Break Time Brain Boosters (BTBB) are a result of the Turnaround Arts' urging and my work with brilliant professionals from both Celebrate the Beat and National Dance Institute. Last February, I was joined by extraordinary artist educators Jerry Korman and Ellen Weinstein to lead a two week arts infused residency to introduce these BTBB to teachers at Bethune Community School in Minneapolis, MN, where the population is rife with the challenges that poverty brings: intense anger, wild emotional swings, learning disabilities, and 5th graders at a 2nd grade reading and math level.
Here is a heartfelt testimonial from Jody Lazo, Instructional Specialist and Arts Integration Coordinator at Bethune Community School:
"Every classroom teacher had the opportunity to participate in the Break Time Brain Boosters being introduced and modeled with them at their students. As a school that supports Responsive Classroom, this strategy for student engagement with movement breaks, and arts integration aligns perfectly to our goals and beliefs. The students had fun learning the BTBB, especially Fruit Salad and Positivity Poses!
The teachers love playing Fruit Salad with their kids when a movement break is needed, and they have also used it as a tool to improve comprehension and understanding of key vocabulary and concepts by replacing the fruit names with content language and defining poses.
In addition, the Positivity Poses have been invaluable in creating internal change with our students. Unfortunately, a lot of our students face extreme challenges and the Positivity Poses help them to positively state and pose a representation of themselves; and in turn, rethink their self- image to a more powerful state. The benefit of this is personal to each student, yet teachers can attest to the shift in attitude and behavior as a result of this work.
Overall, the BTBB have been successful for promoting and encouraging movement breaks in a structured environment, furthering increased comprehension through a mind-body connection, and increased confidence evidenced by attitude, effort, and behaviors."
I’m now sharing them here for teachers and parents alike:
View the LINK.
Download the PDF version HERE.
XO,
Tracy + The Bija Beat Family