The Great Move

Studies show students have more academic success with movement. One advantage in place at Milaca Elementary is the opportunities our students have for Recess and Phy-Ed. As standards become a valued part of education, in some parts of the country, Recess and Specials are eliminated to make more time for academics.

In fourth grade, we know we can combine movement IN class, while we are learning! Today Ms. Leom started our Social Studies learning with her class (Mr. Greninger's class will start in about three weeks!) We started on the floor watching the video, Tour the States (a second link is on the right). Fourth grade students will be learning and memorizing all fifty states and capitals.

Then we took time to page through the text book, studying the pictures, captions, maps, and other sections of the book that caught our eye. As a class we started to read and discuss the text book ... We read it sitting on the carpet ... standing on the carpet ... sitting on our desks ... sitting on the floor and using our chairs for desks ... then back to our desks ...

Notice our "follow along fingers" are warming up: up, down, out in (repeat)

 We always know when we need to move ... when students start slumping in their seats or start fidgeting. Today was an active Social Studies lesson. Lessons are planned and organized to "chunk" our day with movement every ten to fifteen minutes. We want students to be successful, and research shows that movement helps students learn. Sounds like a great "move" to us!