1. Andrea Buford Arkansas State University Andrea.buford@smail.astate.edu
Active is the answer
Andrea Buford
Arkansas State University

2. “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.”
Education should incorporate a variety of multisensory approaches. The majority of teaching in today’s schools stresses visual and auditory methods, but lacks in providing kinesthetic experiences.
It is important that we as teachers begin to incorporate the use of touch and movement again so that our students will develop as fully-functioning adults and are able to interact with subject matter through multisensory perceptions.

3. Why is Movement Necessary?
The recommended daily physical activity for children is sixty minutes minimum. Nearly 50% of America’s children does not participate in regular physical activity.
On average, a child spends 4.8 hours in front of a screen.
Inactivity and other poor health choices lead to obesity as adults and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Over nine million children over the age of six are obese or overweight.
AN INACTIVE CHILD WILL BECOME AN INACTIVE ADULT IF WE DO NOT HELP THEM.

4. Implicit Vs. Explicit Learning
Implicit learning is active learning.
Makes retaining information much easier.
Is a hands-on approach to learning.
Increases student interest and participation.
Student learns how to apply lesson to real life.
Explicit learning is inactive.
Is easily forgotten.
Is the “book work” approach to learning.
Leaves many students bored and distracted from learning the materials.
Memorization

5. Benefits of Classroom Movement
Improves emotional and physical health
Improves brain health
Improves social skills
Improves perceptual-motor skills
Encourages creativity
Instills a love of learning

6. Emotional and Physical Health
Movement in the classroom leads to the expression of emotions.
If children are taught in a positive emotional environment, emotional problems such as anxiety and stress will diminish.
When people are surrounded by positivity and joy, endorphins are released that cause one to feel good. When we feel good, we learn better.
The two main reasons children are overweight are simple: bad eating habits and lack of exercise. A major reason children are overweight is because they are not active enough during the day. Therefore it is important that we incorporate movement into the curriculum.
Exposing children to an active lifestyle now will only increase the chances of them living an active lifestyle onward.

7. Brain Health
Movement increases blood circulation and the oxygen and glucose that reach the brain.
Movement activities stimulate every area of the brain, allowing new brain cells to connect and grow.
A healthy human being is a human doing.

8. Social Skills
Active instruction transforms the classroom into a natural social environment, unlike one where students sit behind desks all day would.
Movement in the classroom develops self-confidence, teamwork, responsibility, and sportsmanship.
Having students interact in a positive classroom environment will help them feel relaxed and more willing to socialize.

9. Perceptual Motor Skills
Motor skills are essential to a child’s development. They lead to a more active, healthy lifestyle.
Children enjoy being active and learning new motor abilities- so why limit them?
75% of all motor skills are learned by the age of 12 so it is crucial that we expose them to as many opportunities as possible/
They need practice to master perceptual motor skills so teachers need to include developmentally appropriate materials with a large array of motor components.

10. Creativity
The focus of education places too much emphasis on meeting testing standards and not enough on encouraging imagination and creativity. Many teachers teach to the test and not the child.
Movement gives students the opportunity to explore academic concepts in creative and engaging ways that explicit learning represses.
Children must be able to use their imagination to create their own ideas and stand out from the crowd. Movement activities gives students this freedom and experience.

11. Love of Learning Academic skills are necessary but are not enough.
Goals for students should include the desire to learn, the ability to function creatively, the motivation to do well, and to instill self-discipline to keep learning when the textbook is closed.
Movement activities in the classroom offers a new perspective to students that creates student interest and hands on learning opportunities.
Movement makes learning fun and therefore makes it more meaningful to students.

12. Reference
Dean, Blair. Academotion: 100 Action-packed Activities for Teachers of Young Children. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Pub., 2009