{Disclaimer}:
Yeah, so this post isn't really much about Herman, it's more about getting your kids moving...Herman just seemed like a title that would make you want to come and read...sorry for the trickery, but now that you're here, you might as well stay!
Happy Tuesday...that would make tomorrow Wednesday, which makes us 1/2 way through the week, which means I have Media AND whatever special I have {I have a hard time keeping track of my specials because we have an A, B, C rotation...I can't even begin to tell you how many times we waited at the gym doors only to find out we have Music...} which makes for an "easy" afternoon. Lord knows we need it. Our mornings remain the glorious wonders they've always been, but for some reason we come back from lunch and HOLY TOLEDO...the kicker is, we have the early lunch {brunch} so that means the afternoons are l o n g!
It's time to pull out the brain gym. I used to do brain gym a ton, and for whatever reason {crazy-full-absolutely-no-wiggle-room-curriculum} I stopped. We had a PD day on Friday and part of it was spent refreshing our memories on brain gym activities. Do you use it in your classroom? I started today and plan to incorporate it daily..it's quick, easy and effective. Click {HERE} for more information. We do the series of movements called PACE. Which is described in the linked article. This video shows how do do the various movements...it's a little hokey and they do each movement for a LONG time...in the classroom you'd shorten it, and you don't have to all do it simultaneously.
Another activity our school does to help our kids stay focused, cross the midline, the whole nine yards is Motor Parents {Motor Moms and Dads}. Parent volunteers run the program out in our hallway. We have balance boards, balance beams, tunnels, Sit n' Spins, mats, mini-tramps, etc. all set up in stations. The kids are pulled for 5 minutes tops. They go through each station, practice counting by 5's, 10's, add, subtract, spell, etc. while doing these quick motor activites. Read about it {HERE}.
I'm also thinking of incorporating yoga. Do any of you use yoga in the classroom? What do you think of it? Our OT gave us some yoga cards that use kid language to explain the different poses. I'm willing to try anything at this point!
Now for Herman. I wish I had a picture of Herman. He's our scrap box. Whenever we do craftivities we feed our scraps to Hermie. He just gobbles those scrapple-ies right up. Click on the picture to grab your own Herman.
P.S. I have a new blog look coming soon...I'm so dang excited!!!!
P.P.S. We are having a Michigan Bloggy Bash! Head on over to Amy's blog @ The Resource{ful} Room! Bloggers AND followers are welcome!!!! Hey, if you don't live close by...come anyway, I have a blow up mattress with your name on it...only the best for my bloggy friends!
