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 | "Movement is essential for learning, health and social/emotional development for all people, not just dancers." (Anne Green Gilbert) At Posey School our students are seeing, hearing, saying and doing in every class, in every art, at every level. We teach the arts conceptually, rather than by imitation. This is an essential element of our arts curriculum. The kinesthetic intelligence and the brain body connection and integration are key to learning. We retain 10% of what we read, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear at the same time, 70% of what we hear, see and say, and 90% of what we see hear, say and DO. (Eric Jensen) As artists, we believe art essential to lifelong health and learning. Now we have scientific backing to support these beliefs. Howard Gardner's theories of multiple intelligence and recent brain research has shown that there are 8 basic movement patterns humans are programmed to go through from the age of 0-24 months that wire the central nervous system for proper development. There are many children who have learning disabilities or social/emotional problems because they were not allowed to explore these patterns. Babies need to experience tactile stimulation, explore their environment and learn to crawl before they walk. Two years ago dance educator Anne Green Gilbert developed a Brain Dance that is composed of the 8 movement patterns: breath, tactile, core-distal, head-tail, upper-lower, body-side, cross-lateral and vestibular. At Posey School we have incorporated the Brain Dance into our curriculum. How does the Brain Dance help? Here are just a few examples: Crawling on your belly (cross-lateral movement) develops horizontal and vertical eye tracking, and eye convergence, which is necessary for reading and writing. Cross lateral movements also activate the development of the corpus callosum, the nerve pathways between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. Rocking, swinging and turning movements stimulate the vestibular system which is needed for spatial awareness, balance and eye tracing. Positive movement activities cause the secretion of serotonin the brain, which helps with self-esteem and sociability. Language and expression are related to this development.
This article was published in the Posey School Newsletter, December, 2002. | |||||||||||
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