At Song Leader Boot Camp in St Louis in February it struck me how often the presenters (song leaders, musicians, and educators) incorporated movement into their song leading and worship techniques. Movement is essential for integrating mind and body, it increases conceptual capacity, and draws participants into the experience in a safe way.
Here are three examples:
- For young children, use hand motions, e.g., for the V’ahavta make a heart shape with your hands and pretend to “pump” it to your chest and out. For the middle grades, teach sign language for key prayers, e.g., for the Shma or Barchu.
- At all ages, use instruments—for young children provide shakers and tambourines. For the middle grades, use any kind of drum or even have the kids just “play their pencils” to the rhythm on their desks. Older kids can just slap their knees or stomp the beat with their feet.
- Some songleaders have kids sit only to learn the lyrics. The rest of the time, the group is jumping up and down, like at a concert, or even just sitting on their desks keeping time with the music.
A fantastic example came from Billy Jonas, who led a session on praying with your whole body. See http://www.billyjonas.com/index.php?page=listen (“To Be One”—left column, 3rd song down). Billy had us create our own hand motions for key words in the song (“thunder,” “waves,” “stars,” “fire”), which we enacted as he sang. I felt a bit awkward at first, then found it irresistible.
As you plan your non-musical lessons, think along the same lines. Movement helps with long-term memory retention; it leads to greater student motivation, engagement, and attention; and—guess what—children can watch one another and look to their friends when unsure what to do.
Here are four examples of ways to include movement in your lessons:
1. Student conceptual understanding and meaning making
Set up activities in different parts of the room. Students rotate.
Example: In the Torah, God is referred to by a variety of names (Judge, Parent, Ruler, Savior, the Presence). Choose the one you think most appropriate based on the story we just read and stand under that sign. Be prepared to explain your choice.
2. Creative expression
Use props.
Examples: For role playing, bring in costumes/dress ups, fake food, laminated pictures. Allow kids to move classroom furniture. For learning blessings, bring in ritual objects.
3. Skills development
Play movement games to learn Hebrew or Judaica facts.
Examples: Play Simon Says with Hebrew words. Do Hebrew-letters yoga. Play Hide-and-Seek in the class where students find the answers to questions teacher asks. Toss a ball or beanbag to review vocabulary.
4. Engagement and attention
Provide simple, get-out-of-your-seat opportunities.
Examples: Go the cabinet and get your own book. Hand out paper to everyone. Move your chair or place to where you’d like to be. Sit on the floor if you want. Or in the hall.
Check out this blog: http://teachingthroughmovement.wordpress.com/. You might find additional ideas there.
P.S. Special request to teachers: Keep moving yourself in class. Try not to sit down, especially not behind your desk! When your energy goes down, so will the kids’.
