Developing the Magical Mind

Are you sitting down reading this article? Possibly drinking a cup of coffee? If you are, please set down your cup before trying this experiment. While sitting, draw a number 6 in the air with your right arm. At the same time, circle your right leg clockwise, off the floor. What happened? Your leg follows the circle of the 6. This simple experiment shows how our mind and body work together. One is not more important than the other.
A fit body and mind help us accomplish daily tasks with ease. Read More

The Sport of Reading

Why do some children jump right into the sport of reading while others warm the bench? Why are some children reading naturals while others fumble around trying to figure out the rules of the game?

The image of reading as a sport came to me while watching my ten-year-old daughter attempt to read a book that would have taken her peers minutes to read. She struggled on, wiggling all over, contorting her body, tilting her head, using energy more appropriate for completing an Olympic gymnastics event than reading a simple book. Read More

The Behavioral Influences on Reading Achievement

According to Owens & Valesky (2007), “Whatever else a school can and should do, its central purpose is to teach; success is measured by students’ progress in knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (p. 72). This sounds easy enough. Simply teach students. However, the dynamic organization called “school” is a host to a myriad of factors
limiting teachers’ abilities to simply teach.

No Child Left Behind Act (2001) mandates adequate yearly progress (AYP) for students who have traditionally been unsuccessful in the classroom. Administrators and teachers feel an enormous pressure to move all students toward proficiency (Vannest, Temple-Harvey & Mason, 2009). Despite their best efforts, low performing students are resistant to benefit from interventions targeting specific learning needs in all areas and
specifically in reading achievement (Wilson & Heiniger-White, 2008). Read More

An Educational Treasure Chest of Gold

The No Child Left Behind legislation prompts parents to seek programs that help children meet the mandated academic standards expected of today’s youth. Without your assistance, parents may overlook your gym as a valuable resource. You can help them see the real value of gymnastics programs by linking these programs to academic benefits, which is the focus created by No Child Left Behind and standards-based education.

The following chart can act as your treasure map, illustrating the fundamental relationship between gymnastics and academic goals. The right side of the chart lists activities common to gymnastics. The left side shows the link to academic skills and school success. Becoming familiar with the terms discussed in the next few paragraph will provide clues on how to uncover the treasure chest of riches inherent in all gymnastics programs. Read More