Engelstone S Article Health Journal

Movement is vital to learning! How often do we hear this, yet studies show our children continue to tip the scales and spend more time in front of the television and computer. There are many technology options for our students today, and though it is vital and necessary to use, it is also important for our students to get up and move to stimulate their brains. By simply giving your students a brief movement time in the classroom, it will help them tremendously when they do have to sit and listen. I believe classroom teachers will benefit from the "move more and sit less" expectation. Moving helps boost learning and helps keep our students healthy. In a book written recently by John J. Ratey called "Spark," he explains that the "brain works just as muscles do - growing with use, withering with inactivity - and shows why getting your heart and lungs pumping can mean the difference between a calm, focused mind and a harried, inattentive self." There is a connection between exercise and the brain, and as educators, we need to remember this when we are planning our lessons, and incorporate more movement into our classrooms.