A Principal’s Guide to Learning Loss in 2025
April 28, 2025
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School improvement ideas are needed now more than ever.
In a recent survey of 2,000 parents, 26% identified anxiety as the primary emotion their school-aged children experienced over the past year. Furthermore, 75% of parents reported noticing at least one symptom of poor mental health in their children.
Teachers express significantly lower job satisfaction than workers in other occupations and industries across the U.S. According to Pew Research Center, only 33% of teachers say they’re extremely satisfied with their job, compared to 51% of all employed adults.
Even five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, students in some parts of the country are still half a grade level behind in reading and a full grade level behind in math. Chronic absenteeism remains an issue, and recent NAEP tests revealed concerning issues.
School leaders play a vital role in driving positive change for students, teachers, parents, and the community overall. In this blog, we’re sharing actionable school improvement ideas that use kinesthetic learning, data-driven strategies, and innovative approaches to enhance education. Math & Movement is here to help as a resource for achieving school improvement goals.
A school improvement plan (SIP) is a strategic guide to cultivate lasting student success and address systematic issues. These plans include ideas for curriculum improvement and school and student performance enhancement. They involve readjusting educational strategies and changing the learning environment to benefit students.
In essence, a SIP pinpoints areas that need attention, sets specific goals, and outlines steps to achieve them. They are unique to every school, depending on their strengths and weaknesses within the community.
The essential elements of a school improvement plan include:
Next, we’re sharing ideas to fuel the development of effective SIPs.
Creating a successful SIP that addresses all the challenges schools face today requires fresh, research-backed approaches to teaching and learning. Educators must go beyond traditional methods to engage students, personalize learning, and foster both academic and emotional growth. By integrating the following ideas, district leaders can bring transformation and innovation to their schools.
Kinesthetic learning strategies can be one of your most effective school improvement plan ideas.
A 2008 study by Ratey and Hagerman, published in their book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, found that students who engaged in regular physical activity retained information better than those in sedentary environments.
There are biological reasons why Ratey and Hagerman found those results. Physical activity increases oxygen levels in the blood and blood flow throughout the body. As a result, the brain gets more oxygen and can function at optimal levels for learning.
Furthermore, while the body is active, the brain produces a protein called BDNF, which improves the function of neurons and promotes their growth. Exercise also promotes the development of the hippocampus – a portion of the brain responsible for memory and learning.
When a person is physically active, their brain is ready to process and store new information. However, traditional classrooms are typically very sedentary environments. How can educators bring movement-based learning into the classroom?
Math & Movement is an evidence-based program designed to get students active and confident in learning. We use a multi-sensory approach to learning that combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements to engage all types of learners in math and literacy.
Considering the science supporting movement-based learning, we create kinesthetic educational products, including heavy-duty floor mats and stickers, that students can move on during lessons. We also provide various resources for implementing kinesthetic learning strategies, including movement ideas, activities to go with our materials, and professional development opportunities.
Our materials and resources are designed to supplement your school’s existing curriculum and align with state standards. In fact, you can add Math & Movement to any K-5 classroom, summer learning program, after-school program, or family engagement event.
Collecting and analyzing your school’s data is crucial for progress assessment and test score improvement.
When identifying your school’s goals and creating strategic plans, it is essential to link them to a measurable outcome. In other words, how will you know when you reach your goals? How will you know your plans are effective?
For example, say the leadership team wants to improve math outcomes for 3rd grade students. The team may choose to implement an intervention program and analyze pre- and post-test scores to assess progress in 3rd grade math outcomes.
Data is incredibly valuable for informing your school improvement plans. Educators can use data to:
Our Data Page showcases the figures teachers have documented while utilizing kinesthetic learning strategies. Our case studies highlight the success schools have had with the Math & Movement program.
Want to head deeper into the research and results behind Math & Movement? Explore our Student Data page to see how schools across the US are transforming student achievement with our program.
We’ve found various ways to measure achievement with kinesthetic learning. For instance, in our 2023 large population study, students completed pre- and post-tests to assess their multiplication fluency and took a survey to assess their math attitudes.
Meanwhile, teachers recorded observations in an activity log after teaching multiplication lessons. They documented their students’ engagement during kinesthetic and traditional activities. They also completed a survey before and after the study to determine changes in their attitudes toward teaching multiplication.
Implementing user-friendly, simple methods for teachers is essential for accurate, consistent data collection. The tests, surveys, and activity logs in the case study above made it easy for multiple classrooms and schools to document their progress. And in the end, it also made it easier for our team to analyze data and draw conclusions from the study’s population.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Through SEL, young students develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making abilities. It’s all about recognizing and understanding one’s emotions as well as showing empathy for others.
SEL can have a big impact on academic achievement and student well-being. In fact, a 2011 study revealed that students who participated in SEL programs saw an average academic achievement improvement of 11% (Durlak et al., 2011).
We have a blog on practical strategies for incorporating SEL into math. Small tweaks and additions to math lessons can transform classrooms into supportive, inclusive environments.
Movement-based activities are particularly helpful for SEL. Exercise reduces cortisol levels while stimulating the production of endorphins. Cortisol is commonly known as the “stress hormone,” and endorphins are known as “mood booster hormones.” So, physical activity in the classroom can reduce academic anxieties and support positive attitudes!
We’ve also witnessed movement-based activities bring classes together. When participating in kinesthetic activities, students focus on the physical actions required of them rather than competing academically with one another. Many of Math & Movement’s activities include chanting aloud together, students creating movements for the class to repeat, and taking turns to jump on a mat.
So, to summarize, movement-based learning strategies can improve students’ moods, reduce stress, and promote social interaction. All three of these results are goals SEL seeks to accomplish!
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an educational framework that aims to provide multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression for students. The goal is to make learning accessible and effective for all students and every diverse need.
Multiple means of engagement involve using different instructional strategies and activities to keep students interested in lessons. With multiple means of representation, educators present information in various formats to make it accessible to students. Lastly, multiple means of action and representation call for various methods for students to demonstrate their knowledge.
Math & Movement provides an easy way to implement UDL in the classroom. Kinesthetic learning provides new means of engagement, representation, and action and expression. Our colorful materials engage students visually, while our activities involve physically moving and reciting concepts orally. This engages all types of learners and presents information visually, audibly, and kinesthetically.
Math & Movement also allows students to express their knowledge with movement. For example, they can hop on a life-sized number line to demonstrate how they solved a subtraction problem.
School improvement ideas should emphasize student-centered learning. Student-centered learning focuses on students as active participants engaging in discussions, problem-solving, and hands-on activities. This type of learning is personalized and applicable to the real world.
On the contrary, teacher-centered learning identifies the teacher as the primary authority who delivers information. Students passively receive the information, and their assessments are often based on memorization.
Student-centered learning offers several key benefits, including:
Educators can lean into student-centered learning by incorporating time for a “Genius Hour” in their classrooms each week. A Genius Hour is class time set aside for students to explore their own interests and work on a project of their choice without having to follow a specific curriculum. By choosing what they learn about or work on, students take ownership of their learning. This increases motivation and engagement.
Student-centered learning and Genius Hours help promote a growth mindset in students. Since students play such an active role in their learning journey, they realize more readily that they are capable of expanding their knowledge and developing their skills.
Consider kinesthetic approaches in your student-centered learning plans and Genius Hour times. Kinesthetic strategies also encourage students to take ownership of their learning – as they are the ones moving and experiencing academic concepts firsthand.
Microlearning is a strategy that involves breaking down complex topics into short, concise, “bite-sized” lessons. It taps into the idea that the brain absorbs information in short bursts, maximizing efficiency and retention. Notably, microlearning can help students avoid information overload and feeling overwhelmed.
Adding microlearning to your list of school improvement ideas can help teachers discover new successful teaching methods. For example, students may learn more from short videos, infographics, and discussion prompts than educators previously thought.
Our active math movements can be used as a microlearning strategy. Active math movements are short exercises designed to get students physically active while simultaneously practicing math skills. They do not require any materials and are perfect for short microlearning sessions in the classroom.
Every school improvement plan starts with setting goals. What exactly do you want to accomplish for the school community? Teams can set S.M.A.R.T. goals to guide their plans:
For example, the goal of “increasing reading proficiency by 10% within one year” gives everyone something concrete to aim for.
Furthermore, when setting goals, it’s important to involve teachers, parents, students, and any stakeholders. They may be facing challenges or recognizing struggles that higher-up district staff are unaware of. It’s crucial to have a complete picture of every area that can be improved.
Over time, new problems may arise, and others may be remedied with small actions. School improvement plans should set a time for re-evaluation when leaders can ask, “What progress have we made? Do we need to make any adjustments to our action plans?” Regular review allows a school improvement plan to make a lasting impact.
Young learners have unique needs. They’re not worried about varsity sports or college applications, but they should be developing foundational literacy and numeracy skills for a successful academic career.
If students disengage from school early on, they may fail to fully develop those early skills necessary for success later on. That’s why it is vital for learning to be fun and engaging for elementary students.
A recent study by the National Math Foundation revealed that kinesthetic activities significantly increased student engagement in contrast to traditional classroom activities like whiteboard work, worksheets, and flashcards. The participating students in this study learned multiplication from Math & Movement’s kinesthetic strategies.
Math & Movement’s products include a wide selection of kinesthetic learning materials for elementary concepts. If increasing student engagement is one of your school improvement ideas, consider movement-based learning as a solution.
With so many factors to consider, you still may be wondering what exactly you need to include in your school improvement plan. The reality is that every plan is individual to the school. The most important part is ensuring that your plan is holistic, addressing all areas of necessary improvement.
Once you have identified your problem areas and improvement goals, you can align resources and strategic plans to remedy weaknesses and reach your goals. Make certain that your changes and solutions are sustainable to avoid facing the same problems again in the future.
Schools today face unprecedented challenges, but with strategic planning, innovative approaches, and a commitment to student success, meaningful improvement is possible. By integrating kinesthetic learning, data-driven strategies, social-emotional learning, UDL, student-centered learning, and microlearning, school leaders can create an environment that fosters both academic achievement and student well-being.
A well-crafted school improvement plan (SIP) serves as a roadmap to transformation, ensuring that changes are intentional, measurable, and sustainable. Engaging teachers, parents, students, and the greater community helps bring your school improvement ideas to fruition.
Take the next step towards progress now. Start by identifying your school’s unique challenges, setting SMART goals, and exploring evidence-based solutions like Math & Movement’s kinesthetic learning strategies. We’re here to support school administration in achieving their goals. Build a better future for your schools by putting your school improvement ideas into action!
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