Calmers & EnergizersThe Reading Connection

Energizers! 88 Quick Movement Activities that Refresh and Refocus

by Susan Lattanzi Roser

Bananas…Unite! Peel Bananas, peel-peel bananas (x2) Peel to the left Peel to the right Peel down the middle And chomp! Take a bite Chomp, chomp! Take a bite Go bananas, go-go bananas! (x2)

Video of Go Bananas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnbGpRmOqE&feature=related

Go Bananas!

Leader◦ Dum Dum (Clap thighs)◦ Dah Dah (Clap hands)

• Group◦ Dum Dum (Clap thighs)◦ Dah Dah (Clap hands)

• Possible Movements Touch toes, reach left/right, reach front/back, nod head, snap

fingers, march, jump, arm circles, reach up◦ Ending: whisper words and finish with shh shh shh shh

Video of Dum-Dum-Dah-Dah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RcR1WsxYpA

Dum Dum Dah Dah

I’m walking, I’m walking, I’m walking Now I’m still

I’m jumping, I’m jumping, I’m jumping Now I’m still

Tips:◦ Practice what it looks like to be “still”◦ Remind kids that they’re to maintain their personal space

and not bump into others

Now I’m Still

Each time “1-2-3 calm down me” gets quieter. In the last 2 verses, the kids can say “calm down me.”

1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from the top of the head down the side of the head or face

1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from shoulders down arms to fingers -- opposite hands

1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from shoulders down chests and tummies

1-2-3 calm down me: run hands from hips down legs to feet -- opposite hands on legs

Then have the kids sit down.

From Arika Van Brunt, Center for Alexandria’s Children

1-2-3, Calm Down Me

Activities, Themes and Books

Tailoring Your Read-Aloud to meet the needs of children under stress

Involve several senses, not just vision and hearing: Bring things to touch, smell or taste.

Include humor, fun, excitement or comfort: Silly is good.

Relate to the children’s interests: sports, dancing, cooking, strange or unusual things, pirates, mysteries, popular news, or games. Ask you kids about their interests!

Encourage movement: Act out stories, play games, dance, build things.

Allow kids to practice communicating in a pro-social way: Make time for conversation and expression of ideas and opinions.

Activities that reduce stress and strengthen connections

Explore cause and effect: What happens next? Why did that happen?

Allow kids to explore empathy and perspective-taking: How would it feel if?

Explore persistence

Explore feelings

Topics that are of high interest to the kids

Themes that support children under stress

Books that support kids under stressExplore a range of emotions

Feature characters with diverse ethnicities and backgrounds

The Brown Bookshelf:

http://thebrownbookshelf.com/

Anita Silvey’s multicultural list:

http://childrensbookalmanac.com/cate

gory/multicultural

/

WETA’s Colorin Colorado:

http://

www.colorincolorado.org/read/forkids

Winners of the Coretta Scott King

Award: http://

www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/emiert/cskb

ookawards/recipients.cfm

Books that show kids solving problems on their own

Picture Books Novels

Volunteer Techniques Ways you can help kids at your Read-Aloud get the most out of their TRC experience

Use TRC’s Promises

From the experts:

How do you/could you use them at your site?

Start with only a few rules.

Be sure you know why you are saying no.

Give your kids a voice.

When setting limits, use the language of choices.

Always be consistent.

More techniques

Volunteers Experts say this helps foster

Come prepared to lead

with confidence

Talk to the kids on their

eye level and one-on-one

Use nametags and call the

kids by name

Only adults read aloud to

the group

Reduced anxiety from adults

Attachment, creating a safe

environment, recognition

Attachment, recognition

Reduced anxiety from

adults, creating a safe

environment, security

A brain under stress makes unconscious responses.

Telling a child under stress what TO DO will be more effective than telling them what NOT TO DO:

“Don’t Run” versus “Please Walk”The stressed brain hears “run”

Give kids positive direction for best results.

Use Positive Statements

Follow this link to find handouts for the material covered in this presentation:

http://www.slideshare.net/readingconnection/energizers-compliation-handout-8646711

Related Handouts

Stephanie Berman703.528.8317 ext. 10sberman@thereadingconnection.org

Questions or Comments