Hand-Clapping Songs (5 videos)

Improve Motor and Cognitive Skills

Children between ages six and ten go through a developmental process responsive to hand-clapping songs.  These activities enhance children’s needs – emotional, sociological, physiological and cognitive.  Feeling more alert and being in a better mood occurs.  Developmental learning problems like dyslexia and dyscalculia may be reduced.  Research conducted at Ben-Gurion University by Dr. Idit Sulkin is briefly described in Science Daily.  It suggests music and clapping and movement be an integral part of early education.

Beating Time to Success!

Beat competency can be nurtured and improved

Rebecca Eddy writing for MAD Academy expounds on beat competency linked to physical and intellectual capabilities. Reference is made to BBC News article, Poor rhythm ‘at the heart of dyslexia’. It is surprising how many people are unable to maintain a steady beat. More amazing is how rhythm relates to language and reading development, even mathematical success.

Steady Beat Improves Academics

Reading and Mathematics are improved with steady beat competence

Phyllis Weikart’s article cites research supporting the use of steady rhythm while moving, talking, singing, and reciting poetry as a way to build reading, vocabulary, math and physical coordination. Children’s behavior, concentration, and understanding of body in space were all positively impacted. Many suggestions are given to parents and teachers wanting to help their children explore and develop their steady beat.

‘Poor rhythm is at the heart of Dyslexia’, an article by BBC news, cited research from the University College of London, finding dyslexic children were less able to detect beats in sounds with a strong rhythm.

The Body is Key to Reading

There is more to reading success than meets the eye

Of course eye teaming, smooth eye pursuit across the midline, and visual accommodation near and far are important to reading success. Often overlooked is the body’s role in reading. For example, having good muscle tone in the core and leg muscles needed to sit still… integration of primary reflexes ATNR, and STNR allowing steady focus when the body or neck is moved… body awareness including a sense of laterality and directionality, allowing readers to distinguish between a ‘p’ and ‘q’ and ‘m’ and ‘w’ so ‘mom’ doesn’t become ‘wow’… and having a mature vestibular system unifying visual acuity, auditory discrimination and body-in-space skills.

How does one strengthen all of these body systems to assure reading success? Repetitive movement! Ample running, skipping, spinning, rowing, throwing, catching and other vibrant movement activities are essential.

Daily physical education with a focus on body awareness and movement exploration is a must to help young children mature all of the body brain systems involved with successful reading.

Not helping children mature their body brain networks will result in reading delays, dyslexia, and other challenges and learning disabilities we often hand over to Special Ed. Read Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior by Billye Ann Cheatum and Allison A. Hammond available from Human Kinetics for in depth understaning.

Learning Disability Links

Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and other LDs explained

NeuroEducation.com describes learning challenges and offers links for more information. Included is NonVerbal Learning Disability, Brain Trauma, Developmental Delays, Language Processing Problems, Cognitive Output Disorder, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia.

I like this website and their Mission Statement which reads in part, “Our treatment plans are aimed at assisting our patients in triumphantly overcoming learning and/or emotional disorders. A workplace that is joyful, energetic and aimed at continual personal and professional growth is our goal.”

Neurodevelopment Intro

Brain stem, midbrain and cortex development and problems

Toni Hager, originator of Kids Can Learn website, presents a thorough overview of brain and central nervous system, identifying stages of development, and pinpointing what learning and behavior problems result when the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain and cortex fail to properly develop. Visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive competence, as well as mobility, manual, and language proficiency are affected.

What is often perceived as learning and behavioral problems in school have neurological roots that can often be remedied naturally, targeting the source of dysfunction.

Alternative Therapies from A to Z

Dozens of natural (non-drug) therapies for LD

Karen Johnson and Jodee Kulp have briefly described dozens of natural non-drug approaches to help remediate learning challenges. It is one impressive list offered by Tool Box Parent.

Cerebellum Key to Learning

Watch Prof Bellum's explanation about how the brain makes skills automatic.

Watch this video explaining how the cerebellum is involved with reading, writing, spelling, coordination, attention and memory. Expanded research of the cerebellum shows how movement is essential to learning. Thank you Dore.com for advancing the need for Physical Education in our schools.

Learning and the Brain 101

Moving and Improving Body-brain Function is Key to Learning Success

Let’s go back to the basics! Understand how the body-brain is wired to learn… and what happens to create static and short-circuits making learning difficult -- even for the most intelligent people.

Sue Hyland is our master teacher. Spend time on her amazing http://suehyland.co.uk/ website starting with, ‘What is NDD?’ You will see how Primitive and Postural Reflexes become the essence of learning. How NDD, Neuro-Developmental Delays lead to physical, intellectual, social and emotional difficulties.

Understand the root causes of learning and behavioral problems (e.g., reading, writing, numeracy, co-ordination, delayed speech and language, hyperactivity, ADHD, dyslexia, school phobia, impulsiveness, and much, much more). Then apply the natural (non-drug) methods designed to mature the sensory motor system, helping people of all ages achieve their living and learning potential. Hats off to our Master Teacher Sue Hyland!

Treat ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism Naturally

Non-drug approaches treat and prevent learning challenges

Myomancy.com plays an important role exploring body-brain causes of ADHD, Dyslexia, and Autism. Many articles examine natural ‘non-drug’ approaches currently being used to effectively prevent and treat these learning challenges. I thoroughly enjoy Myomancy’s critical thinking dealing with such emotional issues. Once again the body-brain's capacity to strengthen itself and overcome living and learning challenges using movement and exercise prevails.

Motor Planning and Sequencing

Reading, speech, and language improve using rhythm

Reading achievement is central to school success. As neuroscience becomes more precise, understanding the areas of the body brain involved with language development and reading suggest the importance of motor planning and sequencing. The Cingulate Gyrus, Basal Ganglia, Cerebellum and Frontal Cortex are brain areas involved. Rhythmic motor activities that strengthen neural networks connecting these brain areas allow for quicker shifting of attention and focus.

Speech and language have improved. Those with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, Parkinsons, and Sensory Integration Disorders have benefited in various ways. Interactive Metronome offers research and case studies on their website showing the functional neural plasticity involved.

What Babies and Children Really Need

Sally Goddard Blythe's book on child development is a must read

Sally Goddard Blythe has written extensively about primitive and postural reflexes, showing ways to integrate them through movement. This is especially important during infancy and early childhood. Abnormal reflexes are often the physical basis of learning difficulties, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).

http://www.inpp.org.uk/inpp_publications/books.php What Babies and Children Really Need, is Sally Goddard Blythe's recent book, teaching mothers and fathers how to nurture children's growth for wellbeing.

http://www.inpp.org.uk/ The Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology provides information on Dysgraphia (writing), Dyslexia (reading and writing), Dyscalculia (math) and Dyspraxia (coordination). Sally Goddard Blythe is one of the world's most knowledgeable educators who gets to the root of learning challenges. She is the author of a number of acclaimed books, including Reflexes, Learning and Behaviour and The Well Balanced Child.

Jeff Haebig

Overcoming Dyslexia: Dr. Sally Shaywitz

http://www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/2758 gives people with Dyslexia hope to revise their body brain in ways that will improve their reading. Dr. Sally Shaywitz, author of Overcoming Dyslexia, has gained national prominence in the area of reading. Her approach includes explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Once again the body brain revises itself when given the opportunity – thank you Sally!

http://www.greatschools.net/ the Great Schools website is a source of many research-based articles. What a wonderful resource!

Jeff Haebig

Balancing is the Learning Breakthrough

Balance and Vestibular System Development is Key

Dr. Frank Belgau developed The Learning Breakthrough Program. At the University of Houston, he directed the Perceptual Motor and Visual Perception Laboratory. In particular, he focused on the effect of balance and the vestibular system and developed the Belgau Balance Board. Over decades, he established the use of the balancing activities made dramatic improvement in children’s reading and academic performance skills. Read about the astounding improvement at http://www.balametrics.com/results.htm, better yet, try Bala-Metrics and experience the improvements in intelligence, reading, and behavior yourself.

http://www.balametrics.com/theory.htm the Theory Behind The Learning Breakthrough

http://www.balametrics.com/explain.htm Marvelous series of articles relating balance to ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Handwriting, CAPD, Reading, and Academics. Topics include Multi-Sensory Integration, Spatial Awareness, Integration of Brain Hemispheres, Brain Timing/Reaction Time, Sequencing, Binocular Teaming, and Proprioception.

New Move, Play and Thrive Website

Be sure to check this out!

I just received an e-mail from Sonia Story today announcing her new website http://www.moveplaythrive.com/. I am impressed. Sonia shares information relating movement to vibrant living and learning. One can see how the Neuro-Sensory-Motor system controls our physical, mental, emotional and social functioning. Delays in the development of our body/brain system create many problems cited on the website, including Attention Deficit Disorder, dyslexia, developmental delay, sleep problems, bedwetting, autism, sensory processing disorders, text anxiety, handwriting difficulties, stess and overwhelm, PTSD and trauma release. I recommend people interested in optimal learning to become familiar with Sonia Story's wonderful work.

Today is Thanksgiving... let's pause and reflect on our magnificent body responsible for life's successes.

Jeff