Spanish w/ Megan
In
Spanish class this month we learned how to say "por favor" (please)
when asking for a food (comida) item. We learned about virtues, such as being
thankful (Doy gracias por…), by modeling please, thank you, and you’re welcome.
We continued to practice what we have already learned this year through games
and songs. We
prepared for our Thanksgiving Feast by learning specific Spanish vocabulary that can
be used at school and at family celebrations.
Words
that you and your children can use with your child include:
Por
favor – please
Gracias
– thank you
De
nada – you’re welcome
We
practiced using our Spanish manners with various food items:
Pavo,
por favor – turkey, please
Maíz,
por favor – corn, please
Calabaza,
por favor – pumpkin, please
Puré
de manzana, por favor – applesauce, please
Maestra Megan
Physical Education w/ Karen
One of our November PE units featured Long Rope Jumping. Students worked on entering, exiting and having fun inside a long jump rope held by two turners. They displayed their GRIT attempting these new and challenging rope jumping skills.
In class, we briefly discussed some of the benefits of jumping rope. We talked about how rope jumping is an excellent exercise for the heart, muscles and brain. In this article I wanted to explore the “brain benefits” in more depth. We don’t often think about how our brain reaps benefits while we are huffing, puffing, sweating and jumping. But, researchers are finding that physical activity, like jumping rope, does help to prepare the brain for learning in the classroom. Below is a list of the “brain benefits” from physical activity (originally identified by Jean Blaydes, of Action Based Learning), attributed specifically to jumping rope.
Did you know that jumping rope increases mental alertness? When students raise their heart rate while jumping, the brain gets more blood. The blood feeds the brain its needed nutrients and oxygen for heightened alertness and metal focus. I like to tell students that they are “turning on” their brain for learning.
Did you know that jumping rope helps the brain to grow more brain cells? It has been demonstrated that aerobic activity grows new brain cells in rodents. Promising research suggests that this may also apply to humans. Check out THIS interesting article for more information.
Did you know that jumping rope helps the brain with language acquisition? Think of the steady beat students keep to jump in time with the rope and the songs they sing that match that beat. Do you remember any jump rope rhymes from your childhood? These rhythmic aspects of jumping rope are foundational to basic reading skills. Beat awareness and beat competency simulate the basic rhythm patterns of our language that need to be established for better language acquisition. More details about the connection between rhythm and reading can be found in THIS article.
Did you know that jumping rope improves your mood? While raising their heart rate, students that jump rope help their brain and body balance its chemistry and electricity. The result can be a state of peace and emotional well-being. Physical activity that increases heart rate is often prescribed to treat anxiety and depression. Check out THIS abstract for a summary of research in this area.
It is my hope that your student and your family reap all the fitness and “brain benefits” that rope jumping has to offer. I haven’t even mentioned yet how easy it is to start jumping. It requires little equipment, time and space; a perfect winter, indoor activity. Students can jump alone or with friends and family. So, grab a rope and start jumping today!
Happy Jumping! Karen Robbins
Questions?
Need any jumping ideas? karenr@willowwind.org
Music w/ Katherine
Click HERE to read Katherine's updated blog.
katherinea@willowwind.org
Art w/ Ryan
Coming Soon!
ryanb@willowwind.org
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