S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter - Mar. '19

S.M.A.R.T. Spaces
Spring is within reach! But we all know that indoor recess is far from over and everyone needs to move! Check out our S.M.A.R.T. Spaces story on indoor recess from February 2016.

S.M.A.R.T. SPaces - Feb. '16

Have you incorporated S.M.A.R.T. into indoor recess?  Winter months are often plagued with indoor recess.  St. Michael Catholic School in St. Michael, MN knows this all to well.

This winter, Enrichment specialist Heidi G. and paraprofessional Sarah D, collaborated together to create an indoor recess S.M.A.R.T. area for those days when students need a little more structured indoor play.  In the schools gymnasium, stations were put together to allow students to do Hopscotch and Balance Beams.  They also used floor ladders to make obstacles to jump or hop through.

In open areas of the gym, you can encourage students to take part in a relay race where they Alligator Crawl or Free Creep.  If you are using hula-hoops during indoor recess, have students use the hoop as a space to do a few Helicopter Spins to provide some vestibular stimulation.

The pictures below are some examples of spaces we have seen turned into a S.M.A.R.T. space.  One shows a hallway course that can be picked up daily and the other is a gym space that incorporates S.M.A.R.T. activities along with play structures.

We know how important it is for students to have time to move and play.  Research has proven time and again that recess, whether it is indoors or outdoors, causes students to be more attentive and productive in the classroom. In fact, schools have taken part in some research that proves how adding recess time successfully impacted academic performance.  If you did not see the article on our Facebook page, check it out!  
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NPR-Monkey Bars and Kickball Might Be Good for the Brain
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/01/04/npr-monkey-bars-and-kickball-might-be-good-for-the-brain
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S.M.A.R.T. at Home
Here is just another reason to read each night! Kelly at “Happy You, Happy Family” shares more reasons why reading each night is so important.

Click here to read the full story!

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Time Saving Tips
​Oh no! You have a new math curriculum unit to prepare, have to attend three IEP meetings this week, and you are struggling to come up with auditory activities to do while you are walking down the hallway or waiting in line. Then you remember the monthly S.M.A.R.T. Auditory Activity samples we’ve compiled for you in your S.M.A.R.T. Guide! Whew! Crisis averted.

S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K teachers find yours here:
https://actg.org/sites/actg.org/files/documents/Auditory_Monthly_Themes.pdf

References:
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K MORE Guide pages 35-51
S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide pages 119-139

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That's One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher!
Are your students having a difficult time understanding “motorcycle grip” for the overhead ladder? One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher, Brenda Brandt, started saying “bicycle grip” and her students immediately changed their grasp on the rungs!

​Remember, using the “bicycle grip” matures into a tripod grip for writing.

​References:
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K CORE Guide pages 57-58
S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide pages 76-77