Crossroads Elementary students get moving with ‘Move to Learn’ Initiative
HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Students at Crossroads Elementary have only been in class for a few weeks, but they received a lesson in how movement can help them learn.
It’s a classroom break with a purpose. Coach Larry Calhoun led elementary students through simple exercises as part of the Move to Learn Initiative.
Students from kindergarten through sixth grade took part in live demonstrations. Coach Calhoun said, “Crossroads represents many of the schools in the state of Mississippi, good things are happening. Mississippi has gone from 48th in the nation, almost last, to 16th. Academic gains in reading, writing, math, and language arts. Graduation rate close to 90-91 percent, it’s a great day for Mississippi. Move to Learn we’re just glad to be a part of it. The Bower Foundation and the State Department of Education have collaborated and we thought that this would be a great idea to create a tool for teachers. Teachers deserve this man; they are some of the hardest workers on this planet. The best part about coming out to schools, is getting to see teachers smile, watching the students smile, watching and hearing the laughter. Helping to remove or decrease some of the stress, some of the anxiety, some of the fear, some of the worry. Tap into happiness and making sure that they have a great time and understand that learning can be very fun.”
The goal is to help students burn off energy while getting their brains ready to learn. Crossroads Elementary Principal Dr. Geneva Lee said, “When Coach Calhoun accepted the invitation to come to Crossroads, we were excited because this was my first time getting to meet Coach Calhoun and I just believe in ‘Move to Learn’ and just your body moving, your brain being active and I just thought it would be a great event for the kids. I would say all of it was really my favorite part but really dancing with the kids when he put on the videos and I got to interact and do all the dances and the movements I really liked that part. I would definitely invite Coach Calhoun back. He’s energetic, he’s fun, he’s fun, he’s relevant and he can definitely come back to Crossroads.”
The Move to Learn videos give teachers quick, free exercise breaks that can be done right in the classroom. Student Taylor Huston said, “It was fun, the Move to Learn stuff and all of the exercising helping your brain. I would say the ball game, even though I didn’t get to hit the ball {that was my favorite part} but it was pretty fun. Exercising is good and it grows your mind.”
The program was developed by Mississippians showing students that sometimes, getting up and moving is just what the brain needs.
