Bringing balance to school by balancing body and mind

by Rob Baxter, Beloit Daily News

Third grader Marlennis Segura stands motionless, hands folded, eyes focused straight ahead. Meanwhile, classmate Vivian Hernandez balances on one leg, her teacher encouraging her to balance and clear her mind.

It’s only minutes after the bell has rung at Robinson Elementary and these students in Susan Nehr’s class are already engaged in the day’s activities.

What’s their secret?

Yoga and other forms of exercise that are helping students de-stress.

It’s all part of a pilot program launched at Robinson in November that gives students in three third and fourth grade classrooms a leg up on learning two days a week.

Jackie Johnson and Kim Labott have spearheaded the program which captures students attention first thing in the morning.

“Kids can bring problems from home,” Jackson, a school social worker, said. “With the economy what it is, some parents have to work additional jobs and parents may not be home as much as they were 15 years ago. The unemployment rate can be a big stress for kids.”

Test anxiety, learning socialization skills and sometimes kids just “bouncing off the walls” also add to the learning challenges in today’s classroom.

So Beloit, like other school districts, is examining alternative ways to help students better focus on what they are doing. That usually leads to greater academic success, educators agree.

Labott, school occupational therapist, and Jackson, went to principal Sam Carter to recommend the “destressing exercises” for students.

“The kids can better focus on challenges inside and outside the classroom,” Labott said. “It helps them process things better here and at home. This kind of just brings everything together for them.”

Teachers say they too have noticed the difference in their students even though the exercise sessions last less than 15 minutes, twice a week.

“Their on-task behavior has improved,” Nehr said

As most parents know, keeping the attention of a third or fourth grader for more than a few minutes can be a daunting challenge. So Beloit is not alone in its efforts to find alternative ways to better engage students of all ages in the learning process.

For example, in Rockford, educators at Spectrum Progressive School of Rockford, are using air chairs for students to sit and balance on while learning. The move to the optional chairs has resulted in better posture, better focus and better behavior for students there, educators say.

The same can be said for students in Minnesota where since 2009 communities there have reported an academic boost from their efforts to incorporate yoga and exercise into their curriculums.

“We are continually looking for ways to improve student achievements,” Principal Sam Carter said. “ What I like about this is these staff are thinking outside the box. They are trying to help our kids better focus and achieve.”Labott and Jackson said their yoga based efforts are also strongly research based and proven to work.

Teachers at the school are tracking the progress of their students. And so far, they like what they see. Carter said the school will look at the results and determine if the program should be expanded to more classrooms and offered more often.

“I think it would be fantastic if it was offered every morning,” Nehr said.

Jackson believes expanding the program would help more children academically and at home.

“We know the effect of stress on children and adults,” Jackson said. “We see it everyday on TV. These strategies not only help them cope in school but these are strategies that can take with them and use throughout their academic careers and the rest of their lives.”

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2011/03/23/news/local_news/news2301.txt