts on the midline and moves | | | | activate parts of their brains through |
| counterclockwise first, up, over, and around. | | | | certain body movements and concluded, "It |
| Then from his waist he moves clockwise: up, | | | | makes children more ready to learn." |
| over, around, and back to the beginning | | | | |
| midpoint. As the eyes follow the Lazy 8, the | | | | Dennison's book, Brain Gym and Me: Reclaiming |
| head moves slightly and the neck remains | | | | the Pleasure of Learning, which explains how |
| relaxed. Three repetitions with each hand | | | | to bring Brain Gym into the classroom, is |
| separately and then both together. | | | | currently in more than 80 countries receiving |
| | | | astonishing worldwide media attention |
| Accomplishes - Teaches visual attention and | | | | recently with segments on CBC Radio's 1 |
| improves ocular mobility skills needing for | | | | "Ontario Today" and City TV, "Breakfast |
| reading. Helps with the mechanics of reading | | | | Television" and a full-page article in |
| (left-to-right eye movement). | | | | Woman's World Magazine, May 8th edition. It |
| | | | provides excellent examples of how many have |
| Positive points - Lightly touch the points | | | | succeeded and how Dr. Dennison skillfully |
| above each eye, halfway between the eyebrows | | | | takes them on this journey. It also explains |
| and the hairline, with the fingertips of each | | | | how he overcame his own learning challenges |
| hand. Use just enough pressure to pull the | | | | to become an internationally known educator |
| skin taut, and hold the contact for about a | | | | and authority on cognitive skills and reading |
| minute. | | | | achievement. |
| | | | |