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