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