A Moving Child Is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Think (Birth to Age 7)

by Gill Connell, Cheryl McCarthy

Overview

In order to learn, kids’ need to move! Grounded in best practices and current research, this hands-on resource connects the dots that link brain activity, movement, and early learning. The expert authors unveil the Kinetic Scale: a visual map of the active learning needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary graders that fits each child’s individual timetable.

 Teachers, parents, and caregivers will find a wealth of information, actionable tips, and games they can use to support children’s healthy development—all presented in a lively, full-color format with demonstrative diagrams and photos. A final section offers easy-to-implement activities geared to the Kinetic Scale.

Downloadable digital content includes printable charts, games, and activities from the book plus a PowerPoint presentation for professional development, parent handouts, and bonus activities. An ideal tool for coaches, mentors, and trainers.Introducing the Kinetic Scale

• unique framework encompassing all the elements of movement: reflexes, sensory tools (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance, and intuition), motor tools (power, coordination, and control), and language
• based on six stages of movement development from birth to age 7: snugglers, squigglers, stompers, scampers, scooters, and skedaddlers
• designed to foster a balanced diet of physical activity that helps each child move, grow, and learn on the child’s individual timetable

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781575424354
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date:	11/13/2013
Series:	Free Spirit Professional®
Edition description:	First Edition, Book with Digital Content
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Gill Connell is a globally recognized presenter and child development authority, specializing in the foundations of learning through movement and play. She provides developmental expertise to parents, preschools, schools, and companies such as Hasbro, Inc., based on her more than thirty years in preschool and primary education.

She is the former national director of Gymbaroo Preschool Activity Centers and the founder of Moving Smart, Ltd., which offers resources, tools, trainings, and workshops. She coauthored the book Moving to Learn: An Essential Guide for All Parents, Carers and Educators, A Moving Child is a Learning Child: How the Body Teaches the Brain to Think, and Move, Play, Learn with Smart Steps: Sequenced Activities to Build the Body and the Brain.

Gill lives in Christchurch, New Zealand, and travels regularly to the United States.

Cheryl McCarthy is a former vice president of intellectual property development for Hasbro, Inc.

She is a thirty-year veteran of the world of children’s play, specializing in young children’s storytelling and entertainment. As executive producer, she managed the creative development of properties such as My Little Pony, Candy Land, Mr. Potato Head, and many other beloved children’s icons.

She is currently the creative director at Moving Smart, Ltd. Cheryl lives in Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Reproducible Forms

Foreword by Marcia Gentry

Introduction

Chapter 1: Giftedness Defined in Diverse Groups

• Definition of Gifts and Talents
• Identifying Giftedness Across Cultural, Linguistic, and Socioeconomic Communities
• Twice-Exceptional Learners: Gifted Students with Learning or Behavior Challenges
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 2: Using Brain Research to Improve Differentiation

• Brain Research and Giftedness
• Putting the Research to Practice
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 3: The Common Core State Standards and Gifted Education

• How Common Core State Standards Affect Gifted Students
• Responding to the Common Core
• Considerations in Reframing Curriculum for Gifted Students
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 4: Defensible Programs and Services

• General Characteristics of Gifted Elementary Students
• General Characteristics of Gifted Secondary Students
• Gifted Programming Models
• Effective Grouping Practices within Gifted Program Options
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 5: Creating Authentic Honors Courses

• Articulation: Clearly Defining the Rigors of an Honors Course
• Differentiating an Honors Course
• Alignment: Effective Practices in Student Selection
• Accountability: Continuous Review for Continuous Improvement
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 6: Changing Roles for Educators of Gifted Students

• Defining the Role of the Teacher
• Teacher as Mindset Shifter
• Teacher as Knowledge Guide
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 7: Co-Teaching: A Collaborative Approach to Differentiation

• The Roles of Classroom Teacher and Gifted Specialist
• Co-Teaching Strategies for Addressing Learning Differences
• Co-Planning Lessons for Gifted Learners
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 8: Understanding and Reversing Underachievement

• Defining Underachievement
• Factors That Influence Academic Achievement Potential Risks for Underachievement
• Reversing Underachievement
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 9: Assessment and the Gifted Learner

• Types of Assessment
• Integrating Assessment into Instruction
• Using Assessment with Gifted Students
• Assessment That Builds Autonomy
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 10: Leadership

• Gifted Education Specialist: Administrator or Teacher Leader?
• Embedding Differentiation for Gifted Learners into Classroom Practice
• Instructional Coaching
• Lesson Study
• Chapter Summary

Chapter 11: Next Steps

References and Resources

Index

About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

This groundbreaking book introduces a tool that supports the full, natural development of movement and learning in young children, enabling teachers, parents, and caregivers to facilitate learning through active play while respecting each child’s individual needs.

Darell Hammond

Everyone knows that a healthy diet is important for a growing child, but did you know that physical activity is absolutely essential for brain development? Many don’t, but Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy aim to fix that with A Moving Child Is a Learning Child . . . With a wealth of information and a plethora of ideas for implementation, this book is a must-read for parents as well as anyone working with young children.

San Francisco Book Review

This valuable research demonstrates that the way children learn best is through interaction and movement . . . [A Moving Child Is a Learning Child] helps adults understand why children don’t sit still, run, jump, skip and fidget . . . and why it is so critically important to their brain development and learning!

Deborah McNelis

A Moving Child Is a Learning Child interprets developmental movements and translates them into their correlating larger skill sets on the path to language, reading, writing, and being a healthy, social child . . . A brilliant read with beautiful photographs, diagrams, and layout.

Heidi Echternacht

Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy, two highly respected leaders in their fields, have produced a timely book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of why movement is so vital in young children’s development and learning. This exceptionally informative book will appeal to and be highly useful for parents/caregivers and anyone who works with or has infants, toddlers, and young children.

Cheryl Greenfield

Everyone knows that a healthy diet is important for a growing child, but did you know that physical activity is absolutely essential for brain development? Many don’t, but Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy aim to fix that with A Moving Child Is a Learning Child . . . With a wealth of information and a plethora of ideas for implementation, this book is a must-read for parents as well as anyone working with young children.”—San Francisco Book Review


“A Moving Child Is a Learning Child interprets developmental movements and translates them into their correlating larger skill sets on the path to language, reading, writing, and being a healthy, social child . . . A brilliant read with beautiful photographs, diagrams, and layout.”—Heidi Echternacht, kindergarten teacher and founder of #KinderChat


“This groundbreaking book introduces a tool that supports the full, natural development of movement and learning in young children, enabling teachers, parents, and caregivers to facilitate learning through active play while respecting each child’s individual needs.”—Darell Hammond, founder and CEO of KaBOOM!

 


“This valuable research demonstrates that the way children learn best is through interaction and movement . . . [A Moving Child Is a Learning Child] helps adults understand why children don’t sit still, run, jump, skip and fidget . . . and why it is so critically important to their brain development and learning!”—Deborah McNelis, acclaimed author of The Brain Development Series and founder of Brain Insights


“Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy, two highly respected leaders in their fields, have produced a timely book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of why movement is so vital in young children’s development and learning. This exceptionally informative book will appeal to and be highly useful for parents/caregivers and anyone who works with or has infants, toddlers, and young children.”—Cheryl Greenfield, M.Ed. (Hons), Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand

From the Publisher