TIME SAVING TIPSMovement anchors learning! Each day, the children we work with show us how crucial movement is in their learning process. Thinking and learning are not all in our heads. The body plays an integral part in our intellectual processes. S.M.A.R.T. activities affect the brain in positive and dramatic ways. To assist you in incorporating movement into learning, here is a winter-themed set of slap track/creep track cards.  You can use the domino dot version to help instill the instant recognition of a number of objects without having to count them. Or print out the plain set of mittens and add your own curricular content. Perhaps a word family, shapes, numbers, or onset and rime pattern. Download, print, cut in half, and enjoy!
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Is S.M.A.R.T. starting to lose a bit of its excitement? Maybe the load of demands is taking a toll and you need a bit of fun to motivate your S.M.A.R.T. time. Sometimes, a little creative twist is just the thing to keep students interested and engaged. Two of the S.M.A.R.T. programs' most passionate alums know just what to do. Amber and Sara are early childhood professionals from Pulaski, WI, who have been incorporating S.M.A.R.T. activities into the classroom environment for many years. To add a little excitement, they like to sprinkle in some thematic content to a few activities. Amber and Sara use children’s literature to inspire what new and exciting twists can be added to core activities. For example, when reading the classic The Mitten, these two creative educators will have their students walk across a Balance Beam and pick up mittens along the way. The Slap Track will have different colored mittens in the pockets. How about creating a “snowy path” to navigate through? Proprioceptive input is encouraged during a game where students move around like different animals. The student pictured below was flying like a bat.* How fun to encourage moving in new ways!
Looking for activities that can keep your child busy and engaged during winter break? How about encouraging a screen free zone that can foster creativity, imagination, and play?!
Have fun, keep moving, and enjoy making memories this holiday season.  Movement and learning are a powerful combination. Developmentally, movement plays a major role in understanding our bodies. Essentially, our bodies NEED to move in order to learn HOW to be still. This is precisely why S.M.A.R.T. is a part of your work with children. Learning Ladders can beautifully bridge academic content and movement. Are you scrambling to find time to make new Learning Ladders? We hear you. Consider how you might make your whiteboard or Smartboard in your space a quick and effective Learning Ladder.
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AuthorSCheryl Smythe Archives
December 2025
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