The Hoberman Sphere!

 
For my specific intervention, I am going to implement my "brain breaks" using the Hoberman Sphere.  While having the entire class participating in my intervention, I will only be taking data on four individual students: two in my AM class and two in the PM section.  I believe that this tool will provide my students with the calming, relaxing rest they need to refocus and return to the tasks at hand while enjoying themselves in the process.  
I can't wait to share this cool new toy with my students!  I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I do!

Types of Brain Breaks

There are many different options for types of brain breaks that can be used in elementary classrooms.  Two of these, the Hoberman sphere for breathing, and slap trivia, have already been discussed in this blog.  Here are some additional brain breaks that can easily be incorporated into daily routines.  The following activities all can be done in a timeframe of two to five minutes.

 

• Movement Songs: Sing a song with whole-body movements such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" or "The Hokey Pokey.

• Jump Skip Counting: Students count by twos, fives, tens etc. while jumping with each count.

• Exercise Movement Counting: Same as jump counting, but using different types of exercises such as arm circles or knee bends.

• 5-4-3-2-1. In this simple game, students stand up and the teacher (or leader) has them do five different movements in descending order. For example the teacher would say: "Do fivejumping jacks, spin around four times, hop on one foot threetimes, walk all the way around the classroom two times, give your neighbor one high-five (pausing in between each task for students to do it).

• Trading Places Have students stand behind their pushed-in chairs. Call out a trait and everyone who has that trait must change places with someone else (students who do not have the trait stay where they are).

• Dance Party: Put on some music and dance!

• Freeze Dance: Play music and have students freeze when it stops.

• Name Moves Students stand behind their chairs. In turn, each student says his or her name accompanied by a special movement. For example a student might say, "Kayla!" while dramatically dropping to one knee and doing Jazz Hands. After the student does his or her move, the rest of the class says the students name in unison and imitates the move. Then it is the next student's turn.

• Follow the Leader: Students follow the movements of whoever is the leader.

•  Pattern Clap: Clap your hands in different slow and quick patterns and have students copy.

What Type of Brain Break?

A few members of our team are considering using the Hoberman sphere to teach the students deep breathing. Breathing patterns can have a deep effect on our health.  In times of stress, breathing can become fast and shallow. Teaching children deep breathing exercises can help them calm down, focus, and relax.  

How to do it: 

To begin, ask students to breathe in deeply from down in their belly as you slowly expand the sphere.  As children are breathing, you can have them place their hands on their bellies so they can feel it expanding like a balloon.  Once the lungs are full of air and the sphere is round, ask students to hold their breath for a count of three.  Next, have students slowly exhale as you slowly close the sphere.  Repeat this exercise ten to twelve times. (We are planning to have the students pass the sphere around in a circle so each student will have an opportunity to practice deep breathing with it.)

Hoberman Sphere Breathing

Moving Forward

Today, our team met at the Loyola campus in Baltimore.  We shared our progress with regards to defining the methodology for our Action Research Plan.  We discussed different data collection ideas and what intervention treatments each of us are thinking of implementing in our classrooms.  A few team members like the idea of using the Hoberman sphere to teach deep breathing, whereas others are considering a more active agenda, like a brain break from www.gonoodle.com or a Zumba-like activity.

Next, we discussed our team and personal Wikis.  We are in the process of consolidating information so everything is more comprehensive and flows smoother.

Lastly, we touched on the number of participants to use for our Action Research Plan.  Many of us decided to collect data on one or two students in each one of our classes.  Due to departmentalization, some team members have two classes.

On Monday evening, we will meet with our our Research and Inquiry professor and discuss the progress of our plan and our next steps.

Would you use this type of "brain break" in your class?

Would you use this type of "brain break" in your class?

Slap Trivia! ACTIVE BRAIN BREAK FOR THE CLASSROOM

The Big Picture-Action Research and an Overview of Research in Education

Research falls into two broad categories, basic research and applied research.  A major difference between basic and applied research has to do with the fact that applied research is used to answer a specific question that has direct applications to the real world, while basic research tends not to be applicable to the real world in a direct way, rather it is driven purely by curiosity and a desire to expand our knowledge and enhance our understanding.  The main difference between the two types of research is what they will be used for. Will the research be used to help us understand a real world problem and solve it, or will the research further our general information?

Action research is one form of applied research.  Action research is used to address a specific problem using the scientific principles of research, however it utilizes less rigorous methodologies than other forms of applied research.  Action research is done by people, such as educational leaders, while they are carrying out their professional actions from day to day.  There are 3 forms of action research in education:  Individual, collaborative, and schoolwide.  Individual action research is when an individual conducts a research project focusing on a specific class or activity.  Collaborative action research involves a team of individuals and may focus on one classroom or many classrooms.  Schoolwide action research involves the entire community of the school.  The most common use of action research is evaluation research.  Evaluation research is the gathering of data in order to make an informed decision and is used to assess the quality of a particular practice or program in a class or school.

Action research can take either a quantitative or qualitative approach.  Quantitative research relies on numerical data while qualitative research utilizes detailed descriptions of the phenomena observed.  Examples of qualitative methods include ethnography, case study, and historical inquiry.  Quantitative methods include descriptive research, including survey and observational research, correlational research, and group comparison, which encompasses experimental, quasi-experimental, and ex post facto methods.