| Every child can learn. There are no problem learners, | | | | educators, effective teaching isn't about presenting the |
| only problem learning programs and systems. With | | | | information and letting the student passively take it in, |
| proper learning techniques, learning can a pleasure, | | | | but about connecting the information to the movement |
| even for those facing difficult learning challenges. If we | | | | of the body in an active way." |
| teach to the way children learn best, through | | | | So how does the Brain Gym Program work? This |
| movement, play and language expression, we achieve | | | | movement-based system introduces simple physical |
| better results. We discover that no matter how many | | | | activities to enhance a learner's ability to process |
| times we repeat a learned task, if a better way is | | | | information, and effectively respond. The Brain Gym |
| presented, we can learn that way, and a new pattern | | | | learning program is based on five basic premises |
| is developed. This is true learning. The results bring | | | | known as the Five Principles of Educational |
| better health and wellness, intelligence, and more | | | | Kinesiology. |
| fulfillments, both personally and professionally. | | | | These include: |
| Learning is that magical thing that takes place in a split | | | | 1) Draw Out: Intelligence Is Inborn |
| second and changes us forever. And who knows | | | | 2) Focus: Attention Follows Intention |
| more about true learning, than international | | | | 3) Notice: We Learn What We Actively Experience |
| award-winning learning expert Paul E. Dennison, Ph.D. | | | | 4) Move to Learn: Growth Is a Search for Balance, |
| Dr. Dennison received his doctorate in education in | | | | and Imbalance a Search for Growth |
| 1975 from the University of Southern California for his | | | | 5) Interconnect: Each One of Us Is Affected by Every |
| research on reading and cognitive development and is | | | | Other |
| the founder of the Brain Gym Program. This program | | | | Brain Gym was created to assist people in all facets |
| has received astonishing worldwide media attention | | | | of daily life. Brain Gym is also based upon three simple |
| recently with media spots on CBC Radio's 1 "Ontario | | | | premises: |
| Today" and City TV, "Breakfast Television" with Jill | | | | 1) Learning is a natural, joyous activity that continues |
| Hewlett, and a full-page article in Woman's World | | | | throughout life. |
| Magazine, May 8th edition. The Woman's World article | | | | 2) Learning blocks are simply an inability to move |
| talks about how beneficial the Brain Gym program is | | | | through the stress and uncertainty of a new task. |
| for those who are stressed or forgetful. It states by | | | | 3) We are all learning-blocked to the extent that we |
| following these simple techniques, you can give your | | | | have been conditioned to inhibit our movements. |
| brain a workout and help achieve a calmer you. In fact, | | | | Who benefits with using brain exercises? Everyone. |
| Deborah Bebb, who was interviewed for the article, | | | | For students and educators they can experience |
| states, "Brain Gym is so easy, anyone can do it. And it | | | | increased levels of focus, organization, communication, |
| works! Now I feel calmer at home and at work. I can | | | | self-confidence and positive attitude towards learning |
| remember everything and get more done. It definitely | | | | and then the added bonus of 20 to 50% higher test |
| made my brain work better." | | | | scores. Parents and clinicians benefit as well, as it |
| The Woman's World article also provided the following | | | | directly impacts readers' motor, cognitive, behavioral, |
| Brain Gym exercises to boost your brainpower: | | | | emotional, visual, and reading skills. Business |
| 1) Double-doodle - Using both hands like a conductor, | | | | professionals benefit, as it is a highly effective |
| "draw" large, free-form mirror-image shapes in the air. | | | | performance management tool, which empowers |
| 2) Lazy 8's - In the air or on paper, "draw" figure 8's | | | | individuals to thrive in the workplace, increasing |
| with your right hand, following the movement with your | | | | employee satisfaction and productivity. |
| eyes. Then do the same with your left hand, and then, | | | | The lessons, such as coordinating your brain and body |
| with both hands at once. | | | | together to "walk your talk," help people think and |
| 3) Cross-crawl - Slowly march in place, bringing your | | | | communicate clearly, improving individuals' memory, |
| opposite elbow to your knee each time. Doing just a | | | | focus, organization, and concentration. Brain Gym is |
| few of these will increase your focus. | | | | now practiced in more than eighty countries' schools |
| Additionally, Dennison received a rave review from | | | | across the world, and the book sales have toppled |
| Reader's Views, where Professional Reviewer, Debra | | | | over 415,000. Teachers and their pupils benefit from |
| Gaynor states, "Brain Gym should be mandatory | | | | the Brain Gym tools, as everyone can experience |
| reading for all teachers, as Dennison has successfully | | | | increased levels of focus, organization, communication, |
| returned the pleasure of reading by presenting his | | | | and self-confidence, along with positive attitude |
| lessons in an easy-to-understand format." Additionally | | | | towards learning. |
| Gaynor reports, "What I came to realize is that, for | | | | |