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My name is Steve Reifman, and I am a National Board Certified elementary school teacher, author, and speaker in Santa Monica, CA.
SteveReifman.com is a resource for elementary school teachers and parents. My mission is to teach the whole child—empowering students to succeed academically, build strong character, learn valuable work habits and social skills, and take charge of their health and wellness.
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Introducing Hook-ups
Like the Cross Crawls mentioned in Part 1 of this Teaching Tip, hook-ups also come from Paul Dennison’s well-known Brain Gym program, specifically its PACE (Positive, Active, Clear, and Energetic) component. Brain Gym consists of a series of movements designed to help individuals to relax, concentrate, and channel their energies in a positive direction.
Because Hook-ups are the final part of our movement warm-up and I know we’re about to head to our first academic activity (usually math), I like to add an extra dimension to this exercise. While the kids are standing in hook-up position, I have them think about the upcoming day and focus on a specific aspect of it. Sometimes I will go through the day’s schedule and ask everyone what they hope to accomplish while at school. At other times, I’ll try to put the children in a good mood by asking them to think about the one or two parts of our schedule to which they are looking forward the most, even it’s something like playing handball at recess. Or, I’ll have them set a behavioral goal that will make a big difference in their day, such as being a better listener or remembering to ask for help when they need it.
Performing Hook-ups
Place both arms straight out, thumbs facing down. Cross one arm over the other and interlock your fingers. Then, roll the locked hands straight down and in toward the body so they rest on the chest with elbows down. Cross one leg over the other and rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth behind the teeth. Continue breathing deeply with closed eyes.
Like the other parts of this morning movement routine, hook-ups can be done throughout the day as the need arises.
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