Two Ways to Incorporate Movement into YOur Next Class

Try Siop Strategies

I love the way teachers here use kinesthetic activities in class. It warms my heart that our students don't just sit in a desk all day pushing a pencil to learn.

Fully integrated movement as part of class is always best. (as in this photo of Mrs. Malone's class standing on desks to perform hand motions for each prefix they study)

​ For more ideas like that, check out SIOP strategies.

TRY Go Noodle

On days when seatwork or lecture might get intense, taking a  Go Noodle break helps students stay fresh and actually accomplish more. 

Go Noodle is a site I learned about from the early elementary teachers in my #edufam online PLC.  (Check out this link for more of what elementary teachers say about Go Noodle, but don't be put off by the younger kids, it works for teenagers too!)

Go Noodle has categories so you can choose calming, stretching, educational, or other kinds of movement.

They even have an INDOOR RECESS channel where I found this gem! 

 I wasn't sure it would be to juvenile, but I tested it out last year in the media center and the kids were into it! I think it's great for middle schoolers, too. They think the videos are hilarious and you can gamify it by creating a class and earning points for each dance you do.  The all time best earworm is probably PopSiKo

And really, how can you call yourself a true middle school teacher if you aren't letting your students get up and dance to KidzBop?!   Go Noodle is here with KIdzBop Dances to rectify that problem, stat.

Are you still not convinced? Need help getting started? I will show you my MakerSpace Go Noodle Channel, I will come to your classroom to run a brain break with your class, or you can follow this script:

1. Talk with your students about the research between movement and learning
2. Share some behavior ground rules. (Mine might be stay within a certain square of your desk, don't hit others, no yelling, when song is over, high five a frind and be back sitting in your assigned  seat at count of five)
3. Warn them that Go Noodle is ridiculous and silly and that is part of why it works (In addition to movement, brains also respond to laughter and novelty. It opens your mind so you can learn more easily)
4. If you want to give them a choice, tell them you'll try three songs at three different times today or over the course of two days and if they don't like it by third song, you will regroup.
5. Play PopSeeKo   (or let the class choose from any go noodle channel)
6. That's it. If they do say they hate it you can always use Just Dance videos to songs the class likes- they are posted on YouTube.

If dancing is just too out there for you, why not start with SECRET HANDSHAKES? If that is too ridiculous for you, you can have the students make up their own. 

If you definintely want to avoid dance, try a stretching video like:

• Be Kind To Yourself 
• Stay Focused Stretch

If you are all-in and have no limit, let them freestyle with these crowd pleasing videos:

• Happy
• Let It Go
• Everything is Awesome

Go Noodle is just one of the many ways to find a quick way to stretch, move, circulate, regroup, and reenergize.

Related Posts:
VocabBall http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/incorporating-vocabulary _
Dance Your Lessons http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/piedmont-pd/1
Many More Active Learning Strategies and Active Test Prep Strategies ​http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/category/active-learning_

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