Category: Research

   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…

        1) Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) keeps students engaged in school In early elementary school, children learn how to play and be a good friend. Then, as students go through school, they become less engaged with social-emotional learning. Instead, they focus on academics through standardized testing and following school discipline. “In a national sample of 148,189 sixth to twelfth graders, 29%–45% reported that they had…empathy, decision making, and conflict resolution skills…only 29% indicated that their school provided a caring, encouraging environment” (Benson, 2006). 2) SEL helps students with emotions and relationships Students need social-emotional learning (SEL) as much as math, writing, or any other subject. SEL “builds children’s skills to recognize and manage their emotions, appreciate the perspectives of others, establish positive goals, make responsible decisions, and handle…