Summer Break: Creating Your Plan

You have decided some things you would like your children to do this summer and the atmosphere you would like in your home. How can you structure the days and weeks to successfully reach those objectives?

One good way is to create a comfortable, but firm, structure for each day. Determine a time frame and responsibilities for each person. It is best to have a routine. Your day can be as detailed and structured as you want it to be. An more loosely structured example might be:

· Awake and out of bed by 8 am

· Eat breakfast, put dishes in the dishwasher

· Get dressed.

· Check list of chores on frig.

· Complete chores by 10 am.

· Free time

· Lunch at noon. Check schedule for responsibility

· Quiet time til 1:30 This could be time for reading, academic skills, nap, etc.

· Dinner 6 pm

· Bath and bed 9:30 pm

It is vital that your goals and expectations are clear. KIS is also good advice here. Think your plan through, write it down (Remember it is only a wish, if it isn’t written down. We know what happens with wishes.), and compare it with your goals. Some questions to ask yourself are: Will this plan bring the goals to reality? Does it support what I want? Am I being reasonable? Is it too much? Do I need more details or expectations?

Tip: Brain Gym PACE would be a great item to put into your schedule. It can help get the day off to a more smooth and focused start, will be great during a quiet time or when working on academic skills, and will help when tension creeps into the day.

Summer Break: What is it going to be Like ar Your Home?

When summer break comes, children are not on their regular schedule. As a result, the whole family can be affected. If they go to a daycare or babysitter while you work each day, things may be much the same. However, if not, life can be very different.

Children need structure and are happier when they have it. Sometimes we think and may say, they have been in school and need a break. That is true. They have and do. However, they thrive when they have some kind of schedule. To create yours, determine what you would like your life to be like with them at home. Some question to consider might be: Do I want them to be up by a certain time? Do I want them to do daily and weekly chores? When would I like they completed? What guidelines do I want to have concerning meals? Some items to address might be time, preparation, clean-up, etc. Do I want them to read and do other activities to maintain their academic skills while away from the classroom?

As you take some time to seriously consider these types of things, make a plan to incorporate them, and follow your plan you may be surprised with the results. When structure, responsibility, and purpose are incorporated in children’s lives, their self-esteem flourishes. They are more positive, easier to motivate, happier, and more fun.

Next: “I know what I want, how do I make a plan so that I will get the results I want?"

Summer Break is Coming. What is yours going to be like?

May is speeding by and soon summer break will be here! What is yours going to be like?

Now is the time to think about it and decide.

Now, before it is here, is the time to determine the kind of summer break you want to have with your children, plan what needs to happen or not, and how you are going to bring it to reality. You may be thinking, "I don't want to plan. I want it to be a relaxing time without a lot of pressure." I understand. However, even the most casual, relaxed atmosphere has some ground rules that keep it in integrity.

Be sure to check in, because I'll be posting ideas and suggestions in the next 10 days.

Remember "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

Brain Gym® Works for Students, Especially Cross Crawls

Students who participated in Reading and Math Academy at Sunset View Elementary the last school year were encouraged to raise the level of their work by increasing their energy, excitement and enthusiasm to learn. Although our students were eager at the beginning of their sessions to work hard, we found that by the middle of the session students’ focus and concentration were fading. I asked, “What can we do to maintain the mental stamina that our students need to accomplish their work for a 30-minute session of reading or math?”

Brain Gym movements came to our rescue! Earlier during the year Sara Banister instructed the Academy tutors on the purpose of Brain Gym and encouraged us to use it in the tutoring lab. We were very pleased with the results after using Brain Gym. The Cross Crawls where students touch the opposite knee with the opposite elbow and alternate, making sure they cross their upper body, seemed to be the most effective brain gym movement that improved our students focus and encouraged positive student behavior. It also increased our students’ energy and enthusiasm for learning. Applying Brain Gym in the middle of a reading session took very little time, required no set-up, and was used whenever needed. How simple is that? Brain Gym is movement with purpose and it works! Teri Yamada

Cross Crawls: Prepare for Tests; Let go of Frustration

To engage the whole brain before beginning testing, do some Cross Crawls. They help recall information, resolve problems, and remain calm.

Have you ever gotten frustrated and the harder you try, the more you seem to make mistakes? When that happens, you are in what is called "survival mode”. You are not accessing your whole brain. If you will do some Cross Crawls, it can help you get the whole brain working again. Your frustration will diminish and you will be able to perform easier and more accurately.

I saw this recently as I worked with one of my tutoring students. As he worked on some exercises, he became tense and began making more mistakes increasing his frustration. I asked him to do some Cross Crawls. After he finished, he sat down and was able to proceed easily.

Cross Crawls

Bring one leg and opposite arm together. Then bring the other leg and its opposite arm together. Repeat rhythmically for about one minute. 

Hook-Ups: Great tool to Calm Test-taking Concerns

Taking tests can result in feelings of concern, fear, and stress. When this happens, we are more likely to have trouble focusing, remembering, problem-solving, and doing our best. Brain Gym's Hook-ups is a tool we can use to calm down, focus, and organize our attention for the task at hand.

Hook-ups can be done standing, sitting, or lying down.

Part 1: Sit quietly. Breathe deeply.

Cross your right ankle over the left.

Cross your right wrist over the left. With palms together, thumbs down,and fingers intertwined, bring your hands up under your chin.

Hold like this for a minute or more breathing slowly.

As you inhale, touch the tip of your tongue on roof of your mouth just behind the teeth. Relax the tongue as you exhale.

If it feels safe, close your eyes and continue to breathe slowly and deeply.

Part 2: Uncross ankles and arms. Put fingertips together. Continue to breath slowly.

Hook-ups are a great tool when we want to be on task and using our whole brain for optimal performance. I have seem some dramatic results for students using them.

Coming up next: Brain Gym Activity for reading and writing.

Water, So Simple, but So Vital!

One of the simplest things we can do to ensure we do our best is drink enough water to be adequately hydrated. Even though it is simple, it is often challenging to drink the water we need or even to remember to drink when we are busy.

When we have adequate hydration, all of our academic skills are improved. Water intake is extremely important when stress is anticipated such as before test taking. Water improves concentration, alleviates fatigue, improves mental and physical coordination, and enhances communication and social skills.

Why is water such a big deal?

About two-thirds of our body is made up of water which is an excellent conductor of electric energy. It facilitates electrical currents in our body that are conducted between our brain and sensory organs. All of the electrical and chemical actions of our brain and central nervous system depend on this.

Several things deplete our body of water leaving our cells dehydrated. One of these is stress-both psychological and environmental. Another is working with electrical equipment, such as computers, TV, etc. We may think that we are getting water through food or other drinks, while in reality, we are eating processed foods that don’t contain water and, like caffeinated drinks, may be dehydrating our bodies. When we are consuming these items, we may need to drink more water rather than depend on them for the fluid that our body needs.

As you prepare to do your best, be sure that your water intake is adequate. The most efficient way to have the water we drink absorbed is when it is taken frequently and in small amounts at room temperature.

Tomorrow: Hook-ups invite calm while focusing and organizing scattered attention.

May =Testing for Many

For teachers, students, and parents, May is the culmination of the school year. It is time to complete all projects, review for the year has already begun, and end of the year testing is at hand.

Everyone has worked hard all year, so we want our students to be and do their best. There are some things that can help them to do just that. This week I will be sharing some tips to help our children and students do their best while testing.

The first two things I automatically think of are several nights of good rest and eating breakfast. We all behave differently when we are sleepy or tired. Adults usually become sluggish when tired while children tend to overcompensate and speed up. In a study involving 2,463 children aged 6-15, children with sleep problems were more likely to be inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive, and display oppositional behaviors. So do your best to insure that they have a good night of sleep and, if possible, several nights.

Even though breakfast time can be hectic and rushed, it is important to have breakfast. Two rules for breakfast are:

• Never skip it!
• It must include protein!

If you and/or your children not like the typical breakfast food? That is fine. Last night's left over tuna casserole or a peanut butter sandwich will be fine. For other suggestions for breakfast see "Healthy Breakfast Ideas" under Topics.