A Chance To Grow - Brain-Centered Therapy Services

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Honorary Spaces
    • Annual Report
    • Contact
    • Bob's Legacy Fund
  • Programs & Services
    • Clinical Services >
      • Client Forms
      • Vision Services >
        • OptomEYES Vision Therapy
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Speech Therapy
      • Neuro Integrative Clinic >
        • Treatment Models
        • NI Clinic Pricing
      • Audiology Services >
        • Auditory Processing
        • Workshops
        • Auditory Interventions >
          • JIAS
          • CAPDOTS
          • Acoustic Pioneer
      • Insurance Payers
      • Teletherapy Services
    • Brain Training >
      • Neurofeedback >
        • Neurofeedback Rentals
        • Advanced-Brain Intensives
        • Brain Spa
      • Audio-Visual Entrainment >
        • Advanced-Brain Wellness Program
        • AVE Store
      • Brain-Training Workshop Series
    • Home-Based / PCA's >
      • Get Started / Qualify
      • Waiver Services
      • Intake Form
      • Become a PCA
    • MLRC / S.M.A.R.T. >
      • S.M.A.R.T. Program >
        • How S.M.A.R.T. Works
        • S.M.A.R.T. at My School
        • S.M.A.R.T. Mentoring
        • S.M.A.R.T. Steps
        • Research & Resources
      • Workshops >
        • S.M.A.R.T. Elementary
        • S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K
        • Bridging The Gap
        • Auditory Processing Workshops
        • Hosting a Workshop
        • CEU & Credits
        • Registration Policy
      • S.M.A.R.T. Supplies >
        • Downloads
    • School Services >
      • Third-Party Billing
      • Vision & Hearing Screenings
    • Turnquist Childcare >
      • Curriculum & Assessment
      • Teen Parent Program
      • Enrollment Forms
    • Summer Programs >
      • Neuro Integrative Intensives
      • Advanced-Brain Summer Intensives
  • Parents
    • Helpful Resources
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Story
  • Events
    • Workshops
    • Partners & Sponsors
  • News & Media
    • Growing Times
    • S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter
    • Success Stories
    • Photo Release
  • Donate
  • Store
    • Shipping & Returns
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Honorary Spaces
    • Annual Report
    • Contact
    • Bob's Legacy Fund
  • Programs & Services
    • Clinical Services >
      • Client Forms
      • Vision Services >
        • OptomEYES Vision Therapy
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Speech Therapy
      • Neuro Integrative Clinic >
        • Treatment Models
        • NI Clinic Pricing
      • Audiology Services >
        • Auditory Processing
        • Workshops
        • Auditory Interventions >
          • JIAS
          • CAPDOTS
          • Acoustic Pioneer
      • Insurance Payers
      • Teletherapy Services
    • Brain Training >
      • Neurofeedback >
        • Neurofeedback Rentals
        • Advanced-Brain Intensives
        • Brain Spa
      • Audio-Visual Entrainment >
        • Advanced-Brain Wellness Program
        • AVE Store
      • Brain-Training Workshop Series
    • Home-Based / PCA's >
      • Get Started / Qualify
      • Waiver Services
      • Intake Form
      • Become a PCA
    • MLRC / S.M.A.R.T. >
      • S.M.A.R.T. Program >
        • How S.M.A.R.T. Works
        • S.M.A.R.T. at My School
        • S.M.A.R.T. Mentoring
        • S.M.A.R.T. Steps
        • Research & Resources
      • Workshops >
        • S.M.A.R.T. Elementary
        • S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K
        • Bridging The Gap
        • Auditory Processing Workshops
        • Hosting a Workshop
        • CEU & Credits
        • Registration Policy
      • S.M.A.R.T. Supplies >
        • Downloads
    • School Services >
      • Third-Party Billing
      • Vision & Hearing Screenings
    • Turnquist Childcare >
      • Curriculum & Assessment
      • Teen Parent Program
      • Enrollment Forms
    • Summer Programs >
      • Neuro Integrative Intensives
      • Advanced-Brain Summer Intensives
  • Parents
    • Helpful Resources
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Story
  • Events
    • Workshops
    • Partners & Sponsors
  • News & Media
    • Growing Times
    • S.M.A.R.T. Newsletter
    • Success Stories
    • Photo Release
  • Donate
  • Store
    • Shipping & Returns

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

5/1/2019

0 Comments

 
S.M.A.R.T. Spaces
As we’ve worked with S.M.A.R.T. educators and programs, we’ve noticed there are some activities are important to monitor. Helicopter Spins and Vision activities may seem like they require the least amount of supervision, but actually the opposite is true! 
Picture
When monitoring Helicopter Spins keep these things in mind: 1) Some students tend to spin slowly – over the course of the year they should build up speed so they should be spinning faster now with less than a month to go. 2) Students may not spin the whole time (15 seconds) and/or stop the whole time (15 seconds) – to maximize the stimulation, and therefore benefit, it is important to spin for 15 seconds and stop for 15 seconds. 3) Some students like to dance or walk in circles – doing so does not provide the optimal environment for stimulation, encourage students to spin in a circle. We love to use Helicopter Spins as a whole group brain break activity. It is easy to monitor and it helps get the wiggles out so students can focus again. 

Do your students like to rush through Tactile Trackers or Wagon Wheels if you’re not right by them? We’ve noticed most students rush though by only covering one eye or not covering either eye. Vision activities are best done in a small group (3-5 students), so you can monitor what is happening with the eyes. Having a teacher there to monitor and/or model ensures students are doing the activities correctly and the time investment is worth every second.

Picture
References:
Helicopter Spins
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K CORE Guide pages 35-36
S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide pages 44-46

Tactile Trackers and Wagon Wheels
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K CORE Guide pages 64-66
S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide pages 148-150


S.M.A.R.T. at Home
S.M.A.R.T. teachers share information about the program with parents. This month’s One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher sends home a quarterly newsletter that includes information and pictures that show S.M.A.R.T. in action.

Click here to read the newsletter!

She shares about the activities students are doing in S.M.A.R.T. and includes information about what each activity supports. Parents often wonder what their child is doing in S.M.A.R.T. and how those movements help support learning readiness, so sharing this information through a newsletter is a very smart idea! Check out her Spring Pre-K S.M.A.R.T. News!


Time Saving Tips
​
Save time, save money! We know teachers are generally short on both near the end of the school year, so we have come up with a game to play at the dollar store that we call “How do I make this S.M.A.R.T.?” During our most recent dollar store adventure we came upon small pocket charts and had a light bulb moment! Why not use pocket charts for Learning Ladders?! They’re easy to switch, so instead of making new Learning Ladders every couple weeks, you can just switch the order, instant change! Plus you probably already have content to use in the pockets like math facts, spelling words, or state capitals. If you have a S.M.A.R.T. Course in your classroom, and already use pocket carts for these items, why not use them during the rotation? Just make sure the movement you use (ex. Rebounder) is located near the now charts turned Learning Ladders. When you do, please share it with us!
Picture
Picture
References:
S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K MORE Guide pages 108-109
S.M.A.R.T. Curriculum Guide pages 246-247 (note: you can use content beyond numbers)

That's One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher!
Many early childhood programs have transportation unit. Carol Sullivan, One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher from Kasson-Mantorville, has shared her clever ideas involving a car race theme. She uses “stop” and “go” cards in an AB pattern within the Slap Track and has applied her knowledge about the importance of vision to a racetrack.
Picture
Carol uses Windshield Wipers as written in the S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K MORE Guide (pages 74-75) and encourages has her students to stay low while doing the Alligator Crawl by using a “car wash.”
Picture
Carol’s students love the theme and we’re so glad she shared her great ideas so we could pass them on to you!
0 Comments

    AuthorS

    Cheryl Smythe
    Director of Education Services at ACTG
    csmythe@actg.org

    Katie Hansen
    S.M.A.R.T. Mentor / SLP

    katie.hansen@actg.org


      subscribe

    Subscribe

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    RSS Feed

Our Mission is to promote the maximum development of the whole child and adult through innovative, individualized and comprehensive brain-centered programs and services.
Location & Contact Information
1800 NE 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 789-1236 / actg@actg.org

Main Fax: (612) 706-5555
Fax for Home-Based Services: (612) 706-5509
Fax for Clinical Services: (612) 746-5144

Stay Informed
Sign-up for our newsletter and special offers!
Submit
Quick Links
Donate
Employment
​Store
Terms of Use
Nondiscrimination Policy
​Shipping & Returns
Privacy Policy
A Chance To Grow is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Gifts are tax-deductible. ACTG does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.
​© 2022 A Chance To Grow, All rights reserved.