Friday, January 21, 2011

An Experience: 8 year old had difficulty staying on-task and awake in classroom

Yesterday I wrote about whole brain learning. As I have worked with children in the school setting, it has been interesting to me to note that some have a difficult time crossing their midline. I have noticed this as I have taught classes Brain Gym Activities and worked with them individually. I have observed this more readily as they do "cross crawls". They have trouble touching their elbow to the opposite knee. When they have trouble doing this, it is an indication that they are having the same difficulty with using both sides of their brain or the whole brain. It is not surprising to note that they are children who struggle in learning.
Last week I had a young boy come to see me who was having a very difficult time staying awake and on task in his classroom. As we did cross crawls, he could not get the opposite elbow and leg working together to meet. When I simplified it by having him touch his hand to the opposite knee, he was able to do that. After he had done that a few times, he was able to practice getting his elbow to the opposite knee more easily. When he returned to class, he was more alert and better able to function in his classroom. Later in the day, I suggested to the teacher that he do cross crawls in the classroom and/or the class do some Brain Gym Activities together as a part of their routine.
*He loved doing the Brain Gym Activities even though he was a little frustrated when he couldn't get his body to do it "right" at first.

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