Finland’s education success (video)

 

Less is more – free from politicians

 Children don’t start proper school until age seven.  By that time they are itching to start classes.  (Note: They are more developmentally ready to learn reading having a more mature visual system that can focus and track.  I wish NBC News would have reported that last night as they featured the world’s most successful educational system.) Watch this video showing the relaxed school atmosphere.  

Take your shoes off and watch how learning is more like a team game… without winners and losers.  Trust is important – students head off unaccompanied during their PE cross-country skiing.  Listen to the music, and enjoy a moment in Finland.  Better yet, move to the music and feel the joy!

SMART Approach to Learning

Research-based program delivers!

S.M.A.R.T. programs Stimulate Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training. The program provides multi-sensory stimulation which strengthens the visual, auditory, tactile, kinesthetic, and vestibular systems involved in learning. Since reading, writing, spelling, sitting still, following directions, and other basic skills involved in academics require body-brain mastery, SMART provides a systematic, highly researched approach to help all children, especially those who are hardest to reach.

Body Laterality and Learning

See what side of your body and brain is in control

Prodigy.net offers a most comprehensive series of articles helping us understand laterality, and crossed or mixed dominance. Find out what eye, ear, hand, foot is dominant within your body. Understand ways to correct faulty dominance when it results in learning problems.

Insist on daily physical education to assure your child builds a strong sense of laterality which leads to midline mastery of the hands and eyes needed for effortless reading and writing. Once again movement prevails as the leading way to achieve academic success!

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.

Music and Movement

Instrumental in Language Development

Maryann Harman writes a comprehensive article in Early Childhood News citing research showing how music combined with physical movement significantly boosts reading, writing and language skills. The research of Dr. Alfred Tomatis is cited, including how sounds (phonemes) and movement of the fetus are linked during gestation.

Auditory Function in Academics

Expanding auditory digit span remediates many learning problems

Kay Ness, MS Neurodevelopmental specialist has written an intriguing article citing the importance of the auditory system for reading, conversational language, understanding complex instructions, learning long words using phonics, solving psychological problems and improving maturity. ADD, ADHD, autism and Down syndrome are mentioned. Much of the article is focused on auditory digit span. This is very interesting.

Kay said, “If I was going to pick the greatest functional problem in our society today, I would choose auditory processing.” Kay definitely made her case.

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 Challenges Unfold

When physical movement is put on hold…

Writer’s block, reading delays, LD, ADD, ADHD, and a host of other learning and behavioral challenges can result from lack of movement.

Examples include a fetus frozen by excess stress in the uterus, C-section babies who fail to exert themselves during birth, infants lying on their back or trapped in a car seat, baby swing or playpen for extended periods, young children deprived of plenty of robust play, young learners sitting in their desks doing endless worksheets rather than learning concept through frequent sensory and motor activities, lack of repetitions writing, talking, reading, and primary reflexes (e.g., ATNR, STNR, grasp, spinal gallant) not integrated through repeated physical movement… the list goes on.

Daily Physical Education, morning and afternoon recess, and multiple movement opportunities during each class period will engage the body brain, helping resolve some of these learning issues taking root in body tissues. For more severe learning delays a more focused, remedial physical approach is needed to mature neural networks, helping people realize their living and learning potential. Movement is key!

Music and the Brain Video

Master my movement routine to speed your body brain!

Current body brain research shows the significance of learning novel and complex movements to extend neural networks. The new, speedier connections created between the sensory and motor system are the same pathways used during academic pursuits (e.g., writing, reading, calculating, spelling). Myelin is being added, speeding visual and auditory processing along with fine and gross motor movements.

How long will it take you to memorize the movement sequence and lyrics? When you do master it, send me a video clip. I will send a free copy of my perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar, 365 Ways to Feel and Look Great to the first five respondents who demonstrate mastery doing the entire routine (reciting the lyrics and mimicking the gestures), straight through without stopping the camera!

Eye! Eye! Learning Success!

Strengthen vison needed to read, write, learn!

View the All About Vision website for many insightful ideas about vision, including eye nutrition. One glaring omission occurs on their page citing how important eye exams are for children, relating various aspects of vision needed for learning – but failing to offer exercises that can be used to strengthen visual processing. Such exercises can be viewed on Eye Can Learn website! Seems strange that children’s eye exams in school do not measure these visual skills, and little thought is given about strengthening vision to help students better focus as they read, write, calculate, draw, catch a ball, etc. People talk about No Child Left Behind, but can't see that many children are left behind because of visual challenges. Let's change their view!

Music and the Brain

Music training changes brain networks

The DANA website reports the most current research related to brain science. For those of us interested in ways to enhance body brain function, exciting research has been reported relating musical rehearsal on the developing brain. Research by Ellen Winner and Gottfried Schlaug shows, “that children who receive weekly music instruction and practice regularly perform better on sound discrimination and fine motor tasks. Furthermore, brain imaging shows changes to the networks associated with those abilities.” Sound discrimination is central to reading and fine motor movement is key to writing. Let’s convey this research to educators who often fail to understand the importance of music to academic performance.

Reflex Integration Needed for Learning

Early motor development of a healthy child and child with Cerebral Palsy

Svetlana Masgutova's extensive article does a masterful job describing how a healthy sensory-motor system develops and what goes wrong with children with Cerebral Palsy. According to Dr. Masgutova, “Maturation of the nervous system involves the inter-connection of reflex circuits. The role of these latter phases is to expand the development of a reflex in order to create the groundwork for reflex integration with motor skills and abilities. This supports the development of academic skills such as elementary reading, drawing, writing, and calculating. Delayed reflex development, or the omission of any phase, adversely affects the formation of future skills.”

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.

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.

NCLB Developmentally

Leave No Child Behind Using Developmental Activities

I can’t wait to present my session ‘Neural Basis of Common Learning Problems Along with Natural Solutions’ at the Learning Brain Expo tomorrow. The Body Brain Boogieman will join me, lol. We’ll lead people though a progressive series of movements designed to integrate primitive reflexes and strengthen the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and vestibular sensory-motor systems involved with reading, writing, spelling, and math.

We will show how sensory-motor immaturity can result in learning challenges; then demonstrate natural (non-drug) solutions in the form of neurostimulation to remediate problems. This will be great fun!

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

Read Naturally Shows Its Stuff

See how this reading enhancement program works

Visit http://www.readnaturally.com/approach/steps.htm and see the core steps of Read Naturally, a product designed to effectively involve the body brain. Children choose what to read (great way to build enthusiasm). Children read along to the key words, identifying what they mean. Children make a prediction of what this story is about using the title and key words (I like this creative buy in). Children read along (out loud) as the story is being read to them; notice the repetition! They practice Work Lists to master specific sounds and letter patterns. And they retell the story in their own words.

Read Naturally uses Cold Timing – Graph the Cold Timing Score – Pass Timing – and Graph the Pass Timing Score to improve reading speed and comprehension.

http://www.readnaturally.com/approach/references.htm References show the research supporting the methods.


Jeff Haebig

PE for Life Improves Reading and Math!

Improved Academics Comes with Increased Fitness Levels

PE4life website http://www.pe4life.org/sub/Results/index.cfm makes the case for daily Physical Education. Read how students from Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois have made substantial improvemens in math and reading scores when increasing fitness levels. At the same time discipinary incidents have decreased.

Ask youself, "Do my children and grandchildren have daily Physical Education? Is the program fitness-based?" If not, spend time on the PE4life website -- then take action! Let's move on this!

Jeff Haebig

Reading Improves through S'Cool Moves

Develop the Magical Mind and Reading through Movement

Debra Em Wilson is a developmental reading specialist, author and educational consultant. She has developed physically engaging programs that improve children's reading skills through body brain activities. Her article http://www.schoolmoves.com/magical_mind.html cites many reasons movement is essential for school success. Check out Debra's programs, better yet, utilize them at home and at your school. Everone will greatly benefit with S'cool Moves!

Jeff Haebig