In Adaptive Dance and Rhythms for all Ages with Basic Lesson Plan, you'll find fun and practical adaptive techniques to teach basic dance movements, floor exercises, clapping rhythms, and expressive dance, either in separate 5 minute segments, or part of the 40 minute lesson plan. Geared for kids and adults with disabilities. Fully illustrated. 76 pages.

Included:

I. Basic Lesson Plan
Introduction
Considerations
Providing Space
Length of Segments
1. Floor Exercises
2. Clapping Rhythms
3. Dance Movements
4. Resting
5. Learning a New Dance Movement
6. Expressive Movements
7. Clapping Syllables of Words and Rhythms of Songs
8. Energizing
II. General Notes
Adaptive Guidelines
III. Clapping to Rhythms and Songs
Adaptive Guidelines
Notes to Teachers
Time Signatures: 4/4; 2/2; 2/4; 3/4/; 6/8
IV. Floor Exercises
Adaptive Guidelines
1. The Rocker
2. The Squirrel
3. The Owl
4. The Starfish
5. The Resting Snake
6. The Cat Stretch
V. Dance Movements
Adaptive Guidelines
Key for Clapping
1. The Swing
2. Running
3. Marching
4. Galloping
5. Sliding
6. Jumping
7. Skipping
8. Waltzing
VI. Expressive Movements
Adaptive Considerations
VII. A Closing Story
VIII. Piano Music Book Reviews
VIX. Appendix of Words to 21 Songs

ISBN: 978-90-78099-06-2

This teaching text was created from my work as a dance specialist with children to seniors and those challenged since 1965. It is part of The Gateway to Educational Materials of the United States Department of Education, in the Rhythmic Movement Dance Series, as Adaptive Rhythmic Movement by Susan Kramer.

Music and rhythms provide inspiration for structured and expressive movement. The clapping, floor exercises, and moving across the floor exercises in this text develop coordination of body-mind through right-left brain development.

This theory of receiving input through the bodily senses, body to mind and then mind to body for action, powered by spirited, enthusiastic energy is a basis of somatic education.

All levels of mobility will find something useful. Practical hints are given for those confined to bed or wheelchairs or with limited range of motion. I like to call the participants ‘dancers’.

Music and rhythmic clapping or rhythm instruments provide the inspiration. For example: Those with impaired hearing can feel the vibrations of music in their hands by touching a piano being played or a sound speaker for a radio, tapes, cds, and some musical instruments; even through their feet on a floor that is vibrating from an instrument being played in the room.

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You'll find 33 beginning and advanced kinesthetic lessons in 78 pages for grades K-6. Large photos of the one-hand alphabet being demonstrated are included. Lessons can be adapted for special needs children by using a partner or assistant. The lessons use more than one bodily sense, helping each concept to really stick with the student. ISBN: 978-9080991279

Perfect for the classroom teacher or homeschooling parents!

A great resource for all your learners - visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

Beginning Kinesthetic Lessons for Ages 5 to 8
Lesson Number
1. Practice with Letter Shapes
2. Outlining Alphabet Letters in the Air
3. Language - Words and Sentences
4. One Syllable Words - Spelling and Singing
5. Double Letters - Spelling and Singing
6. Syllables - Spelling and Singing
7. Names - Spelling and Singing
8. Syllables
9. Punctuation Exercises
10. Finger Spelling; One-hand Alphabet including large photos of each letter
11. Moving Left to Right as in Reading and Writing
12. Spelling Using Game Pieces or Alphabet Blocks
13. Learning to Print "b" and "d"
14. Visual Directional Exercise (nonlinguistic)
15. Counting
16. Basic Math - Sets
17. Addition
18. ABA Sequencing
19. More Advanced ABA Sequencing
20. Directions of Movement
21. Geometric Shapes
22. Outlining Geometric Shapes in the Air
23. Learning to Tell Time

Advanced Kinesthetic Lessons for Age 9 and older
24. Subject and Predicate in Sentence
25. Indirect and Direct Objects Lesson
26. Meter and Verse
27. Making Geometric Shapes
28. ABA Sequencing - Waltz Combination
29. ABA Sequencing - Schottische Combination
30. ABCD Sequencing
31. Multiplication
32. Division
33. Division with Remainder

About the author Susan Kramer has been teaching academics kinesthetically as a dance specialist since 1965.

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This text is in the "Rhythmic Movement Dance Series" and part of the Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) of the United States Department of Education.

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How to teach through description and illustration: sitting, walking, dance, relaxation, instant, music, running, swinging, biking and swimming meditations, plus a chapter of guided meditations on virtues, and a chapter of affirmations, inspirations and prayers. For tots to teens of all abilities. Useful resource for parents, educators, and interfaith clergy. 100 pages.

Included in text

Chapter I. About Meditation for all Kids
Meditation and Spiritual Living
Meditation and Meditative Movement
Benefits of Meditation
Chapter II. How to Teach Kids Meditation
How to Teach Sitting Meditation
How to Teach Walking Meditation
How to Teach Relaxation Meditation
How to Teach Music Meditation
Chapter III. Basic Meditations for Kids
Sitting Meditation
Walking Meditation
Relaxation Meditation
Instant Meditation
Running Meditation
Swinging Meditation
Biking Meditation
Swimming Meditation
Chapter IV. Guided Meditations on Virtues
Guided Meditation on Friendliness
Guided Meditation on Being Compassionate
Guided Meditation on Being Honest
Guided Meditation about Being Kind
Guided Meditation about Sharing
Chapter V. Group Circle Meditation
Part I. Opening Verse
Part II. Short Meditation
Part III. Song
Chapter VI. Dance Meditation
Preparation
Part I. Stretching
Part II. Dancing and Elements of Movement
Part III. Quiet Time Meditation
Chapter VII. Affirmations, Inspirations, Prayers
Introduction
Affirmations
Inspirations
Special and Holiday Prayers

100 pages.

About the author: Susan Kramer has been teaching dance, yoga and meditation to kids of all ages and abilities for more than 30 years.

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The practical application of Helen Irlen's method worked for my family member, so with first hand experience I can recommend taking a close look at the theories purported in her book.

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) or Irlen Syndrome seems to be a visual perception problem in that certain frequencies of light do not pass through the optic nerve smoothly, becoming distorted before reaching the brain.

Some of the symptoms of SSS include: sensitivity to light or glossy paper; strain or fatigue while reading; reading slowly; poor depth perception such as having trouble catching a ball.

The good news is that through testing, certain colors of lenses in eye glasses or laying sheets of different colored plastic over reading material may alleviate the symptoms.

Recommended!

Details - publisher of this 208 page paperback is Perigee Books and the ISBN is 0399527362

Link to buy from Amazon.com
"Reading by the Colors: Overcoming Dyslexia and Other Reading Disabilities Through the Irlen Method" by Helen Irlen

In 100 pages for grades K-12, 16 rhythmic dance steps illustrated and described, plus 9 little dances, 18 sequencing combinations, and 4 more advanced group dances - for kinesthetically learning about math sets, sequencing, and language phrasing and rhythms. Dances can be adapted using a partner or assistant for special needs students.

Topics covered:

Key for Clapping Rhythms
Part I - 16 Rhythmic Dance Steps with Clapping
1) Walking
2) Running
3) Marching
4) Galloping
5) Sliding
6) Hopping
7) Jumping
8) Leaping
9) Pedaling
10) Prancing
11) Toe Pointing
12) Skipping
13) Waltzing
14) Minuet
15) Schottische
16) Polka
Part II - 9 Little Dances
1) Sliding Dance
2) Marching Dance
3) Skipping Dance
4) Galloping Dance
5) Waltzing Dance
6) Polka Dance
7) Schottische Dance
8) Minuet Dance
9) Waltz and Polka Dance
Part III - 18 ABA and Other Sequencing Combinations
1) March & Slide AB
2) Jump & Hop AB
3) March & Skip AB
4) Run & Gallop AB
5) Waltz & Prance AB
6) Polka & Skip AB
7) Schottische & Leap AB
8) Minuet & Skip AB
9) Waltz, Skip, & Waltz ABA
10) March, Skip, & March ABA
11) Gallop, Slide, & March ABC
12) Polka, Slide, & Prance ABC
13) Waltz, Slide, & Skip; AB, AC
14) Skip, March, & Slide; AB, AC,
15) Polka, Skip, & Waltz; AB, AC
16) Schottische, Skip, & Polka; ABC, AB
17) Minuet, Waltz, & Skip; AB, AC
18) Gallop, March, & Run; AB, AC
Part IV - 4 Large Dances
Numbers of Corners and Walls on a Stage
1) Marching and Galloping Geometric Shape Dance; A,B,C,D Sequence
2) Skipping and Sliding Circle Dance; A,B,C,D, Sequence
3) Waltz and Polka Circle Dance; A,B,C,D, Sequence
4) Minuet, Gallop and Slide Geometric Shape Dance; A,B,C,D,E,F Sequence

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Whether using the "Basic Lesson Plan" or not, teach toddlers and preschoolers rhythms, floor exercises, large motor skills, expressive dance, more than 10 kinesthetic mini-lessons, and full dances in 98 pages with photos and illustrations.

You'll find something to benefit most kids of varying abilities and special needs in these pages. A fun way to build essential early skills before kindergarten!

Perfect for parents homeschooling, dance teachers, or early childhood education teachers.

Contents:

I. Basic Lesson Plan
II. Clapping Rhythms
1. Clapping in 4/4 time
2. Clapping in 2/2 time
3. Clapping in 2/4 time
4. Clapping syllables
III. Floor Exercises
1. The Rocker
2. The Squirrel
3. The Owl
4. The Starfish
IV. Rhythmic Movements
1. Walking
2. Running
3. Galloping
4. Marching
5. Balancing
6. Hopping
7. Swinging
8. Sliding
V. Expressive Dance
Nursery Rhymes for Expressive Dance:
Hickory, Dickory, Dock; Humpty Dumpty; Jack and Jill
London Bridge Is Falling Down; Pop Goes the Weasel
Rain, Rain Go Away; Rock-a-Bye Baby
See-Saw Margery Daw
VI. Mini-Lessons
1. Climbing Stairs Alternating Feet
2. Which Way Game
3. ABA Sequencing
4. Circle Dance for Making Shapes
5. Making a Straight Line Game
6. Curving and Zigzag Lines
7. Practice Making Horizontal Lines
8. Stretching in Vertical Lines
9. Diagonal Line Shapes
10. Shaping Outlines
11. Right Side and Left Side Cargo Train Game
12. Clockwise and Counterclockwise Circles
13. Moving Forward and Backward Game
VII. Large Dances with Songs
1. Jingle Bells: running steps 2/2 time
2. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep: galloping 2/4 time
3. Bobby Shaftoe: sliding 2/4 time
4. Mary Had a Little Lamb: galloping 2/4 time
5. Allouette: walking or marching 4/4 time
6. Frere Jacques: marching and sliding 4/4 time
7. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: galloping 2/4 time

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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1961 joins our recommended list of books, because of the example of resourcefulness the young girl, Karana, shows in surviving alone.

Stranded by herself on an island off the coast of California for 18 years, Karana relies on her inner strength, courage and skills to cope and grow.
The author shares what island flora and fauna could be like and this reader was immersed in the pictures of the environment seeing the daily struggles and challenges right along with Karana.

Scott O'Dell, (1898-1989), was a prolific 20th century author. Island of the Blue Dolphins was written for children, but he also wrote fiction and nonfiction for adults. Growing up in Southern California he enjoyed the ocean and being outdoors.

Coming back to modern times and the elementary school classroom for a moment, a student faced with academic challenges has an opportunity through reading Karana's story of coping and thriving, to see that there is more than one way to learn and grow in life. The story gives hope.

It is a particularly appropriately book to read aloud to kids, with the rich description of images.

I feel that when one door is closed there is probably another that is opening that makes use of different learning skills, and Island of the Blue Dolphins is a great example.

Details - for upper elementary reading level in 192 pages; published by Yearling; ISBN: 0440439884.

To order from Amazon.com go to

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Subtitled 'Our Lives in the Universe of Autism' this 263 page book is a collection of more than 50 separate experiences from women on the autism spectrum, told in narrative and poetry.

With a 5-star rating, the highest at Amazon.com, this is an invaluable resource for those faced with autism or Asperger's in their own or a family member's life.

By hearing these adult women share their experiences, we see that autistic children face a lifetime of learning how to live in society, and more importantly, how to find a means of expressing their true selves - from the practical to the spiritual.

I also found the Glossary of terms used on the spectrum an invaluable resource for understanding the terminology used in describing symptoms of Asperger's and autism. For example, it clarified for me what the little word stim is - shorthand for self-stimulation.

Reading "Women From Another Planet?" has given me a clearer view of what a woman on the autistic spectrum experiences as an adult in the roles of wife, mother, single woman, and in the workplace.

The editor, Jean Kearns Miller, did not find out she was on the autism spectrum until 4 years after her son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Ms. Miller, in putting together the stories in this book is writing from first hand experience and who better to let us know the day to day reality of living on the austism spectrum.

I recommend it as a worthy addition to understanding the daily challenges this learning disability presents at any age.

Details - Paperback; Published by Authorhouse (August 2003); ISBN: 1410734315

Here is a link to Amazon.com if you wish to order this book:
Women From Another Planet? by Jean Kearns Miller

 

Traditional yoga poses and meditation techniques have been adapted to help foster motor skill development, coordination, concentration, and stress relief for children, teens and adults of varying abilities or special needs.

The elements can be used as a group activity, or practiced individually. How to live social skills, and a dictionary of 40 one-sentence hints for happiness complete this book of techniques, providing a broad offering of yoga's nurturing.

A useful resource for parents homeschooling or teachers that want to bring harmony back into the classroom!

I recommend this text as an all-around resource with kids of all ages and abilities, as well as for adults to follow. Afterall, it is probably the parents who are reading the book first before giving it to their kids to browse through.

It has my highest recommendation, therefore, for all ages - for the kid in us all.

Contents
Introduction
Meditations
1. Sitting
2. Relaxation
3. Walking
4. Instant Stress Relief
Moving Yoga Poses
Guidelines
Benefits
1. The Leaf
2. The Flower
3. The Cricket
4. The Owl
5. The Bird
6. The Squirrel
7. The Chipmunk
8. The Rocker
9. The Seal
10. The Salutation Pose
11. The Snake Pose
12. The Turtle
13. The Starfish
14. The Cat Pose
15. The Swing
How to Live Social Skills
Introduction
1. Citizenship
2. Compassion
3. Contentment
4. Friendship
5. Honesty
6. Kindness
7. Manners
8. Respect
9. Responsibility
10. Tolerance
11. Trustworthiness
12. Truthfulness
Happiness Dictionary
40 One-Sentence Hints for Happiness

83 pages

About the author
Susan Kramer has been teaching meditation, yoga and dance to students of all ages and abilities since 1965.

Available as a Paperback Book or Download from Lulu Press

page created July 9, 2009

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