brain gym® brain gym® presented by: danielle mcgaughey ba, bed, med. utilising brain gym® in the...
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Brain Gym®Brain Gym®
Presented by: Danielle McGaughey
BA, BEd, MEd.
Utilising Brain Gym® in the Classroom to Enhance Student
Outcomes
Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop ObjectivesWe will discussWe will discuss
What Brain Gym® isWhat Brain Gym® isDr Paul Dennison – Developer of Dr Paul Dennison – Developer of Brain Gym®Brain Gym®Rationale behind Brain Gym® Rationale behind Brain Gym® The Benefits of Using Brain The Benefits of Using Brain Gym® in the ClassroomGym® in the ClassroomBrain Gym® Movements that can Brain Gym® Movements that can be Used in the Classroombe Used in the ClassroomQuestionsQuestions
What is Brain What is Brain Gym®?Gym®?
BRAIN GYM® BRAIN GYM® is the registered trademark is the registered trademark
for an for an Educational Kinesiology Educational Kinesiology Sensory Motor ProgramSensory Motor Program
KinesiologyKinesiology is theis the
Study of MovementStudy of Movement
Educational Educational KinesiologyKinesiology
Is the study and application of Is the study and application of natural natural movement to facilitate learningmovement to facilitate learning
Focuses on the performance of Focuses on the performance of specific specific physical activities that activate physical activities that activate the brain for the brain for optimal storage and retrieval of optimal storage and retrieval of informationinformation
Is a process for re-educating the Is a process for re-educating the mind/body mind/body system for accompanying any skill system for accompanying any skill or or function with greater ease and function with greater ease and efficiencyefficiency
Brain Gym®Brain Gym®Is an educational, movement-based Is an educational, movement-based
programprogram
which uses simple movements to integratewhich uses simple movements to integrate
WWhole brainhole brain
SSenses enses
BBodyody
preparing the person with the physical preparing the person with the physical skills they skills they
need to learn need to learn effectivelyeffectively
The Benefits of Using The Benefits of Using Brain Gym® in the Brain Gym® in the
ClassroomClassroom
Brain Gym® enhances student Brain Gym® enhances student Academic Academic andand
Social Social outcomes by improving a wide outcomes by improving a wide range ofrange of
LLearning earning
AAttention ttention
BBehaviour Skillsehaviour Skills
Brain Gym® Brain Gym® MovementsMovements Have been shown in clinical experience, field studies and published Have been shown in clinical experience, field studies and published
researchresearchreports to improve reports to improve whole brain functionwhole brain function and and developmentdevelopment that results that results
in in enhancing a student’s:enhancing a student’s:
Academic skills – for example Reading, Writing, Academic skills – for example Reading, Writing, Spelling, Handwriting, Comprehension and MathsSpelling, Handwriting, Comprehension and MathsMemory, Concentration and FocusMemory, Concentration and FocusFine and Gross Motor SkillsFine and Gross Motor SkillsVisual TrackingVisual TrackingOrganisational skillsOrganisational skillsListeningListeningPhysical Coordination and BalancePhysical Coordination and BalanceCommunication Skills and Language DevelopmentCommunication Skills and Language DevelopmentHyperactivity and Excessive DaydreamingHyperactivity and Excessive DaydreamingSelf-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Self-ExpressionSelf-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Self-ExpressionSelf-Development and Personal Stress ManagementSelf-Development and Personal Stress Management
How?How?By Waking up the By Waking up the
BrainBrainThe simple, The simple, bilateral Brain bilateral Brain Gym® movements Gym® movements focus on focus on improving improving communication communication between the between the
left and right left and right
brain hemispheres brain hemispheres harmoniously harmoniously
Brain Gym® Brain Gym® develops the develops the brain’s neural brain’s neural pathways the pathways the way nature does way nature does – through– through movementmovement
Right and Left Right and Left Hemisphere ControlHemisphere Control
RIGHTRIGHT
Sees the big pictureSees the big picture
Houses our emotionsHouses our emotions
Responsible for long Responsible for long term memoryterm memory
Receptive languageReceptive language
Controls the muscles Controls the muscles on our left sideon our left side
LEFTLEFT
Controls analysing Controls analysing detailsdetails
OrganisationOrganisation
Short term memoryShort term memory
Expressive languageExpressive language
Controls the Controls the muscles on our right muscles on our right sideside
Why is this Why is this important?important?
Optimum learning takes Optimum learning takes place when the place when the
totaltotal brain brain
is is alertalert and and communicatingcommunicating
Brain Gym®Brain Gym®Is based on more than 80 years Is based on more than 80 years
of of
research byresearch byEducational Therapists Educational Therapists
Developmental Optometrists Developmental Optometrists
Specialists in the fields of Specialists in the fields of Movement, Movement,
Education, Learning Disability Education, Learning Disability
and Child Developmentand Child Development
Dr Paul Dennison PhDDr Paul Dennison PhD Remedial Educationalist, specialising in Remedial Educationalist, specialising in
learning and brain functionlearning and brain functionFounder of the Educational Kinesiology Founder of the Educational Kinesiology Foundation in Ventura, CaliforniaFoundation in Ventura, CaliforniaPhilosophy: “Movement is the key to learning”Philosophy: “Movement is the key to learning”Spent most of his career showing the effects of Spent most of his career showing the effects of movement upon learningmovement upon learningFocused on the causes and treatment of Focused on the causes and treatment of learning disabilitieslearning disabilitiesDeveloped the Brain Gym® program over a Developed the Brain Gym® program over a period of 25 yearsperiod of 25 yearsBrain Gym® is now used in over 45 countries Brain Gym® is now used in over 45 countries and is recognised as a safe, effective and and is recognised as a safe, effective and innovative educational and self-development innovative educational and self-development tooltool
How Brain Gym® How Brain Gym® Movements were Movements were
DevelopedDevelopedMany of the activities were Many of the activities were
developed from developed from
Dr Dennison’s knowledge of the Dr Dennison’s knowledge of the relationship relationship
of of movementmovement to to perceptionperception, and , and the impact the impact
of these on of these on fine motorfine motor and and academic skillsacademic skills
How Brain Gym® How Brain Gym® Movements were Movements were
DevelopedDeveloped
Other movements were learned Other movements were learned during Dennison’s during Dennison’s
Training as a Marathon RunnerTraining as a Marathon Runner Study of Vision TrainingStudy of Vision Training Study of Jin Shin Jitsu Study of Jin Shin Jitsu
(a form of acupressure)(a form of acupressure) Study of Applied KinesiologyStudy of Applied Kinesiology
Dr Paul Dennison Dr Paul Dennison PhDPhD
In 1980, he synthesised his work and In 1980, he synthesised his work and began began teaching and travelling teaching and travelling internationallyinternationally
The current BRAIN GYM® handbook The current BRAIN GYM® handbook was was developed in collaboration with over developed in collaboration with over 29 29 Educational Kinesiologists from Educational Kinesiologists from around the around the worldworld
Rationale BehindRationale BehindBrain Gym®Brain Gym®
Physical movement Physical movement stimulates brain stimulates brain activity and improves activity and improves learninglearningWater consumption Water consumption also aids this processalso aids this processStress inhibits Stress inhibits learninglearningWe are able to learn We are able to learn with less stress and with less stress and to express creativity to express creativity using more of our using more of our mental and physical mental and physical potentialpotential
Rationale BehindRationale BehindBrain Gym®Brain Gym®
The Brain Gym® movements interconnect The Brain Gym® movements interconnect the brain in the brain in three dimensionsthree dimensions, allowing us , allowing us to easily learn through to easily learn through allall the the sensessenses, to , to remember what we learn and to participate remember what we learn and to participate more fully in the events of our livesmore fully in the events of our lives
LLateralityaterality
FFocusocus
CCenteringentering
LateralityLateralityLaterality is the ability to Laterality is the ability to
coordinate one sidecoordinate one side
of the brain with the other, of the brain with the other, especially in the especially in the
visual, auditory, and kinesthetic visual, auditory, and kinesthetic midfield, the midfield, the
area where the two sides overlaparea where the two sides overlapThis skill is fundamental to the ability to This skill is fundamental to the ability to read, write and communicateread, write and communicate
It is also essential for fluid whole-body It is also essential for fluid whole-body movement, and for the ability to move movement, and for the ability to move and think at the same timeand think at the same time
FocusFocusFocus is the ability to coordinate the Focus is the ability to coordinate the
back and back and
front areas of the brainfront areas of the brainIt is related to comprehension, the It is related to comprehension, the ability to find meaning, and to the ability ability to find meaning, and to the ability to experience details with their contextto experience details with their context
People without this basic skill are said to People without this basic skill are said to have attention disorders and difficulty in have attention disorders and difficulty in comprehensioncomprehension
Focus also allows us to interpret a Focus also allows us to interpret a particular moment or experience in the particular moment or experience in the greater context of our lives or to see greater context of our lives or to see ourselves as unique individuals within ourselves as unique individuals within the larger framework of societythe larger framework of society
CenteringCenteringCentering is the ability to coordinate Centering is the ability to coordinate
the topthe top
and bottom areas of the brainand bottom areas of the brain
This skill is related to This skill is related to OrganisationOrganisation
GroundingGrounding
Feeling and expressing one’s Feeling and expressing one’s emotionsemotions
A sense of personal spaceA sense of personal space
Responding rationally rather than Responding rationally rather than reacting from emotional overlayreacting from emotional overlay
Brain Gym® …Brain Gym® … A skilled teacher A skilled teacher
can identify can identify individual students individual students as candidates to as candidates to benefit from benefit from specific movementsspecific movements
Older students can Older students can easily learn to easily learn to notice times when notice times when they could benefit they could benefit from the various from the various movementsmovements
Consists of simple Consists of simple movements similar movements similar to those performed to those performed naturally by young naturally by young children as part of children as part of the process of the process of brain developmentbrain development
The movements The movements are often done as are often done as a whole group a whole group activity before, activity before, during, or after during, or after schoolschool
Brain Gym® Brain Gym® MovementsMovements
Cross CrawlCross Crawl
Lazy EightLazy Eight
Double DoodleDouble Doodle
The OwlThe Owl
Cross CrawlCross Crawl
Walking in Walking in place motionplace motion
Opposite Opposite elbow elbow touching touching opposite opposite knee knee
Cross Crawl Benefits Cross Crawl Benefits AcademicallyAcademically
Spelling Spelling
WritingWriting
ListeningListening
ReadingReading
ComprehensiComprehensionon
Behavioral/Postural Behavioral/Postural
CorrelationCorrelation
Left / right Left / right coordinationcoordination
Breathing and Breathing and staminastamina
Coordination and Coordination and spatial awarenessspatial awareness
Hearing and visionHearing and vision
Lazy 8’sLazy 8’s
The 8 is drawn The 8 is drawn on its sideon its side
Definite Definite midpointmidpoint
Separate left Separate left and right areasand right areas
Lazy 8 BenefitsLazy 8 BenefitsAcademicallyAcademically
Mechanics of Mechanics of ReadingReading
Symbol Symbol RecognitionRecognition
ComprehensiComprehensionon
Behavioral/PosturalBehavioral/Postural
CorrelationCorrelation
Relaxation of Relaxation of eyes, neck and eyes, neck and shouldersshoulders
Depth perceptionDepth perception
Balance and Balance and coordinationcoordination
Double DoodleDouble Doodle
Bilateral Bilateral drawingdrawing
MidfieldMidfield
Double Doodle Double Doodle BenefitsBenefits
Academic SkillsAcademic Skills
Fine motor Fine motor skillsskills
PenmanshipPenmanship
Cursive WritingCursive Writing
SpellingSpelling
Creative Creative WritingWriting
Behavioral/Behavioral/PosturalPostural
CorrelationCorrelation
Relaxation Relaxation while writingwhile writing
ConcentrationConcentration
Greater skill in Greater skill in activitiesactivities
The OwlThe Owl
Lengthen neck Lengthen neck and shoulder and shoulder musclemuscle
Range of Range of motion and motion and circulation of circulation of blood to the blood to the brain brain
The Owl BenefitsThe Owl Benefits
AcademicAcademic
Listening Listening ComprehensionComprehension
Speech/Oral Speech/Oral LanguageLanguage
Math Math ComputationComputation
Memory Memory
Behavioral/Behavioral/PosturalPostural
CorrelationCorrelation
FocusFocus
AttentionAttention
MemoryMemory
Primary Aims and Primary Aims and Outcomes of the Brain Outcomes of the Brain
Gym® ProgramGym® Program
It prepares students of all ages to It prepares students of all ages to practice and practice and master the skills for the mechanics of master the skills for the mechanics of learninglearning
It includes a simple teaching format, a It includes a simple teaching format, a language for language for stress-free learning and a series of stress-free learning and a series of movements for movements for integrating learning into the physiologyintegrating learning into the physiology
It offers the learner a self-directed It offers the learner a self-directed system with which system with which to pace individual learning needs, to pace individual learning needs, building self-building self- esteem through the successful mastery esteem through the successful mastery of skillsof skills
Compared with other Compared with other Educational Educational
Programs, how is Programs, how is Brain Gym® Brain Gym® Distinctive?Distinctive?
It addresses the physical (rather than the It addresses the physical (rather than the mental) mental) components of learningcomponents of learning
It builds on what the learner already It builds on what the learner already knows and does knows and does wellwell
It meets the learner just as he or she is, It meets the learner just as he or she is, without any without any judgement of capabilitiesjudgement of capabilities
It teaches the student key elements of It teaches the student key elements of learning theory learning theory that he or she will be able to applythat he or she will be able to apply
It prepares the learner to learnIt prepares the learner to learn Not only for the classroom. Can be used Not only for the classroom. Can be used
just as just as effectively in business, sports and the artseffectively in business, sports and the arts
Do Do StudentsStudents Like Like Brain Gym®?Brain Gym®?
Love itLove it
Request itRequest it
Teach it to friendsTeach it to friends
Integrate it into their own livesIntegrate it into their own lives
Do Do TeachersTeachers Like Like Brain Gym®?Brain Gym®?
You bet! Teachers typically report that Brain You bet! Teachers typically report that Brain
Gym®Gym® Requires little Requires little additional training additional training
Easy to teachEasy to teach
AdaptableAdaptable
InexpensiveInexpensive
Easy to timetableEasy to timetable
Caters for all learning Caters for all learning styles & individual styles & individual student needsstudent needs
No TechnologyNo Technology
No testingNo testing
Benefits are immediate Benefits are immediate with instant with instant improvements in improvements in attitude, attention and attitude, attention and disciplinediscipline
Assists in clearing Assists in clearing emotional stress that emotional stress that affects students both affects students both mentally and physicallymentally and physically
It enhances (rather than It enhances (rather than replaces) other replaces) other programs and the programs and the current curriculumcurrent curriculum
ResourcesResources
BooksBooks
BooksBooks
WebsitesWebsites
To access information about Brain Gym®:To access information about Brain Gym®:http://www.braingym.org.au/http://www.braingym.org.au/
To purchase Brain Gym® books:To purchase Brain Gym® books:http://www.braingym.com.au/http://www.braingym.com.au/
Provides illustrations of the Brain Gym® activitiesProvides illustrations of the Brain Gym® activitieswww.witchhazel.it/braingym.htmwww.witchhazel.it/braingym.htm
Brain Gym® Brain Gym® SummarySummary
Simple and Enjoyable Simple and Enjoyable Movements Movements
Whole Brain LearningWhole Brain Learning
Behaviour and AcademicsBehaviour and Academics
QuestionsQuestions