Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child for Academic Success
Introduction
The Ready Bodies, Learning Minds (RBLM) project, developed by Athena Oden, P.T., addresses the crucial connection between sensory-motor development and academic achievement in children. This program is designed to enhance the sensory and motor systems of students, providing them with a stronger foundation for learning and overall success. This article delves into the principles behind RBLM, its practical applications, and its potential impact on students of all abilities.
The Sensory-Motor Connection to Academic Success
Motor and sensory development are fundamental to the central nervous system's ability to perform the numerous tasks required for academic achievement. When the reflexive-vestibular-proprioceptive-tactile systems are not functioning optimally, a student's base of body knowledge and skills is limited, hindering their ability to build upon it. This can manifest in various ways, such as difficulty sitting still, poor handwriting, and behavioral issues. RBLM aims to address these challenges by providing targeted activities that stimulate and develop these crucial systems.
Athena Oden, P.T. and author of the Ready Bodies Learning Minds workshop and curriculum, is widely known across the US for her down to earth approach to teaching, and the practical and powerful nature of the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program. Questions often arise: What is the sensory-motor connection to the academic success of children? Why do they fall out of chairs, hold their pencils tightly, chew their shirts? How can a motor lab help?
The Ready Bodies Motor Lab: A Practical Approach
The Ready Bodies Motor Lab offers a structured environment where children can engage in easy-to-implement experiences and exercises designed to develop their sensory and motor systems to their fullest potential. These activities are designed to stimulate and develop the reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular, visual and auditory systems. The program is versatile and can be adapted to various settings, including individual interventions, classroom centers, adaptive physical education, or a campus-wide curriculum.
Athena and Ready Bodies, Learning Minds is so excited to see the motor lab idea in practice at Abilene Education Foundation at Ward Elementary! How exciting that they are already seeing the difference it can make with students! Motor Lab in the Ready Room!
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Key Components of the RBLM Program
RBLM explores our physiological systems within the context of the dynamics systems theory, embodied cognition, and our current culture of education. This intermediate program was created to support the developmental, motor, sensory, and academic growth of ALL students-special education and autism, at-risk, and regular education. In a pro-active manner this research-based strategy is also being used as a Response to Intervention resource and program. This presentation will highlight intrinsic movements (also known as reflexes), developmental and educational theories, classroom strategies, handwriting, and behavior.
The Ready Bodies Motor Labs will be demonstrated by classroom participants and videos of school students. The activities are designed to be implemented as an individual intervention to be used by a therapist, as a classroom center or activity, as an adaptive physical education, or as a campus-wide curriculum.
Implementation and Adaptability
The aim of the Ready Bodies Motor Lab is to be campus-wide. Each student on site attends regularly during the week. Some classes are in a rotation with art and music. Some run for 20 minutes daily. We all know adding a new program is often difficult for schools. ANY time spent with the children doing this program will be beneficial, and the RBLM program is designed for easy adaptability for your situation and budget.
The RBLM program is designed for easy adaptability for your situation and budget. If the first 5 minutes of library time or computer class time is set aside to lead them in only two activities, their responsiveness to the teacher will be greatly enhanced. If the teacher must keep “bouncer” students in from recess to complete their work, it is likely that these same students would benefit from 5-10 minutes of Ready Bodies activities.
The Role of Athena Oden
Athena Oden, PT, graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and has spent the last 40 years in pediatrics, working in public and private school settings including schools for the blind and deaf and early childhood, residential facilities, and non-profit organizations for children. As the owner of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds, LLC., Athena is known for practical, compassionate, and down-to-earth training. Athena Oden, P.T. and author of the Ready Bodies Learning Minds workshop and curriculum is widely known across the US for her down to earth approach to teaching, and the practical and powerful nature of the Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program.
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Her newest book, Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child, is written for therapists, teachers and parents, and gives insight into the sensory and motor systems necessary for learning and success for students of all ages and abilities, incorporating research and references while outlining the curriculum for school-based motor lab programs. Athena was privileged to participate in the creation of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) White paper for The Role of School-Based Physical Therapy: Successful Participation for All Students, and to serve for six years as the Regional Representative for the South Central US States for the School Based SIG of the APTA.
Research and Evidence
Action Research Project, Bulverde Elementary School, Comal ISD, TexasDr. Denise Kern In October of 2002, Athena Oden, creator of Ready Bodies, Learning Minds, and Dr. Denise Kern, Principal of Bulverde Elementary School in Comal Independent School District, began a controlled research project into the effectiveness of the motor lab developed by Athena Oden, physical therapist.
Embodied Learning
A Classroom Full of Embodied Beings: An Anthropological DiscussionAthena Oden, PT(Publish copy: The Journal, a publication of the Society of Classical Learning, Winter 2017) In a room full of desks and chairs, carefully aligned, twenty second graders sit with their feet on the ground and hands carefully folded.
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