Way We Exercise With Dr. Jean

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Dr. Jean believes that music and movement enhance the learning experience for all students. Lyrics appear below.

This Is the Way We Exercise
(Tune: Mulberry Bush)

This is the way we touch our toes, (Bend and touch
toes.)
Touch our toes, touch our toes.
This is the way we touch our toes so early Sunday morning.
Monday – knee lifts (Right elbow to left knee. Left
elbow to right knee.)
Tuesday – jumping jacks (Jump with feet out and clap hands overhead.
Jump bringing feet in and move arms by sides.)
Wednesday – windmills (Extend arms and legs. Bend right hand to left
foot. Straighten. Bend left hand to right foot.)
Thursday – deep squats (Extend legs and bend knees up and down.)
Friday – hop scotch (Jump and kick left foot backwards. Jump and kick
right foot backwards.)
Saturday – sit and smile (Sit and put hands in your lap as you smile.)

Activities: Make a step book with the days of the week.
Let children suggest other exercises for each day.
Make a set of cards with numbers on them. Make another set of cards with exercises. Let a child choose a card from each set and then lead the class doing that exercise the number of times selected.
Take advantage of transitions by having children exercise while they wait. For example, they could do push ups against the wall in the hall or balance on tiptoes.

Here are the top ten reasons to SING every day!

1. When you sing your brain emits endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! Emotions are critical to learning.

2. Music is multi-sensory. The more senses you get going to the brain, the more likely the message will get there.

3. Music is powerful for prior-learning. If children are exposed to concepts while singing, it is easier for them to learn when formally introduced.

4. Music nurtures phonemic awareness (alliteration, rhyme, etc.).

5. Songs and chants are a natural way to develop oral language and auditory memory.

6. Poems and songs lay a foundation for fluency and enhance short term memory.

7. Children are able to use their imaginations and create pictures in their brains when they sing. This is an important part of reading comprehension.

8. Repetition is a key to learning. It is much more fun to repeat songs than worksheets!

9. Singing and dancing relieve stress and oxygenate the brain.

10. Through music and movement ALL children can feel successful. A “community of learners” is enhanced when teachers and children enjoy something together!

There was a study that was reported on National Public Radio called “Alive Inside.” In the research study they made iPods of songs that had a special significance to patients suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. These patients didn’t recognize family members, but when they heard the music they tapped their feet, sang the words, and smiled! So many things that we do in our classrooms will be forgotten, but the songs will be stored in children’s brains for a lifetime! What a privilege to be able to do this!