Action-Packed Classrooms, K-5: Using Movement to Educate and Invigorate Learners

"This book gives valuable information on the necessity of incorporating movement in the classroom. The activities are easy to understand and follow." -Debbie Jo Halcomb, Fourth-Grade Teacher Robert W. Combs Elementary School, Happy, KY "Summerford gives teachers a format for convincing administrators that movement is a component of best practices." -Stephanie Eagleton, Second-Grade Teacher Shaker Heights City School District, OH Use movement and music to stimulate children's ability to absorb and retain new information! Getting children up and moving can help stimulate their brains and increase their ability to learn. This resource focuses on using movement and music to energize young students and boost their capacity to absorb and remember new content. Packed with games and activities for teachers in K-5 settings, this research-based book offers strategies for basic energizers, clear objectives for standards-aligned instruction, and a student/teacher/principal agreement to commit to active learning. Showing how exciting and fun learning can be, this new edition: Includes new chapters on planning and organizing lessons Offers sample activities in math, social studies, science, language arts, health, and physical education Provides tools for assessing the effectiveness of activities Presents updated brain research This invaluable resource helps teachers meet the needs of all students by using multisensory learning techniques that develop enthusiastic learners.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by John Joseph Ratey Author′s Welcome Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. Using Movement in the Classroom 2. About the Brain and Body 3. Generating Energy and Maintaining Attention 4. Integrating Movement and Academics 5. Subject Matter Template Games 6. Physical Education for Classroom Teachers 7. Organizing Action-Packed Academics in Standards-Based Classrooms 8. Assessing Action-Packed Academics in Standards-Based Classrooms 9. Developing an Action Plan Resources References List of Activities

About the Author :
Cathie Summerford has engaged learners internationally with action, movement, and music in her dynamic keynotes and workshops. Recognized as a true trailblazer and outstanding author in her field, Summerford′s energetic, action-packed approach to teaching has livened up learning in countless classrooms globally. Along with her current book Action-Packed Classrooms, she also authored PE-4-ME: Teaching Lifelong Health and Fitness and numerous national articles and journals. As an educational consultant and president of Fit 4 Learning, Summerford has been recognized as a California Teacher of the Year, NASPE Teacher of the Year, and California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell award-winning author. Summerford′s experiences in the academic classroom and the physical education arena have provided her with ideas galore to share with others. She continually motivates teachers to make learning a meaningful and exciting experience. Summerford′s expertise in brain research and the implications that action has on learning, combined with her enthusiasm for teaching children, make her an excellent source for inspiration. She has tons of ideas at her fingertips and is ready and eager to share this knowledge and enthusiasm with others. Summerford′s rapid-fire presentations focus on involvement. They move quickly, cover a lot of ground, and actively engage the participants. As a result, teachers leave her workshops with dozens of practical ideas and with a renewed love for teaching! In addition, she has over 16 years of quality experience of teaching all levels, from preschool to college-age. Her tried-and-true activities are "kid-proof" and "adult-friendly" and always loads of fun. On top of it, she is a two-time IRONMAN triathlon finisher!

Review :
"Gives teachers a format for convincing administrators that movement is a component of best practices.” "Gives valuable information on the necessity of incorporating movement in the classroom. The activities are easy to understand and follow.” “Includes easily understood research that supports the topic, and many clear examples on how to tie in movement in the class.” “What an exciting book! It should be the top book on every teacher’s desk.”