Mckennah Thornton Email and Phone Number

When I teach, I engage my students by using brain breaks, movement & music in the classroom. Brain breaks are important to students. They allow the brain time to process the information we've just heard and prepare to absorb even more. It's also important to give the body a break as well. Just like a break for water or stretching in physical activity, the body needs to move after being stationary for long periods of time. Stand up, stretch, do the hokey-pokey –this will help everyone stay awake and look to the teacher as a leader and not a boss. Music can be used in many ways to set the tone in a classroom. It can be soft instrumentals for reading and typing or put on a dance instruction video to transition after an hour of testing in silence. Many preschools and kindergarten classrooms use a song to start and finish the day. Not only does it set the mood for learning, but it can ease the transition between the safety of home and family to school, which can be daunting at times. These are just a few ways teachers can anticipate the wants/needs of our students but also be prepared for anything... which can also be daunting at times. Haha :) The world is constantly unpredictable so I am always learning how best to support students, families, and educators within my community.