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Movement Matters:

Supporting Classroom Success

Lauren Ault, M.S. OTR/L

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Introduction

Lauren Ault, MS, OTR/L

School Based OT for 12 years

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Lake Hamilton School District

Pearcy, Arkansas

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Kindergarten-5th grade

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My Team

Julie Miller-OT

Brooke Dedman-PT

Georgia Meredith-OT

Lexie Sanders-OT

Heather Spruill-OT

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Multi-tiered System of Support

A framework that supports students addressing a wide range of needs using evidence-based practices through proactive, data-driven approaches.

Looking at the student holistically

  • Academic
  • Behavioral
  • Social-emotional

Kearney, C. A., & Childs, J. (2021). A multi-tiered system of support blueprint for re-opening schools following COVID-19 shutdown. Children and Youth Services Review, 122, 105919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105919.

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Tier 1

  • Teaching the Teachers
  • Universal Supports
  • Prevention focused
  • Classroom wide lessons

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80% of students

https://www.aak8.org/apps/pages/aa-sss-rti

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Tier 1

https://arschoolbasedtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OT-Guidance_accessible_090121.pdf

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Discovering a need

Spring of 2023

  • Increase of Push-in therapy sessions
  • Recognizing needs of general education students
  • Teachers were using movement videos online
  • High number of referrals

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Discovering A Need

Completed Ready Bodies, Learning Minds online course

    • Athena Oden, PT
  • Discusses the developing child in a culture pushing academic performance of young children while pulling them away from active play.
  • Expect skills at an early age before children are capable of completing them.
  • “Meet movement with movement”

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Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.

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Discovering a Need

Ready Bodies, Learning Minds

MOTOR LAB

    • Classroom center set up into Stations
    • Designed for ALL students
    • Variety of Activities with varying intensity levels
    • Provides material list and printable visuals for each activity
    • Provides instructions on how to teach it and room set-up

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Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.

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Brainstorming and Planning

  • Visited Lakeside School Motor Lab
  • Plans to move forward
    • Implement Motor Lab at Primary School
  • Gained support of our Principal and Assistant Principal at LH Primary
    • No classroom available

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Lake Hamilton Primary

Kindergarten & 1st grade

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Can we take these activities

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM?

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  • 14 Kindergarten classes
  • 12 First grade classes
  • 2 therapists -also serving another building

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Our Program

Using our team’s knowledge base, we used activities from:

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  • Ready Bodies, Learning Minds Motor Lab activities
  • Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI)
  • Ayres Sensory Integration

Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.

Masgutova,S.K. (2012). MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration. Sixth Edition-Revised and Updated. III. SMEL, LLC. 190p.

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2023). Position Statement: Sensory integration approaches for children and youth within occupational therapy practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(Suppl. 3), 7713410230.

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Our Goals

  • Improve student success by offering meaningful movement opportunities inside the classroom for improved focus and ability to complete classroom activities

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  • Improve teacher/therapist relationship & confidence in therapist led interventions

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  • Improve teachers’ trust and confidence in therapist led interventions

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  • Carry over of activities/interventions by the teachers

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Pilot Program

2023-2024 School Year

Educate and implement activities weekly in

4 Kindergarten classes

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30 minute sessions

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2024-2025 School Year

Kindergarten/First Grade

26 classrooms

15 minute sessions

Once a week or every other week rotation

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Six Ended STAR - MORO Reflex

2007-2013 Dr. S. Masgutova & Svetlana Masgutova Educational Institute for Neuro-Sensory-Motor and Reflex Integration, LLC.

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SUPERMAN

Popcorn

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

PRONE EXTENSION

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex

Supine Flexion

Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.p. 169-170

Masgutova,S.K. (2012). MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration. Sixth Edition-Revised and Updated. III. SMEL, LLC. p.150-159.

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Robinson’s Hand Grasp

Masgutova,S.K. (2012). MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration. Sixth Edition-Revised and Updated. III. SMEL, LLC. p.28.

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Caterpillars

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Pyramid Finger Activation

Masgutova, S., Masgutov, D. (2015) Maximizing Brain Potential in the Classroom with MNRI. (second edition)Orlando, FL, USA: SMEI. 105 pages

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Iron Man - Trunk Extension Reflex

https://masgutovamethod.com/learn-more/glossary-of-terms

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Tower Building

Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.p.257

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The Cha-Chas - Fear Paralysis Reflex

Not to exceed 1-2x weekly

Masgutova,S.K. (2012). MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration. Sixth Edition-Revised and Updated. III. SMEL, LLC. p.98-101

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VESTIBULAR INPUT

Midline Crossing

Proprioception

Calming

Spinning

Jumping Jacks

Weight Bearing

Windmills

Deep Breathing

Run in place

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Video

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Positive Feedback 2023/2024

“I have seen the benefits of their focus, readiness, and table work stamina.The motor activities have helped my students work stamina and focus before 95% phonics program and writing. The beginning of kindergarten is SO hard--but this push-in has been such a positive to my classroom!” Bri Avery, Kindergarten Teacher

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“I have done the motor lab activities and stretches every day this school year. I incorporated the activities into my schedule and did them in the morning right after our calendar. I felt like it helped to get our day started well and got our brains and bodies ready for the day. My students got to the point that they would start requesting activities/stretches that they knew their bodies needed.” Reagan Jordan, Kindergarten Teacher

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SURVEY 2024/2025

19 teacher responses

  • “One of the things I noticed was my students using different activities on their own when they needed it. Finger [activation] and breathing being the biggest one.”
  • All 19 teachers viewed the activities as beneficial.
  • 17 of 19 teachers use these activities throughout the week.
  • All 19 teachers responded that they would be interested in using a Motor Lab room.
  • 18 of 19 teachers reported improvement of behavior or focus after activities.

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Takeaways

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  • Classroom management is HARD!
  • Scheduling will always be a challenge
  • Increased availability for teachers
    • Giving them research based tools
    • Opportunity to assist in other ways
  • Students use these strategies on their own.
    • Increased relationships

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The Future is BRIGHT

  • A classroom is available this year for a true Motor Lab as outlined in Ready Bodies, Learning Minds
  • Writing a grant to buy equipment/supplies needed
  • Expanding opportunities for more students/buildings
  • Further education to teachers and staff

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American Occupational Therapy Association. (2023). Position Statement: Sensory integration approaches for children and youth within occupational therapy practice. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(Suppl. 3), 7713410230.

Kearney, C. A., & Childs, J. (2021). A multi-tiered system of support blueprint for re-opening schools following COVID-19 shutdown. Children and Youth Services Review, 122, 105919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105919.

Masgutova,S.K. (2012). MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Pattern Integration. Sixth Edition-Revised and Updated. III. SMEL, LLC. 190p.

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Masgutova, S., Masgutov, D. (2015) Maximizing Brain Potential in the Classroom with MNRI. (second edition)Orlando, FL, USA: SMEI. 105 pages

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Oden, Athena (2016). Ready Bodies, Learning Minds: Cultivating the Complete Child. David Oden. 20475 Highway 46 West, Suite 115-144, Spring Branch, TX 78070-6124.

Guidance for Occupational Therapists in Schools https://arschoolbasedtherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/OT-Guidance_accessible_090121.pdf

https://www.aak8.org/apps/pages/aa-sss-rti

https://readybodieslearningminds.com/

https://masgutovamethod.com/learn-more/glossary-of-terms

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