6/25/2023 0 Comments Hook ups brain gymPut the right hand across the body to the left knee as you raise it, and then do the same thing for the left hand on the right knee just as if you were marching. Place your index and thumb into the slight indentations below the collar bone on each side of the sternum.Put one hand so that there is as wide a space as possible between the thumb and index finger.Here are a few examples of the PACE movements: Brain Buttons Before beginning their exercises students are advised to drink lots of water to keep hydrated before and during class since the brain consists of 90% water. Many educators use Brain Gym activities (PACE: Positive, Active, Clear, Energetic) as warm-up exercises for reading, writing and mathematics because it was found that overall concentration in the classroom improved. Moving the whole body in the shape of a lazy eight leads to increasing focus and attention, spatial awareness, lateralization and bilateral integration of eyes, ears and limbs. The movement consists of tracing a lateral eight over and over, sweeping across the lateral midline of the body again and again, which activates both the right and left hemispheres of the brain encouraging them to process together. Lazy eights have been recognized and used for years by occupational therapists, developmental optometrists and various practitioners as a very valuable tool for learning disabilities. One of the most important Brain Gym movements that integrate both hemispheres in the brain is the “lazy eight” or the “infinity” sign. When all parts of the brain communicate together, then “laterality”, “focusing” and “centering” take place. To create brain coordination, the Dennisons put forth the idea of coordinating the right and left hemispheres of the brain along with the front and back and top and bottom. Learning is not an isolated aspect of just brain functioning, but rather an integral part of every nerve and every cell connection to our bodies. When the brain has energy, the learning process improves. These movements are based on the fundamental idea that simple exercises help increase blood flow to the brain which provides oxygen and keeps the brain more alert. They designed 26 Brain Gym activities in a series of exercises that improve academic performance. Please read the following articles that explain the educational kinesiology of BrainGym and to see examples of exercises you can do with your child at home.Brain Gym or Educational Kinesiology (Edu-K) was developed in the 1980s by educators Paul Dennison PhD and Gail Dennison who recognized the concept of “brain-body” integration. Come join us sometime and experience it yourself! Our Brain Gym and meditation time is something I look forward to every day. Most children look forward to sharing their thoughts and meditations which vary from vacation experiences, to works in the classroom that they want to do, to thoughts about peace and friendship. We conclude our Brain Gym time with two minutes of silent meditation followed by a time of sharing. These energy exercises activate the neocortex and refocus the electrical energy back to the reasoning centers, thus regaining coordination of thought and action. Like electrical circuits in buildings become overloaded, our energy circuits overload at times as well. Other movements include energy exercises such as brain buttons, hook-ups and positive points. ![]() These mid-line movements help increase uper-lower body coordination which are necessary for both gross and fine motor skills when both the right and left hemisphere of the brain are working together. The children follow the teacher through a variety of mid-line movements, such as the cross-crawl, neck rolls, and lazy eights. ![]() Following our outdoor time, we drink water to get our neurons firing and begin Brain Gym. We begin our days outside on the playground for a bit of fresh air, socialization and playtime. Visit our class at 9:00 am and you will see the children getting water and getting ready to start our day… the Brain Gym way.
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