Moving learning, a term that is used indiscriminately when it comes to growing children and stimulating their development. In this article I will talk about moving learning and give some exercise playing tips!
What is moving learning?
Often the emphasis at school is on teaching children to sit still and pay attention. But not every child’s brain can stay ‘on’. So what to do with fidgety children or children who are understimulated? How do you involve dreamy children in the lesson. Especially with movement. Movement has many advantages! By moving, substances are released in the brain that help the child to concentrate. So in other words… By moving, wiggling and fidgeting, these children can better keep themselves on track. Movement is, as it were, gasoline for the brain.
The bottom line is that by wiggling, fidgeting or standing at the table, you can better absorb and process information. Moving learning is therefore essential! You can embed movement in your curriculum. Let children jump at words with a ‘century’ and, for example, clap their hands at the sound ‘ieuw’.
Of course, it is not always possible to embed moving learning in your class program. Tools such as a wobble cushion, vibrating pad or fidgeting material can then be used as a teacher to help mobile children in the classroom. Compared to regular lessons, physically active math and language lessons certainly have advantages. Through more attention and concentration, these children are much better at the lesson. Moreover, the ‘motor information’ is an additional source of information, which stimulates learning. Be sure to check out our Pinterest page for tips such as energizers and moving learning.
What are the benefits of Moving Learning
Moving learning, but also using energizers in the classroom can not only help the wobbly child, it can help an entire class regain focus. Read the benefits here:
- Movement increases the production of nerve cells;
- Moving learning creates more connections between nerve cells;
- Movement contributes to increased synapse plasticity (the ability to change the connection between two nerve cells of strength);
- Moving learning improves blood flow to the brain;
- Movement activates the central nervous system;
- Energizers increase substances such as adrenaline and dopamine.
Moving Learning for Education
Try to think about how you can make passive activities, moving.
- For example, do you read a story in class, where all the children are seated? Try to do that standing up or let children make certain movements with certain words, then you are already more active.
2. Practice the tables in class. For example, try to give the outcome of a table and let the children guess which table it belongs to and then, for example, let that number clap or jump.
3. Use energizers throughout the day. Think ahead. Do you have an activity in the offing that requires a lot of concentration or where the child has to sit still for a long time. Then let the children move before or after. That can be done with just a song from JustDance or something.
4. You hold up a letter. The children shout which letter it is. Then the first children of each group run to the other side via a trail. There are pictures here. They look for the picture that starts with this letter and hold it up. The group checks to see if it’s correct. The children run back and a new letter is called.
5. Assignment game: The students roll a dice and look for an assignment card with that number in the square. They then read and execute the command.
6. Run your rot: The teacher mentions a word with a two-character sound (for example, oe or au) and the students run to the hoop with the right sound. On the website of Teacher24 you will find about the Do-Friday, also plenty of suggestions for a moving learning activity.
7. Ideal for outdoor activity at school or at home: Create an obstacle course for the children, also use the Muffik sensory puzzle mats.
8. Pendulum ticker and arithmetic. Check out Miss Anja’s blog
9. Clapping games are always easily appreciated by children. Or songs with movement such as ‘head shoulders, knee and toe’. See more suggestions for energizers on Miss Maike’s blog
10. The IWB contains assignments to which children must answer with a movement. For example, they play games by making a jump with each letter.
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