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Getting the Most out of Remote Learning: Keep Kids Moving

andreastavrakas
Oct 11, 2020
2 min read

In this new normal of remote learning and social distance in the classroom it's important to remember that children need to move! We're asking youngsters to learn by sitting in front of computers or by staying in their seats in an effort to keep a safe distance from their classmates. In our efforts to cover as much content as possible with limitations of time and space teachers and parents can still find creative ways to combine movement with learning.

Research tells us that movement helps kids with attention, language, and emotional development, as well as having other benefits. Observation and common sense tell us it's detrimental to children's well being to deny them opportunities to move throughout the day. So how can we keep kids engaged in learning skills while giving them opportunities to move?

*Add movement to responding: In teaching one of my students some early math and letter/sound skills I structured the activity so he had to either jump on one foot while counting backwards or do jumping jacks while reviewing letters and sounds. Back in my days as a classroom teacher I remember using a variety of movement strategies from clapping, tapping feet, thumbs up thumbs down so my entire class could remain engaged and I could get a quick read on what they knew. (I learned a lot of these techniques as a young teacher during professional development centered around the research of Dr. Madeline Hunter.)

*Allow for subtle movements in the classroom while children are seated. I've been really fortunate to work with some amazing occupational therapists who taught me creative ways to bring movement and sensory input to children at their seats. Things like resistance bands wrapped around chairs and desks to allow feet and leg movement , squeeze balls, putty, and scheduled movement breaks could be helpful for kiddo's especially when they have to stay at their desks for extended periods of time.

*Check out Jack Hartman on Youtube.