A Newsletter that Helps You Help Your Children

Brain-based Learning Resources
for Teachers, Parents and Anyone who Works with Kids

Vol. 1. No. 4,  October 17, 2006
The mid-month Brain Gym^® issue
published and edited by Dr. MaryJo Wagner
 

In this issue

 Brain Gym^®: A Brain-based Learning Strategy that Works
October 17, 2006

Workshop and TeleChat Schedule: Brain Gym Basics, Brain Gym 101, and a one-day Intro to Brain Gym for Parents and Teachers

How can I use Brain Gym: Lowering test anxiety

Brain Gym Activity: Hook-ups for lowering stress and increasing focus, Pt. 2

Brain Gym Stories:  Brain Gym for the Joffrey Ballet and the dancers (and soccer players and ice skaters and Little Leaguers) in your school or at home

Brain Gym Resource for You: Where to find Brain Gym books, posters and videos

And Don't Forget: Brain Gym Basics TeleChats Coming October 24

Please add mjw@mjwagner.com to your white list or address book in your e-mail program so you won't have trouble getting future issues of Brain Boosters for Your Kids on the first of the month and the Brain Gym issue in the middle of the month.
 

Note from The Learning Doctor

Readers who aren't familiar with Brain Gym have been asking me "So what is Brain Gym? What can I do with it? How does it help kids?  Does it really work? How much time does it take? Can anyone learn it?"

  To answer their questions and your questions too,  I'm offering a
  FREE Introduction to Brain Gym TeleChat. It's happening on
  Wednesday, October 18 from 6 to 7 pm mountain time (that's 5 pm
  pacific, 7 central, and 8 eastern). You'll get handouts and plenty of
  time for questions.

  Register now for the Brain Gym Intro TeleChat even if you can't
  make it. I'll be recording it so you can listen later on Web audio. 

Now check out this month's feature Brain Gym Activity: "Hook-ups, Pt. 2 for Lowering Stress and Increasing Focus." It's the rest of the movement from last time.  Missed the last issue? You'll need to get Hook-ups, Pt. 1 before you read this month's activity.

And then read the story of how Brain Gym helped the Joffrey Ballet in New York.

MaryJo

P.S. Be sure to tell other educators and parents about the Free Wednesday night TeleChat.

P.P.S. Yes, you'll be getting your regular first of the month "Brain Boosters for Your Kids" newsletter in just a couple of week. Find out if you won the Brain Quiz.  Listen to (or read) the feature article on Kids and TV. You may be surprised--it's not about too much sex and violence. 
 

Workshop and TeleChat Schedule

The next "Brain Gym Basics" TeleChat Series begins October 24 at 6 pm (mountain time)

Find Information about the TeleChats for teachers at
www.brain-based-learning.com/BrainGymTeleChatforTeachers.htm

Information for parents at
www.brain-based-learning.com/BrainGymTeleChatforParents.htm

Brain Gym 101, Kremmling, Colorado, October 20-22

Introduction to Brain Gym for Teachers and Parents,"
Manitou Springs, Colorado, Nov. 4

To register for a Brain Gym class and get more information, go to www.BrainGymClasses.com.

Or take a Brain Gym class FREE. For more information, go to http://www.braingymclasses.com/FreeBrainGym.htm
 

How Can I Use Brain Gym?

        What Happened on the Algebra Test?

  How many times have you been frustrated because you knew
  she knew how to do the problems for her algebra test? You'd
  been over it with her. She got all the problems right and quickly.

Then came the test. She couldn't even finish it and half the problems were wrong. What happened?  You know the answer. Test anxiety ruined her chances for a good grade.

Lots of kids have test anxiety. Even little kids. It's all about the electrical circuitry in the brain being switched off in the frontal lobes. Too much stress and that part of the brain shuts down. 

Hook-ups, the Brain Gym activity we've been focusing on in Sept. and Oct., works for test anxiety. It calms the central nervous system and helps activate the electrical circuitry in the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

So next time kids in your class or kids at home are stressed out about a test, do Hook-ups with them. You'll all be calmer, able to concentrate, and think clearly.

Click For more information about Brain Gym, a list of classes, and instructors and consultants world-wide. Click for Brain Gym Research.
 

Brain Gym Activity

Brain Gym Stories

                                                               The Joffrey at Center Stage

A Brain Gym friend of mine, whose specialty is working with athletes, tells the story of helping some dancers with the New York-based Joffrey Ballet.  The company was divided into two groups, one coming out stage left and the other stage right. The choreography called for the two groups to meet precisely at the center of the stage.

And each time they practiced, the two groups were just a tiny bit off center. No big deal for most of us but for such a distinguished dance troupe a big problem.

My friend showed the dancers some Brain Gym activities that cross the center midline of the body and activities that help with visual integration. Within minutes, the dancers were meeting in the center.

Now you probably don't coach professional athletes, but just starting out with Hook-ups which I've shown you in the this issue and the mid-September issue is a great start to helping those young athletes move with more coordination when they're playing team sports, dancing, or ice skating.