As we strive to teach all types of learners, we must look at the brain and discover what the brain requires to function properly. First of all, the brain is built by movement. Crawling is critical to build the corpus callosum, the beautiful super highway connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It must be bilateral crawling (left foot, right hand) I had my first graders crawl every morning to music as I attempted to redo that pattern.
The second thing the brain loves is music. Music transcends both hemispheres, allowing both right and left- brained children to access both hemispheres. As I always say, SING IT, AND THEY WILL LEARN IT. Even putting concepts in the form of a rap or rhyme will aid long-term memory. That is how I taught the times tables to my third graders…6 times 7 will make you blue, 6 times 7 is 42. I also used rhymes to teach my first graders parts of speech such as a noun is anything that you see, like a bird or a cat, a dog or a tree. It is fun and fosters long term memory.
Lastly, but very importantly, the brain loves water. Almost three quarters of the brain is water. I believe many children today are dehydrated. All students should have water bottles on their desks to promote hydration. Every child in my program kept water bottles on their desks. For years in Florida, I watched classes come in from recess to get one sip of water at the fountain before the teacher said next.
So in conclusion, the brain loves MUSIC, MOVEMENT AND WATER.
P.E.A.R.L 