Hypo-Slow Vestibular System (video)

‘Fidget is Legit’ in classrooms to aid

our learning challenged students

Video: We are creating learning handicaps in our classrooms for students with vestibular weakness when we don’t provide enough physical movement that stimulates the vestibular and connected visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioception (muscular) sensory systems. Attention deficit may result as the RAS, Reticular Activation System is under-stimulated by a hypo-slow vestibular system.

NCLB, Leave No Child Behind by insisting our learning challenged students have frequent opportunities to strengthen their body brain systems called upon to succeed in school. Daily Physical Education strengthens the vestibular system with repeated movements (e.g., rolling, spinning, bouncing, stop and go, balancing, etc.). Let’s move on this!

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.

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!

Rhythmic Bal-A-Vis-X Improves Reading

Balance, Auditory, Vision Exercise Builds Body-brain Integration

http://www.bal-a-vis-x.com/ describes a program of rhythmic exercises using Balance Boards, bean bags, and balls to build new body brain networks. The vestibular system is targeted since it unites the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic systems involved with reading, math and other academic pursuits. Social skills are also developed during teaming and peer teaching!

Bill Hubert created Bal-A-Vis-X activities teaching in the Wichita schools. He successfully identified why children and teens were struggling at school. Influenced by Frank Belgau, Carla Hannaford, Paul Dennison, Carl Delacato, Ingolf Mork and Sister Aegedia (all of whom will be featured on Body Brain Boogie blog)… Bill set out to strengthen eye teaming and smooth eye tracking, auditory discrimination, sensory dominance, laterality, directionality and other body brain functions called upon to read, write, and perform math.

Read Bal-A-Vis-X by Bill Hubert and get yourself tossing, catching, bounce-juggling and balancing in fun rhythmic ways. Experience intellectual, social and emotional gain improving your body brain.

Jeff Haebig

What makes S.M.A.R.T. So Smart

Extensive research shows S.M.A.R.T. has proven effectiveness.

Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training is a program that has proven its effectiveness preparing young children to succeed academically. Dr. Lyelle Palmer and participating schools have conducted fastidious research, documenting the effects of neurostimulating S.M.A.R.T. activities preparing children to succeed in school. The results have been significant, showing vast improvements in reading, writing, math and other academic skills.

http://www.actg.org/images/newsletters/08fall.pdf features the S.M.A.R.T. program in A Chance to Grow newsletter.

For more information go to the http://www.actg.org/ website. If you haven't participated in S.M.A.R.T. training... plan to... it is the best. Then bring S.M.A.R.T to your schools and watch the learning gap disappear as body brain maturity is realized.

Jeff Haebig