02-25-2024
Weekly Reflection
Summary:
The paper explores the
implementation and impact of the EASY Minds program, which integrates physical
activity into mathematics education in primary schools. Both student and
teacher perceptions were examined to understand the program's potential, challenges,
and outcomes.
The study was conducted in
grade 5/6 classes across eight public schools in New South Wales, Australia.
Students were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n=6) or control
(n=4) groups. Teachers in the intervention group received one day of professional
learning, a resource pack containing physical activity-promoting equipment, and
sample lesson ideas aligned with the NSW mathematics syllabus. They were
instructed to incorporate movement-based learning into their mathematics
lessons at least thrice weekly over six weeks. The control group continued with
their regular mathematics program. Focus group methodology was used for student
samples due to time constraints and the potential for group interaction to
elicit valuable insights. A total of 66 Grade 5/6 students participated in 11
focus groups. Semi-structured discussion frameworks were developed by the
research team for both student focus groups and teacher interviews.
Some key findings include,
- Students and teachers reported increased enjoyment and enthusiasm for mathematics. Movement-based lessons enhanced students' social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
- The program addressed issues of engagement and disinterest in traditional mathematics instruction. Teachers required additional preparation and creativity but were confident in continuing with the program.
- Professional development and resource support were crucial for successful implementation.
Stops:
The comment
from a student about the teacher, Mrs. G, enjoying the program because it
reduced discipline problems is particularly insightful. It underscores the
importance of creating a positive and engaging learning environment where
students are motivated to stay focused and on task. It also emphasizes the role
of the teacher in facilitating such an environment.
Reflecting
on my past experiences as a teacher in a traditional school, I recall the
challenges of maintaining student focus and enthusiasm, especially during math
lessons. The monotony of the same curriculum and repetitive worksheets often
left me feeling uninspired. Reading about programs like EASY Minds and how they
improve student learning and engagement is encouraging. It makes me want to
explore different teaching techniques and include more activities that involve
movement in my lessons.
However, during the
weekend, when conversing with some of my colleagues from Saudi Arabia, it
became apparent that fully incorporating movement-based learning into the
classroom seemed impractical for them. They cited challenges such as the need to meet curriculum requirements and lack of teacher training in this regard.
Question
My question is how do you think movement-based learning could be adapted to suit different classroom settings, considering factors like curriculum requirements?
Thank you for your sharing. When using movement activities in class, we should make sure that the activities match with our learning objectives and align with the curriculum requirements. We should also design the activities in a flexible way so that they can be easily modified to suit various classroom settings and the resources depending on what you have. Furthermore, think about how different students might need different challenges or ways of learning. That way, everyone can join in and learn from the activities.
ReplyDeleteHi, Rabia, Thank you for your sharing. I feel that it seems also challenging to fully incorporate movement-based learning into the classroom in China, particularly in high school. However, I believe, as a teacher, that the most important thing is that we should give it a try at first. Although we may not be able to fully integrate movement-based learning into our regular classes, we can provide our students with another way to learn math and think about math by adding this element to our class.
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