What is Physical Engagement?
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Physical engagement is defined as “use physical activities or routines to stimulate learning or interest" (The Glossary of Education Reform, 2013). Fostering physical empowerment focuses on building students' intrapersonal and participatory skills.
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Physical Engagement: Kinesthetic learning refers to the use of physical motions and activities during the learning process. A teacher might ask students to walk up to the chalkboard and answer the question verbally while also writing the answer on the board or to participate in a gallery walk. Short periods of physical activity or quick exercises, to reduce antsy, fidgety, or distracted behaviors could be incorporated in lessons. According to Planning and Teaching Strategies (n.d.), more schools throughout the United States are addressing the physical needs of students by, for example, offering all students free breakfasts or starting school later at a later time. Disengagement in learning and poor academic performance has been linked to hunger and malnutrition and adolescent sleep patterns and needs differ from those of adults, and adolescents may be better able to learn later in the morning.
Physical Engagement Overview
Essential Question
How can teachers improve physical engagement in their classrooms to shift from student engagement to student empowerment?
Module Goal
To provide an understanding of how to promote and build student choice in the learning environment that promotes physical empowerment
Module Objectives
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Participants will understand physical empowerment and why it is important in improving student learning.
Participants will identify teaching strategies that promote student empowerment.
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