Education News – Julia Steiny
“In a technology class at the International Charter School (ICS) in Pawtucket, RI, second and third graders are learning to change fonts on their laptops. They look droopy, so I ask how they like the class. They love it! “Computers are so fun.” “So cool!” But the languid body language doesn’t match. It’s the end of a period; they’ve been glued to screens. So they’re fine with putting the electronics away and quickly arrange themselves into a formation that looks like back-up dancers at the ready. Cynthia Sime, their regular teacher, leads them through a one-minute “energizer.” Together they do a spoken-word doo-wop with a made-up word that sounded to me like Aroostasha sha sha sha. The kids use the last four syllables to mark beats, as their hands slice the air from left to right. It repeats as Sime adds a new physical challenge prior to each four-beat chant. “Hands together! (hands smack together in front of their bellies). Legs out! (jump into wide stance). Elbows in! (elbows whip back). Knees bent! Bottoms up!” (butts stick out.). And the last challenge she adds is “Tongue Out!” With that the nonsense word sounds like total garbage, so when they’re done, kids dissolve into giggling. Then, without asking, they settle right back at their desks, alert and ready for math. The buzz in the air is palpable. When Sime gives a first direction, they’re on it. One minute of movement, release and a bit of fun tees up high-quality attention for this happy teacher, who isn’t battling restless, fried kids.”(more)