Brain Gym

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Brain Gym

• Laura Merrill

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What Does The Word Brain Gym Mean?

• Kinesiology
• -Greek word
• Kinesis

• Education
• -Latin word
• Educare

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What Is Brain Gym?

• Simple movements
• Enhance whole brain learning

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Who Researched Brain Gym?

• Dr. Paul Dennison
• Showed the effects of movement upon learning

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How Does The Brain Play A Part in Brain Gym?

• Brain is like a hologram

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Brain Correlation

• Left hemisphere-right side of the body
• Right hemisphere-left side of the body
• Thinking of an X both sides of the brain at the
  same time

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Break Down Of The Brain

• Right Hemisphere
• Reflex
• Scans
• Music, tone, rhythm, feel
• Big picture
• Blends words and thoughts together

• Left Hemisphere
• Try
• Zeros in
• Language, repetition and drill
• Details
• Breaks words and thoughts apart

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How is Brain Gym Used?

• Developing bilateral movements
• Use both brain hemispheres in harmony

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Some Brain Gym Activities

• Cross Crawl
• Lazy Eight
• Double Doodle
• The Owl

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The Cross Crawl

• Walking in place motion
• Opposite elbow touching opposite knee

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The Cross Crawl

• Behavioral / Postual Correlation
• Left / right coordination
• Breathing and stamina
• Coordination and spatial awareness
• Hearing and vision

• Academically
• Spelling
• Writing
• Listening
• Reading
• Comprehension

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The Lazy 8s

• The 8 is drawn on its side
• Definite midpoint
• Separate left and right areas

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The Lazy 8

• Academic
• Mechanics of reading
• Symbol recognition
• Comprehension

• Behavioral / Postural Correlation
• Relaxation of eyes, neck and shoulders
• Depth perception
• Balance and coordination

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The Double Doodle

• Bilateral drawing
• Midfield

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The Double Doodle

• Academic Skills
• Fine motor skills
• Penmanship
• Cursive Writing
• Spelling
• Creative Writing

• Behavioral / Postural Correlation
• Relaxation while writing
• Concentration
• Greater skill in activities

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The Owl

• Lengthen neck and shoulder muscle
• Range of motion and circulation of blood to the
  brain

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The Owl

• Behavioral / Postural Correlation
• Focus
• Attention
• Memory

• Academic
• Listening comprehension
• Speech / oral reports
• Math computation
• Memory

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Why Is Brain Gym Not Used More Extensively?

• Motivate
• Entice
• Reinforce
• Drill
• Stamp-in

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Do students like Brain Gym?

• Love it
• Request it
• Teach it to friends
• Integrate it into their own lives

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Will teachers enjoy Brain Gym?
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Children are not

• Lazy
• Withdrawn
• Aggressive
• Angry

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Brain Gym Recap

• Simple and enjoyable movements
• Whole brain learning
• Behavior and academics

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Do you want to find more about Brain Gym?

• Brain Gym
• by Paul E. Dennison and Gail E. Dennison
• Brain Gym Simple Activities for Whole Brain
  Learning
• by Paul E. Dennison and Gail E. Dennison
• Smart Moves
• by Carla Hannaford, Ph.D.
• Neuro Pathways
• by Vito Germinario