★ Thoughts: I completely and totally understand the need and importance of incorporating movement into the classroom. There are just some things that I would love to talk to Dr. Miller about as far as behavioral management goes. I have noticed that my CT incorporates movement into her literacy lessons, but the behavior is out of control. I think that incorporating movement is good in theory, but when it is actually done, it is complete and total chaos if there are no expectations set in place. I know that there is supposed to be some sort of organized chaos, but what I am seeing is out of control behavior. I just feel like I am in a tricky situation because I see all the benefits through articles online, but I just haven’t been able to see any good examples of it in person.

★ This morning, we finally did an awesome artistic activity. The students created a turkey trap before Thanksgiving break. The students were given boxes, glue, tape, paper, tin foil, etc. It was so much fun for both me and the students. It was a great way to introduce the history of Thanksgiving in a fun way. Instead of doing worksheets, the students could finally show their creativity in the classroom.

★ Act it out Wednesday was much more successful than what happened on Monday, October 2. Students seems to be much more focused and engaged in acting out their word study words for the week. Allowing the students to incorporate movement helps them keep the term in their long memory opposed to their short term memory.

★ Crawling is an essential part of incorporating movement into day to day activities. It helps students with balance, coordination, spacial orientation, and cross lateral patterning. Being a good writer involves all of those skills including fine motor skills. Most students begin formally writing between the ages of 5 and 11 (Movement and Learning in Early Years).

★ Thoughts on November 11th: I wonder if incorporating art and movement in a classroom with poor behavioral management is more or less effective than in a classroom with good behavioral management. The few things I am seeing in the class where movement is sometimes incorporated seems like a mess. I think that students need to be scaffolded in order for this to be successful.

★ Thoughts on December 2nd: How can we assess student’s movement? Allowing the students to practice movement in the classroom is a great place to start. When reading a book to the class, and you come across the sentence “the spider was stalking it’s prey and jumped off of the tree to snatch it”. Students can act out what that spider might have looked like in this scenario. This incorporated movement into science as well.

★ A few days ago, my CT asked the students to make book worms. The students were given pipe cleaners and beads and we asked to make a worm out of the materials given. They receive a book worm if they have reached a certain amount of AR points. Although I don’t really support AR testing, I think it was awesome that the students were engaged with a hands on activity. Some students even incorporated different patterns using the beads!

★ Hopscotch on Thursday October 3rd was a complete and total mess. No behavioral expectations were given before the students played spelling hopscotch in the hallway.  There was screaming and goofing around for the most part. I wish that this activity would have been more successful.

★ My CT wants to incorporate more movement into more lessons but simply cannot control the class. She gives out silent lunch and no recess like candy. No scaffolding was involved so far this semester. Taking away recess is only going to make the situation worse.