Math & Movement Blog - Posts for Educators and Parents

30Nov 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

Does Kinesthetic Learning Support English Language Learners?

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DOES KINESTHETIC LEARNING SUPPORT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS? English Language Learners (ELL)/English as a Second Language (ESL) students are falling behind their classmates at an alarming rate. About 35% of ELL/ESL students are behind in math. Compared to their non-ELL/ESL counterparts, 47% are behind in reading (Fry 2003). This is a statistically significant percentage of students. Numbers like these cannot be ignored. The reasons for this gap are complex and varied. Many are very hard or even impossible to address by teachers alone. Fortunately, teachers do hold the key to one of the most effective ways to address the issue in the classroom: they can teach students the way they learn best. Studies show that when educators use tactile and kinesthetic methods, ELL/ESL students are successful and excited to learn. Research shows…

06Nov 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

The Cost of a Sedentary Lifestyle: Consequences of the Obesity Epidemic

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Why Is the Obesity Epidemic in Our Schools Not Going Anywhere? How does the average American child spend their day? Are they outside playing tag and swinging on the monkey bars for hours? Or are they playing the latest computer and video games all night? A recent study by the journal Health Affairs finds that fewer than one in three American children get enough exercise every week. Unfortunately, if they don't become more active, more than eight million will be obese by their 18th birthdays. When children are not encouraged to eat healthy foods and be active, they may be more at risk for childhood obesity. Furthermore, the implications go beyond childhood, extending to high risk for major health issues and costly medical bills. Therefore, the obesity epidemic is an…

04Oct 2018 by suzy123 2 Comments

How Finland uses Play-Based Learning to Stay at the Top of the Rankings of the World’s Best Education Systems

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How Finland uses Play-Based Learning to Stay at the Top of the Rankings of the World’s Best Education Systems How did the US and Finland get their ranking on their education system?The World Top 20 Education Poll rates the top 20 countries (out of 200 for which data is tracked) on a quarterly basis using different criteria each quarter. The most recent (2018) third-quarter poll measures and compares early childhood enrollment rates; test scores in math, science, and reading for lower and upper primary students; and high school and college graduation rates. According to the World Top 20 Education Poll, Finland shines at #2 while the United States lags behind at #16. Repeatedly, Finland outshines the United States in test scores in math, science, and reading. Finland's high school and…

03Sep 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

Why Do Your Students Say They Are Bad At Math?

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WHY DO YOUR STUDENTS SAY THEY ARE BAD AT MATH? The Short Answer: They’re scared. I am terrified of skydiving; can I expect to ever be good at it? Of course - if you push through the fear and practice, you can be good at most things. But “It is human nature for people to spend more time doing the things they enjoy. People embrace things they are good at. If students "do not understand" mathematics, they will lose confidence and avoid math whenever possible” (Piper). This usually starts when students take their first math class. If they did not understand the way math was taught, it causes them to do poorly and avoid it altogether. This avoidance can limit student confidence and competence in math and their phobia gets renamed…

01Aug 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

10 Valuable Tips that Help Every New Teacher Develop and Grow

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10 VALUABLE TIPS THAT HELP EVERY NEW TEACHER DEVELOP AND GROW Nationally, 12 percent of all public school teachers are in their first or second year of teaching, according to U.S. Department of Education's office for civil rights. In some states, it is even more than 15 percent. This means many teachers are in their own learning process while also teaching our nation’s children. Teaching is a lot about practice and reflection on action. As true in all vocations, good teachers are constantly asking how they can improve their teaching to better help their students. Many new teachers are starting with a blank page which is exciting and full of potential, but also intimidating. There is no one way to be “a great teacher.” But there are a few things…

25Jul 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

Exciting Ways to Keep Kids Practicing Math This Summer

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EXCITING WAYS TO KEEP KIDSPRACTICING MATH THIS SUMMERThe problem with summerOften when kids think of summer, they don’t think about math. Instead, they are running around outside chasing the ice cream truck or inside spending hours on end playing video games. What's wrong with this picture? Sadly, when kids aren’t in school they aren’t learning and they can lose some of what they gained during the school year. Especially when it comes to math, students are losing a lot of valuable knowledge. The “summer slide,” learning loss, or setback is when many students, especially those from historically disadvantaged groups, start the school year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summer break. Research shows student achievement scores decline over summer vacation by one month’s worth…

28Jun 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

Physical Activity: The Root of Learning Through Leisure in Education

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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: THE ROOT OF LEARNING THROUGH LEISURE A Classical Perspective on Kinesthetic Learning Education is the key. Our education starts at school where we prepare for what’s to come by learning what we need to know. The ancient Greeks saw learning as important for the progression of society and the development of good citizens. Schooling today has lost sight of activity in education, a factor that the Greeks were first to highlight in their philosophies. The Root of “School” The modern word “school” means “a place to learn from teachers” and comes directly from the Latin word schola. The Greek “school,” however, meant “leisure” or “that in which leisure is employed.” Since “school” was synonymous with “leisure,” the origins of the “school” were grounded in the idea of comfort…

01Jun 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

So You’re Teaching Summer School… Let’s Make it Fun!

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The Benefits Of Teaching Summer School There is a stigma around teaching summer school. For starters, no student, or even teacher, wants to be in school outside the academic year in the first place, right? Actually, summer school is a great opportunity for teachers to have more independence with their curriculum. It also allows them to work in small groups with struggling students, instead of larger classroom settings. Summer school benefits the student because it can reinstill their interest in learning, help develop confidence, and improve recall of information. When students are taught at their own pace, they can take more time to focus on their learning. Students also develop more confidence because they are not under as much testing pressure and, instead, are focused on developing their skills. Finally,…

01Jun 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

3 Tips to End the School Year Right

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3 Tips to End the School Year Right What is the best way to end the school year? During those last few weeks of school, students can hardly focus with summer right around the corner. Did you know that even at this time of year, there are ways to keep students engaged and end the school year strong? After that, it’s just a smooth transition into summer! Below are three tips to end your school year right. 1) Review and Reinforce Plan fun lessons that review the math and reading material that students learned throughout the school year. This will reinforce what students learned during the school year. If students focused on learning place value and decimals, the teacher could use the Place Value Hop and make a fun game…

01May 2018 by suzy123 No Comments

Kinesthetic Learning: Movement Exercises Your Mind

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MAKE YOUR MIND MOVE Students in lecture-based classes are 1.5 times more likely to fail than students in classes with kinesthetic, multi-sensory, movement-based learning (Jordt, Wenderoth 2014). Similarly, 68 percent of high school students in the United States do not have daily physical activity (Grunbaum et al., 2002). What do both of these things have in common? Students are sitting in class and not exercising their minds. Kinesthetic learning through movement helps: Strengthen learning Improve memory Enhance motivation STRENGTHEN LEARNING Classrooms across the nation have seen positive changes in students' self-discipline and test scores. The reason why? Their teachers are incorporating cross-body movements, chanting, skip-counting, songs, and dance into subjects like math, reading, and even science. When students learn through movement, it strengthens their academics and their overall love…