Tonty's Tips for Student Success
Created By: Mrs. Sarah Tonty, Act 89 School Psychologist
Volume IV: Benefits of Brain Breaks
What's the Point??
My goal is to provide tips to share with families and staff, throughout the year. This edition explains what brain breaks are as well as provides resources to help support student success. Based on my Act 89 Administrator Survey, Brain Breaks was a topic that you wanted to learn more about.
What are Brain Breaks and How They Help
Top 10 Benefits of Brain Breaks
Why the Brain Break Strategy Works...
Students who learn and think differently sometimes get tired easily, have a low tolerance for frustration, or have trouble figuring out how to approach their work. Switching up what they’re doing for a few minutes can help break those patterns. Research shows that brain breaks can serve that purpose and help refresh the mind.
For many students, movement is an ideal brain break. That’s because exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which helps with focus and attention. In fact, research has shown that students learn more quickly after they’ve exercised. In one study, students learned vocabulary words 20 percent faster after exercising. Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety, making it easier to focus on important tasks.
Relaxing brain breaks have similar benefits. They help calm students and allow their minds to settle enough to shift focus. For students who get overexcited or who have a hard time self-regulating, relaxing brain breaks may be more beneficial than energizing ones. After these quieter breaks, students are able to return to work because they’ve given the overworked areas of the brain time to recharge.
Brain breaks benefit not only students but teachers, too. They help improve the pacing of your lesson while keeping you and your students refreshed, focused, and engaged.
- This is an excerpt from the above article
Quick Brain Break Ideas
What's The Result?
100% of the votes was to learn more about behavior supports. Did you know MIU IV has an Act 89 Behavior Coach who can help support you in addition to me? Want to learn more? Watch Act 89 Behavior Coach, Amanda Hoban's video and access her SMORE!
Brain Break Resources and Activities
YouTube Brain Breaks Link - Click Below
A Friendly Reminder: Act 89 Psychological Services & Supports
Consultation Services: What is Consultation?
A meeting to discuss concerns or ideas to help develop strategies to support students and staff, such as classroom management strategies, intervention, provide resources, behavior suggestions, and academic supports.
Interpretation of School District Evaluations
Being an active member in meetings when a student’s school district of residence IDEA evaluation is being discussed. Support to parents and nonpublic schools with interpretation of findings
Professional Development
Provide professional development to support staff and parents on topics such as mental health, self-advocacy, educational disabilities, etc.
Contact Information
Sarah Tonty
Act 89 School Psychologist
Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV
453 Maple Street
Grove City, PA 16127
724.458.6700 ext. 1325