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Get Going First Thing!

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Calendar time in the classroom is my favorite time of day.

It's first thing in the morning, and sure, I'm a morning person, but that's not why I love our morning routine so much.

The Morning Calendar Routine (MCR) that I have set up is not only differentiated to meet the needs of all of my students, but it's functional and it's routine. Nothing about our morning routine ever changes. It's how we start every single morning.

#strugglenomore

You will no longer struggle to meet the needs of all of your students during your calendar routine.

The first hour of our day is planned and differentiated. From day 1 of the school year. To day 187. And it's once and done, something I never need to think about or plan again.

There are, what... 7 actual learning hours in a school day... and I have one full hour accounted for. Every single day. And I only planned once.

If you'd rather listen and watch me explain the MCR, you can watch this video. If you'd rather read, just skip over the video 🙂

Every morning starts with students putting away their coats and backpacks, and getting their communication notebooks out.

BEFORE CALENDAR

At the front of the classroom is the whiteboard with the calendar, and student desks facing the whiteboard. Student desks are the traditional desks that anyone would see in a regular ed, inclusion, or resource classroom. I think it is important that students are exposed to and expected to sit in traditional desks, so that is how we start the morning.

Depending upon how many students are in the classroom, I set the desks up in a single row, or in groups of 3-5 students.

If a child eats breakfast, an adult will take the child to the cafeteria to get breakfast and then come back to the classroom. Students also take this morning time to use the restroom. This 10-minute time period gets us ready to learn as we wait for the morning announcements and the Pledge.

(This is what the calendar looks like on the front board.)

DURING CALENDAR

After the announcements and the Pledge, it is time for the Morning Calendar Routine (MCR) to begin.

Each student gets a calendar mat.

What I love about this mat is the ability to differentiate it for each student, and the ability to put the pieces in any order to fit any classroom.

This is the order I chose for my classroom because it matches how we do calendar on the front board.

I put it together this way because it mimics how a child reads a book. Left to right, top to bottom, and then they move to the next page. So we do month first, then the day, then the year. Then we will talk about the days of the week, etc.

So as we are filling in the calendar on the front board, students are filling in, circling answers, and answering questions using the icons on the calendar mat.

In my classroom, our mats are on the larger construction paper, but file folders work just as well. I laminate the mats so students can use dry erase markers each day, and then erase their work with a magic eraser.

The Calendar is interactive. I use velcro, but you could certainly use magnetic tape on a whiteboard.

This video does a great explanation of what my calendar looks like and how we work through the calendar and use the calendar mats.

To hold all of the "extra" calendar pieces in a spot that is easily accessible each day, I use these magnetic pockets. They're super sturdy and the magnet is really strong.

You can certainly use any type pocket or magnetic shelf or bin to store your pieces.

When it comes to the layout of the calendar itself, you can use any layout you prefer and make it fit the needs of your classroom. The pieces would look great on a white tri-fold board, and then you can easily have calendar be a center in your classroom.

Make the calendar work for you, not the other way around! The plan is to only prep once 🙂

After we finish calendar as whole-group, students will clean off their mats and they are told to go get "your binder".

IT'S BINDER TIME

My classroom is color coded ( read more here), so each of my students is assigned a color at the beginning of the school year.

One of the first skills a child learns is how to identify their name, as well as colors. By labeling color coded bins with student names, all of my students are able to find their bins, cups, etc. independently.

I store the Morning Calendar Binders (MCBs) in a medium-sized bin, in no particular order. Students don't struggle finding their binder, because they know to look for their color and their name.

We complete the binders at our desks, and we are all working on the same thing, but not necessarily the same page at the same time. Students work at their own pace.

Again, the video at the very beginning of this blog post goes in to great depth as to how I use this binder and what exactly is in the student binders. Skip to minute 5:30 to jump right into the binder 🙂

Student Adapted Work Binders (AWBs) are very specific and individualized to the specific needs and ability level of each child. The great thing about the Morning AWB download is that all of the differentiation is provided for you, you just need to print and prep.

Leveling within the binders goes from simple matching, to manipulating answer pieces to spell words and show what you know, to tracing words, to writing words.

You can also find the answer to more of your Adapted Work Binder questions in this blog post here.

FOR EARLY FINISHERS

At the beginning of the school year, our morning routine may take us 45-60 minutes. Once we get the routine down, it can be anywhere from 30-45 minutes, depending on the day.

But there are some students who will finish before other students. Work doesn't stop when they finish calendar and the binder.

This days of the week freebie is what my students who "finish early" work on. Ya'll know how much I love working on our fine motor skills.

Depending on the student, it may be a cut/paste activity or I will print each day of the week on colored cardstock, laminate, and add velcro.

Again, it's student specific. But it's all about prepping once and being done.

ARE YOU READY TO STREAMLINE YOUR MORNING?

The Morning Calendar Routine (MCR) has streamlined my morning schedule. For my students who need that explicit step-by-step routine and schedule to follow, this MCR starts their day ( and everyone else's day) off on a stress-free, predictable note.

This MCR is great because it's simple and easy for repeat substitutes to follow, and even easier for paraprofessionals and aides to teach.

Grab all of the resources you need to implement my MCR in your classroom, and become one with your calendar ( super corny, yeah?):
* Interactive Calendar and Calendar Mat
* Morning Adapted Work Binder
* Free Days of the Week Writing Pages
What questions do you still have about this stress-free, prep-once-and-done Morning Calendar Routine?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

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Morning Routine for the Self-Contained Classroom - Mrs. D's Corner

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Calendar time in the classroom is my favorite time of day. It's first thing in the morning, and sure, I'm a morning person, but that's not why I love our morning routine so much. The Morning Calendar Routine (MCR) that I have set up is not only differentiated to meet the needs of all of my students, but it's functional and it's routine.

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Although many educators and parents know about the correlation between learning and movement, many disregard the connection once children get beyond kindergarten. But did you know that encourging students to sit still while learning and even completing homework could do more damage than good?

Sitting is Bad for the Body and the Brain

The human body was not designed to sit for long periods of time, and research is now suggesting that a sedentary life is as detrimental to one's health as smoking cigarettes. Sadly, many school age children are now sitting in excess of 8 to 12 hours a day, and this has a negative impact on their bodies as well as their brains.

Three Common Misconceptions:

Sitting still improves learning.

Students should stay in from recess when they don't finish their classwork.

Classrooms become unruly when students are allowed to move around.

Bringing Movement into the Classroom:

Educators who insist that their students remain seated during the entire class period are not promoting optimal conditions for learning. Instead, teachers should purposefully integrate movement into everyday learning such as daily stretching, walks, dance, drama, seat-changing, and energizing brain breaks.

Why Does Movement Benefit Learning?

Did you know that the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the brain that processes learning? When you encourage your students to be active, this:

stimulates nerve cells to bind which is what learning is, at a cellular level.

develops new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus which enhances memory and learning.

triggers the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which boosts the neurons' ability to communicate with one another.

increases the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which energizes the body and elevates mood.

provides oxygen-rich blood that feeds the brain for optimal performance.

raises blood pressure and epinephrine levels among sluggish learners.

improves the ability to handle stress.

exercises the muscles, heart, lungs, and bones and strengthens the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and corpus callosum.

fosters hemisphere integration.

enhances social skills and emotional intelligence.

Kinesthetic Ideas for the Classroom:

Here are a few ideas that can help you to integrate movement into your classroom.

1. Teach appropriate movements that your students can make while sitting at their desk such as bouncing their legs under the table.

2. Incorporate movement into lessons. Allow students to move from one "learning station" to the next where short, interactive activities can engage students.

3. Do crosslaterial movements that go across the midline to integrate the two hemispheres of the brain.

4. Offer one-minute kinesthetic breaks in the middle of class where students can do a brain break activity , stretch, or even do a few exercises such as jumping jacks.

5. Allow learners to stand and move around the class.

6. Integrate activities such as acting out lessons or let your students create plays that illustrate the concepts.

7. Offer a kinesthetic corner in your classroom where students can stretch on a yoga mat or roll on an exercise ball.

8. Place information to be learned onto balloons or balls so that the students can review material by passing props to one another.

9. Get standing desks, kinesthetic workstations , and chairs that allow students to move and bounce. I use the Zenergy ball chair in my office, and I find that it helps my students as well as myself. Place the highly kinesthetic learners on the sides of the class, so that their movement does not visually distract other students.

Clearly, movement is key in the learning process and it also improves overall health and wellbeing. I hope you too can support this in your classrooms and individual work with students.

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials . She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Go Dyslexia , in Ossining, NY. To learn more about her products and services, you can go to https://godyslexia.com/ , www.goodsensorylearning.com , www.dyslexiamaterials.com & www.learningtolearn.biz

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The Benefits of Kinesthetics in the Classroom

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Although many educators and parents know about the correlation between learning and movement, many disregard the connection once children get beyond kindergarten. But did you know that encourging students to sit still while learning and even completing homework could do more damage than good?

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Songs that encourage participation through movement

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When my son was eight, he still struggled to recognize the difference between a capital "H" and a capital "I."

He'd been singing the alphabet song since preschool, coloring way too many different pictures of hippos and igloos, and practicing those two letters on his handwriting sheets for almost five years.

But still, when he saw an "H" he faltered. When an "I" came up, he would look at me in confusion.

I was frustrated. He was frustrated.

One day, as I grew more and more irritated during our phonics lesson, my son had finally had it. "What do you want it to be?" he cried. "It could be an H or and I. They are both the same!" I took a breath, preparing to tell him one more time that they were not, in fact, the same, when it suddenly dawned on me.

A hand written capital "H" looks like a capital "I" turned on its side.

I realized he was seeing the letters three dimensionally. It was like I took a chair, knocked it over, and then said to call it something else, knowing that it is still a chair, no matter what position it is in.

It was a moment that changed how I teach forever.

I am happy to report that the very same day we had this discovery, my son learned the difference between the two letters and never had another issue with them again.

How?

We created a capital "H" and a capital "I" in different colored play dough. As he formed them, we talked about the subtle differences between the two, and we turned them on their sides to compare. When they dried, we took them outside, placed them on either side of our trampoline and I had him jump back and forth between them, calling out their names.
That day, it became clear to me that more traditional teaching methods were not going to help my son.
He was an out-of-the-box learner and needed an out-of-box approach - one that involved hands-on activities and movement.

That was almost four years ago. We still incorporate hands-on learning and movement into our learning every single day. My son needs it. It is how he retains information. It is how he helps his brain calm down and really focus. It is how he makes progress in subjects that are typically difficult.

He has been on the trampoline almost every day these past four years to practice reading.

We complete speech therapy and math practice with sidewalk chalk.

I find hands-on activities for every science and history lesson.

He is learning. He is learning at a pace consistent with his age. He is learning in a way that makes it engaging and fun. He is learning in a way that makes sense to him.
I have come to believe that a struggling learner is often struggling with how we teach, and not just what we teach.
Hands-On Learning and Movement For The Struggling Learner

In my experience, there are five main benefits to incorporating hands-on activities and movement into homeschooling a struggling learner.

Comprehension

If my son is struggling with a new concept, in any subject, I find that adding in something tactile along with a little movement, always helps. For example, in order for my son to grasp the concept of fractions, we baked a pizza and then sliced it. We jumped back and forth between equivalent fractions on the trampoline. The math manipulatives helped, but he needed more tactile and kinesthetic activities to really comprehend the concept.

Even more so than comprehension, hands-on activities and movement help my son retain learning much faster and effectively. For example, for a long time, my son struggled to remember the names of the continents. We sang a song and pointed to them on the map, but it didn't seem to help. Finally, I came across a map of the world rug. We put it out and then practiced jumping from one continent to the next. Within a few days, he could remember and transfer the learning back to the traditional map on the wall.

Motivation

My child works hard every single day in his learning. He often feels defeated and overwhelmed when his brain just doesn't do what he wants it to do. Because hands-on learning and movement is always more fun for him, I find we have a lot fewer battles over getting started each morning, and that he stays motivated longer, than when we employ a more traditional approach.

Sensory Input

For a child with sensory processing disorder, being out-of-synch can derail any learning, no matter what the approach. I find that incorporating movement and hands-on activities helps my child stay more regulated throughout the day. It's a bit like occupational therapy is a built-in element of our learning.

Confidence Building

More than any other benefit, the increase in my son's confidence when learning has made this approach 100% worthwhile. He now sees himself as capable and smart, something that felt impossible when I stuck to more traditional methods of instruction.
Is it difficult sometimes for me to come-up with all of the activities my son needs? The honest answer is yes.
But it was much more difficult to review the same two letters, over and over again for five years. It was heartbreaking to see my son lose confidence in his ability to learn.

Yes, it's messy and crazy sometimes, but I believe it's worth it.
Want to take a peek at what happens when hands-on learning gets a little too hands-on?
Join me today at The Homeschool Sisters, where I ask the question, Is This Self-Directed Learning or Complete Chaos?

This post is part a new series -

5 Days Of Homeschooling Children With Learning Differences

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Hands-On Learning and Movement For The Struggling Learner * Not The Former Things

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When my son was eight, he still struggled to recognize the difference between a capital 'H' and a capital 'I.' He'd been singing the alphabet song since preschool, coloring way too many different pictures of hippos and igloos, and practicing those two letters on his handwriting sheets for almost five years.

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Classroom Movement Cards

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Brain Breaks provide a needed opportunity for movement in the classroom. Besides strengthening your students' muscles and improving their balance, coordination, and gross motor skills, there are academic and behavioral benefits. Research shows a correlation between purposeful movement and academic achievement, attitude, and behavior.

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HS 047: Three Ways to Incorporate Movement and Improve Focus by Crystal Wagner

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Pam Barnhill: Homeschool Mom, Author, Blogger - The Homeschool Solutions Show with Pam Barnhill

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Pam Barnhill: Homeschool Mom, Author, Blogger

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The Homeschool Solutions Show with Pam Barnhill

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HS 047: Three Ways to Incorporate Movement and Improve Focus by Crystal Wagner

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Special Needs Yoga Program

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Yoga for the Special Child - The Sonia Sumar Method

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Game to promote movement in students

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I have especially seen the benefits teaching dance to kiddos who have special needs. I love dance!

I was most likely born with a pair of dancing' shoes on my feet.

I'm a certified Autism Movement Therapist, Yoga certified and almost done with my Graduate degree in Dance. I simply like to shake my groove thang', and I believe that ANYONE with ANY ability can shake it too!
Here are some AWESOME GET DOWN benefits of Dance for kiddos with special needs:
1. Mrs. Ruth Sr. Denis, an American modern dance pioneer was known for saying, "I see dance being used as a mean of communication between soul and soul-to express what is too deep". I have witnessed this in my son's life, whom was diagnosed with Autism when he was seven. There were times when communication was way too tough for him, and as soon as he began dancing...the words he wanted to communicate would simply flow!

2. Dance and Movement stimulates communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This is a fact! And...a cool one if ya ask me.

As a certified Autism Movement Therapist, I was able to learn the power of our brains! Movement, dance, and music bridges the two side of the brain to increase overall cognitive processing. Autism Movement Therapy, literally awakens the brain by introducing a structured and fun for of therapy through...YOU guessed it-music, movement, and dance. Soon, I will be incorporating lots of video sessions and dance tutorials, offering my teaching expertise. But, if ya can't wait, then I highly recommend Dr. Lara's DVD series!

3. Dance and Movement therapy is known to stimulate social interaction, enhance moods, reducing anxiety, and increase self-expression! Maybe that's why one of my favorite quotes is, "Dance...it's Cheaper than Therapy"!

4. Dance combined with props, is an awesome benefit for kiddos with special needs.

I LOVE PROPS! And... the cool thing is most props you can simply make at home for dirt cheap. The kiddos love using props, it provides a safety and comfort element for them. Check out some of my favorite props:
5. Yoga, is another form of movement that is great to introduce to kiddos with special needs.
Yoga can help children with special needs focus better, it can improve self-regulation and help calm meltdowns. When my son and I practice yoga, we usually focus on a few poses. Sometimes, turning on some peaceful music and concentrating on two or three poses can almost instantly be beneficial. TIP- try not to focus on too many poses, that can be a bit overwhelming. AND... if you are new to Yoga, then ya must check out these AWESOME GET DOWN Yoga cards by Pink Oatmeal! My son and I LOVE them! Like really...LOVE. https://shop.pinkoatmeal.com/?ap_id=allytapleydance
Turn on some music and play the "Freeze Dance"! When the music is on, the kiddos dance around as an animal, character, or person".
6. Dancing can help kiddos with special needs express their emotions. Some of my favorite things to do as a teacher and Mama are:

Turn different genre music on, and dance out emotions to the particular song. If the song is sad, dance sad. If the song and beat is happy, dance happy.

7. Dance helps wake up the brain!

8. Dance helps kiddos with all their senses.

9. Dance and movement is a fun way to get physical activity.

10. Dance creates memories.

Do you dance? Have ya ever had a dance partaaaaayyy in your living room with your kiddos? Let me know in the comments.

Advertising Disclosure: Topsy Turvy Tapleys may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website

HANDS-DOWN The Best Subscription box for special needs kiddos!

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Benefits of Dance for Special Needs Kids - thetopsyturvytapleys

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Dance and Movement is so good for the soul, mind, and heart. I have especially seen the benefits teaching dance to kiddos who have special needs. I love dance! I was most likely born with a pair of dancing' shoes on my feet. I'm a certified Autism Movement Therapist, Yoga certified and almost done with ...

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Sports Programs for Special Needs | SpecialNeeds.com

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What exactly are special needs? Most of us have heard the term "special needs children", but the reality is that there are many different conditions that a child may have in order to fall into the category of being a special needs child.

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The Octaband™ has been used with great success by dance movement therapists, music therapists, teachers, recreation therapists, activities directors, occupational therapists, special needs teachers, and team builders. It has been found to be especially effective for use with children with physical disabilities and special needs as well as with the elderly with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. 1

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BY Melissa

I have previously written an entry on Fidgets and how critical movement and sensory input is to learning. I would like to use this post to stress the significance of incorporating movement into a child's daily learning and other ways you can do that in addition to allowing fidgets in the classroom. Hopefully, this information will be helpful for both teachers and parents because the movement ideas can easily be used during school hours and at home as "brain breaks" for a school aged child.

First, let's understand why movement matters in the classroom.

Movement and the Brain

1. Movement develops neuropathways

Neuropathways are directly related to experiences. Therefore, the more sensory experiences a child has, the faster the transmission will occur.

2. Movement develops base patterns

Base patterns determine how we process and react to incoming information. Movement opportunities will balance base patterns and make sensory activities a positive experience. In turn, this will help students organize, sort, and integrate information they receive during the school day.

3. Movement helps with working memory

You can use movement to help students anchor their thoughts. Research shows kinesthetic activities are powerful in the classroom in aiding student understanding. Movement helps us use both sides of our brains.

Movement and the Senses

We are all familiar with our five senses: the sense of taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight. You may not be as familiar with the vestibular sense and proprioceptive sense. However, these two senses could arguably be the most important to your child's learning

1. Vestibular

The vestibular sense is housed in the inner ear and is commonly known to maintain balance. However, vestibular activities integrate movement with cognitive processing. The more opportunities a child is given for vestibular activities throughout the school day, the more readily available they will be to receive cognitive information.

2. Proprioceptive

The proprioceptive sense is our subconscious awareness of our body body. A child who has difficulty with the proprioceptive sense may be the one who is squeezing a juice box too tight because they are unaware of the pressure needed to hold the juice.

While it may not be noticeable to us adults as observers, these children may be working really hard just to keep their bodies in their seats while the teacher is instructing the class. If they are working that hard to keep their bodies in the right position, it may be really hard for them to concentrate on what is exactly being taught. We can help these kids out by allowing movement breaks prior to learning experiences so they are the most ready they can be to receive and process information.

Movement in the Classroom

1. Brain Break Videos

I would suggest brain break videos prior to beginning instruction or even halfway through the learning activity. My current favorites are:

Jammin Minutes:
Type in "jamming minutes" into youtube and a ton of free videos created by teachers and students are available. These minutes are typically 1-3 minutes and even offer a healthy tip at the end!

Gonoodle.com
OnGonoodle there are tons of brain break videos all together in one spot and even some breathing and zumba videos. You have to make an account but it is free.

Koo koo kangaroo videos
Check out the craziest dance duo you have ever seen. They will most definitely make you move.

2. Movement, heavy work and sensory breaks

Popsicle Sticks
Write movement ideas on popsicle sticks. Have students pick a popsicle stick for a quick and easy brain break. (i.e. 10 jumping jacks, flap your arms like a bird, plank for 30 seconds, wiggle your whole body for a count of 10, etc.)

Cranium brain breaks
Made up of 200 min-games, theCranium Brain Breaks game challenges your ability to complete creative activities. Draw a Cranium Card from the deck and complete the activity on it before time runs out.

Scooters, Bikes and SwingsAt the school I work at, we have scooters, bikes, and swings available for student use. Many times, visitors have questioned the purpose behind such activities when they see this in the hallway but once the value of movement in relation to learning is explained, most people are just as excited as we are to get kids up and moving!

Additional Brain Break Tips

If you are a pinterest user, type in " brain breaks in the classroom " and many ideas are available and often already created and ready to print for free!

*A special thanks to Ganiard's occupational therapist who has worked hard to educate our staff on the importance of movement in the classroom. She shared information with me that allowed me to write this blog post!

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Latest Special Needs Products

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How Movement in the Classroom can Help your Child with Special Needs - Friendship Circle - Special Needs Blog

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I have previously written an entry on Fidgets and how critical movement and sensory input is to learning. I would like to use this post to stress the significance of incorporating movement into a child's daily learning and other ways you can do that in addition to allowing fidgets in the classroom.

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It's no secret that physical activity is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity can provide significant benefits for children in all developmental stages of life. This includes children with special needs who have a tendency to be less physically active and are at higher risk for complications associated with inactivity.

The benefits of regular physical activity for children with special needs can range from physical, emotional and social. In spite of what some may believe children with special needs can see demonstrates strength gains, increased flexibility, improved bone health, and better endurance and cardiovascular fitness.

Physical activity for children with movement disabilities is important in maintenance of mobility throughout the aging process. With enhanced physical health, children are better able to fight problems such as obesity and the associated health complications that may follow.

Physical activity can also improve general mood and wellness. Regular fitness can be linked to improved self-esteem, social awareness, and self-confidence, which aid in empowering the lives of children with special needs.

Interaction and involvement with other children will help to give them a sense of accomplishment and teamwork while working on communication skills. A great example of this is participation in structured sport. Structured sports provide a learning tool that can help children practice self-regulation and decision making skills.

Parents of children with special needs should encourage participation in sports and physical activity in general. Meet with your family doctor, pediatric physical therapist or occupational therapist to find out what sports/physical activity would be suitable for your child.

Don't approach physical activity as something they can't do, but rather guide them toward activities in which they can succeed. Many sports and recreational activities can be adapted either by the rules of the game or the equipment permitted in play. Resources such as Ochsner's TRI My Best triathlon, Miracle League and Special Olympics are making it possible for children with special needs to participate in physical activity, and as the demand increases more programs are likely to develop.

Remember the number one factor when choosing appropriate activities for your children with special needs should be having fun. So whether it is an adaptive triathlon or time spent at the local playground, get your child their daily amount of physical activity!

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It's no secret that physical activity is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity can provide significant benefits for children in all developmental stages of life. This includes children with special needs who have a tendency to be less physically active and are at higher risk for complications associated with inactivity.

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MOVEMENT!®

MOVEMENT!® is a creative gross motor program originally developed for the Positive Education Program in the United States, and is one of the first developmental motor programs designed for children with special needs in North America. Designed for kids ages 3-12 with special needs (autism, ADHD, Down's syndrome, developmental delays, emotional challenges etc.), MOVEMENT!® has helped hundreds of special needs children gain a greater awareness and control of their own bodies.

MOVEMENT!®, is a creative, holistic program which helps children revisit developmental motor milestones from their infancy. It progresses step-by-step in three stages:

1. Body Grammar: In the Fall children learn a core vocabulary of 12 movements based on rolling, crawling, and jumping, which explore body awareness, body coordination, strength, alignment and partnering.

2. Space and Sequencing: In the Winter the children learn to sequences movements in time and space through various patterns as well as learn how to synchronize their movements with their peers.

3. Creative Games: In the Spring, children are encouraged to integrate the skills through improvisatory movement structures. The activities range from simple freeze games to advanced flow games involving movement qualities, imagery and choreographic structures.

The effectiveness of the MOVEMENT!® program lies in its unique teaching philosophy. All somatic skills-whether they be gross motor skills, sequencing skills or creativity skills-are taught to students through multiple levels of exploration. These levels of exploration allow students with special needs to access movement creatively through their own doors rather than through fixed lesson plans. In addition to helping children with their motor skills, MOVEMENT!® can also help them learn the structures, rules and peer interaction needed to function in school classrooms-it is a perfect pre-academic foundation.

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Movement for Kids with Disabilities and Special Needs

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MOVEMENT!® is a creative gross motor program originally developed for the Positive Education Program in the United States, and is one of the first developmental motor programs designed for children with special needs in North America.