One S.M.A.R.T. Teacher

This year, you are one S.M.A.R.T. teacher. Using the training you received, you will take the time to understand the behavioral and academic clues each student is giving, using that insight to help every child reach their potential—because S.M.A.R.T. becomes not just what you teach, but how you teach. 

Sometimes a child’s characteristics are their way of telling us, “My body needs something.”
A student may wiggle a lot, have trouble sitting still, or seem unable to settle into an activity or lesson. Instead of always thinking about how to stop the movement, it can be helpful to ask,

“Could movement be exactly what this child needs right now?”
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This is where heavy work movements can make a difference. Heavy work includes activities that ask children to push, pull, carry, climb, crawl, or use their muscles against resistance. These movements give the body strong feedback through the muscles and joints, which can help a child feel more grounded, organized, and ready to focus.

When a child’s body gets the movement input it is seeking, it may be easier for the brain and body to settle and get ready to learn. A few minutes of crawling, pushing a heavy object, carrying materials, or doing another purposeful movement can sometimes be more helpful than asking a child to simply “sit still.”

The next time you see a student who seems to be struggling with regulation, pause and look beyond the behavior. Maybe their body is asking for movement. A S.M.A.R.T. movement opportunity may be just the reset they need to get back to learning, participating, and feeling successful.

Here is a helpful visual to use in a classroom space, with a visual schedule, or hanging on your bulletin board as a reminder for you to plan for movement snacks everyday.

Download: CalmCorner: Horizontal poster or CalmCorner: Vertical poster