Tomahawk Elementary School received a 2024 Beyond Crayons & Chromebooks grant for an “Exercise Your Brain” program. Educators from TES attended training for Bal-A-Vis-X (Balance, Auditory, Visual, and Exercise), a system of exercises designed to fine-tune balance and rhythm that also can improve calmness and sustained focus. The grant facilitated the purchase of items needed for the program and it was piloted with 1st and 3rd grade students.
Bags and balls are passed from hand-to-hand or person-to-person, crossing the body mid-line. The rhythm and movement pulls the brain and the body into a state where they can work together. If this “exercise” is practiced often it can improve cognitive integration, behaviors settle, impulsivity decreases, attention increases, and reading/writing improves.
Students liked the activity. They learned how to calm their bodies, physically and mentally. Some teachers said that this was the part of the day when all students were calm and quiet. Other comments from teachers: hand-eye coordination improved, penmanship improved-especially being able to write on the line and not downhill, meaningful brain break, concentration and teamwork increased.
