I posted previously about the little things making a big difference in my classroom.
A few weeks ago, I learned about The Interlude Dance. It's another small "YouTube sensation." Students had just finished preparing their conference folders for student-led conference. Some were a little bummed about their grades, and I was not totally excited about being at school until 8pm. We just needed a little jam session to break free/let loose. I put the video up on the screen, we learned the dance, turned the lights out, and jammed through the song a few times. Everyone in the classroom, and I mean everyone (including me) just let go for a matter of 10 minutes. It was freeing.
We all need these freeing moments. We see the times on Gray's Anatomy where Christina and Meredith just dance their hearts out when life gets them down. How many times do we just let loose, turn the car stereo up, and sing at the top of our lungs to let it all out? We need to give students these freeing/let lose moments sometimes in school.
After the jam session, it took a little bit to wind down, but there was just a little different ambience in the classroom. The stress of conferences, report cards, and other stresses seemed to float away for a bit.
What sort of brain breaks/freeing opportunities to you provide for your students? What benefits do you see?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea. I have used some quick yoga breathing and hanging by bending over at the waist and letting some blood go to the brain. It really helped reinvigorate and just get a break and stretch too.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Goerend,
ReplyDeleteThis post was amazing! I read through it and thought that you had a great idea getting your students to "let loose" in the classroom. I instantly thought you must be their favorite teacher! I am so glad that you posted the link to the Interlude Dance because I have never heard of it. I bet your students went crazy! I do not have my own students yet, but this gave me some great ideas of what I can do in my classroom one day to easy tension and stress from my students. Thank you for such a wonderful post!
Sincerely,
Jessica Brown
EDM310 Student
University of South Alabama
Thank you, Jessica! I hope you can apply some of the ideas in your future classroom. You just have to go back to the main reason you're there...for the kids!
ReplyDeleteHi Mrs. Goerend,
ReplyDeleteI am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I was assigned to your read your blog post for this week. I will be posting my comment on my blogger if you would like to look.
http://dubrocannieedm310.blogspot.com/
I really enjoyed what you had to say about just letting go for just a little bit. When I was in High School I wish my teachers allowed this for me and my classmates, especially senior year. This is a great concept and I will most likely incorporate this into my teaching when I feel my students and myself are overwhelmed.
Thanks, Annie. I hope you find the times to let loose with your students. They see in these times that you are a real person who enjoys having fun as well as learning lots!
ReplyDelete