Learning from the Heart LLC

More Than a Dozen Ways to Build Movement Into Learning Physical activity that amplifies learning can have a powerful effect on retention and engagement—it’s also fun.

Looks like a great new resource for parents & teachers alike!

Rita Wirtz is a best friend to fellow reading educators. We are delighted to be gifted a copy of the latest edition of her book: "Reading Champions! Teaching Reading Made Easy!"​ In this extraordinary volume is found every resource, including Brain Gym​(R)​, to meet the needs of children of all ages and ability levels as they learn to read.

Parents and educators will appreciate th​is ​book as a rich, ​multilayered resource for supporting young learners in becoming active and enthusiastic readers. We love the section on the mechanics of reading, including the physicality of movement and directionality, ​and offering some playful ways to learn to track print.

Children will surely enjoy the ​Phonics ​Dance​,​ song samplers​,​ ​Keys to ​the ​​Alphabet, and other games to ​prompt the discover​y of​ phonetic rules. phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency. Make your back-to-school​ ​planning easier!​

Rita, a former ​​school principal, continues serving as a keynote speaker, educator, and featured blogger on​ Bam Radio Network. You can find her book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Champions-Second-Teaching-Made/dp/1489733965/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1629057731&refinements=p_27%3ARita+M.+Wirtz+MA&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Rita+M.+Wirtz+MA

“A system that was designed to label a child as "ahead" or "behind" is not a system that was designed with the best interest and knowledge of children in mind.

Our children are all unique individuals with curious, imaginative, creative minds. Each one fully capable of learning exactly what they need when they need it.

Any parent with multiple children will tell you that no two children are the same. So how could we ever expect to create an effective system that treats every child as if they were exactly that?

It's impossible.

When we take away the individuality of our children, we essentially take away their humanity. Along with it, we take their drive and passion for learning that they are born with, which is the biggest travesty of all.

Parents, no matter what anyone says, do not ever believe the lie that your child should be somewhere or someone other than exactly who they are right in this moment.

Do not waste thoughts about where your child "should" be - and focus instead on the unique beauty of where they ARE.

If you're feeling that pressure right now, pause all other thoughts and just watch your child for a day or two. Pay attention to their unique talents, the special ways they communicate with you and others, the amazing things they are so very capable of doing already.

I promise you will feel comfort and relief in seeing the truly incredible human that stands in front of you.”
- The Natural Learner

The Breakthroughs International Conference first virtual conference, hosted this year in Malaysia, will be offering nine keynote presentations, and much more.

Check out this presentation to learn some simple Brain Gym activities that relieve stress in only minutes. Go to the Conference link to see 1 minute video clips from many of the presentations that will be offered: https://btic2021.online/

Love it when science backs up what Brain Gym has been sharing for years. Move to learn better!!

Exercise Improves Learning and Memory in Young Adults - Neuroscience News Aerobic exercise for up to one hour at moderate to high intensity improves memory, attention, and learning for up to two hours.

Thanks to Hearts at Play Move, Learn, Bloom for sharing this: A compelling article on the research on myopia in children: Some research finds that visual patterns seen outdoors may be part of the reason more outdoor time lessens children's chances of getting myopia. Other research on impacts of screen time or reading distance are concerning; also not conclusive. In other research, a forward-head position, as seen in the photo of the child, correlates highly with myopia. [2020: Kolhatkar]

Short-sightedness is increasing in children – and researchers are still trying to understand why Researchers are still uncovering how modern lifestyles may be causing this increase.

From Hearts at Play, Bloom, Move Grow:

In Brain Gym, we do the Energy Yawn and enjoy its instant benefits to clarity of thought and relaxation. According to new research, yawning helps to regulate brain temperature by cooling the brain. Lead researcher Jorg Massen, behavioral biologist, in reference to his new research, notes that "we should maybe stop considering yawning as rude, and instead appreciate that the individual is trying to stay attentive." So let's get our Energy Yawns going and enjoy the benefits of attention and focus!

The longer the yawn, the bigger the brain Yawning doesn't need be a sign of boredom. Rather, it appears to be a measure of brain size. Vertebrates with larger brains yawn longer, according to a study of more than one hundred species of mammals and birds. The findings of the study, which was conducted by an international team of scientists c...