Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Minds in Motion boosts concentration skills at Liberty Elementary School

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

It’s a program that is so much fun that Liberty Elementary students don’t even realize its improving their concentration, coordination and social behavior.

On Tuesday, Principal Christy Jarka and third grade teachers Cindy Fish and Catie Armstrong familiarized the Duneland School Board with “Minds in Motion,” a program designed to build a child’s motor skills and visual processing by strengthening the inner ear which coordinates balance.

Fish said the founder of “Minds in Motion” -- Candace Meyer -- found that children in today’s environment aren’t building their inner ear because they are spending more time in front of the computer or television. Even as infants, children are carried in a car seat or in a baby carrier and their heads remain stagnant.

“They aren’t getting the movement they used to,” said Fish.

Because of this, they are having trouble with eye-tracking tasks and often struggle with reading.

Students at Liberty Elementary School engage in physical activities for 15 minutes a day to exercise concentration and head movements with balance beams and “jelly rolling” across the floor. It used the same sorts of devices and training that NASA uses for motor coordination in astronauts, Fish said

“I can see a change in the students. They are able to concentrate,” said Armstrong. It also boosts social interaction and students are ready to learn after they finish their exercises.

Jarka said the school began the program in October and parents have responded with much praise for the program. It is used by all grades, K through 4, and she would even recommend to older students. “It can help anybody.”

The school showed a video with students Grace Bamber, Alicia Moisoff and Gavin Rivera impersonating newscasters reporting on how “Minds in Motion” is affecting student performances.

“If you take it seriously, you will see improvement,” Bamber said.

Duneland Personnel Report

In another matter, the school board approved a consent agenda which included the latest list of hires and resignations in Duneland.

For appointments, Ester Slack will be an IMC secretary for the Duneland Schools. Jason Nykamp has assumed the role of systems specialist for the school district.

Doreen Hilbrich will be working as access control and detention supervisor for CHS. Also at CHS, Morgan Bradley will be a volunteer cheerleading coach.

Brandy Higgins has been appointed as a probationary custodian for DSC.

Moving from probationary to permanent status are custodians Ronald Rago, Evar Whiteside Jr. and Tanya Krumerie.

Katheryn Hines will be an instructional aide for Jackson Elementary.

Resignations this month included Jackson Elementary instructional aide Amy Johnson, WIS instructional aides Tracey Dibble and Bonnie Stolz, and DSC kitchen helper Twila Harris.

Retiring are maintenance worker Carol Leady effective Dec. 6 and bus driver Sandra Hutson on Dec. 31.

 

 

Posted 12/10/2014

 
 
 
 

 

 

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