As a Professor Emeritus at Portland State University, Dr. Abramovitz has facilitated Teacher Inservice Kinesthetic Learning workshops across the country. At these workshops, he often asks classroom teachers if they are aware of the research highlighting the academic and social benefits of classroom movement for children. All hands go up. However, when he asks who is currently using movement in their classrooms, only a few hands remain. When he asks why not, there are usually three responses. One, I don't know what to do. Two, I am afraid of losing control. Three, I don't have time. In this workshop, Dr. Abramovitz will address all three of these concerns as he helps teachers explore the potential benefits and challenges of kinesthetic learning in the classroom.

While Kinesthetic Learning may come out of the field of dance, its foundation is the very human capacity for pedestrian movement. We walk, we stretch a hand, we scratch a cheek. As such, it is a language that students already have a vocabulary for. This workshop (and the accompanying classroom sessions) adapt this language to the limited spatial constraints of the elementary classroom. Easily adaptable for all ages and ability levels, classroom movement can be used to teach content and deepen understanding on any academic subject. Kinesthetic Learning is particularly effective at motivating and engaging active learners, especially useful in this post pandemic period.

While this workshop is only an introduction, teachers will still leave the workshop with a broader understanding of classroom kinesthetic theory as well as some practical, fun and engaging activities that they can use in their classroom starting the next morning.