Engaging all Learners Movement Drama Music Art

The struggle for engagement Students' brains must decide what to pay attention to based on three factors: Physical need, Choice, and Novelty. (Willis, Ignite, 2007, p 40)‏

Movement Movement increases neuron connections and neuron growth and releases dopamine Only organisms that move require brains increases neuron connections, and leads to neuron growth, (Jensen, Teaching with the Brain in Mind, p 63) but it also releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter commonly associated with the pleasure system of the brain that is also tied to memory, motivation, and rewards. (Jensen, Tools for Engagement, 2003, p. 154 – 156) (Kovalik, Exceeding Expectations, - “Movement is crucial to every brain function including planning and executing plans, memory, emotion, language, and learning.”

Dramatizations Drama put “actors” in a situation. Episodic memory engages hippocampus for better recall of time, place, events, AND corresponding content “Humans are designed to recall better what we do actively than what we do passively” (Jensen, Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2005, p 51, 54)

Music Link new content to a familiar tune Tune retrieval makes content retrieval a snap Music can set tone in classroom Music as an information storage tool – By changing the lyrics to familiar tunes, students can link new content to known chunks of music. Students can retain and recall content by simply remembering the tune, rather than remembering the bits of data in isolation. Tunes can be used to learn the spelling of new words, the scientific method, place value, or the characteristics of birds to name a few. (Wolfe, MWBLI, 2005, p 152)‏

Art Allows students to represent information graphically Provides choice for demonstrating mastery

Points to remember Movement – helps with neuron growth and releases dopamine Drama – links to episodic memory and puts them in the action Music – gives content something to stick to and can change state of room Art – Graphically displays content and provides alternative for assessment