EOG Brain Boosting Exercises
Positive, Active, Clear and Energetic thinking.
Many students find that, especially in times of stress, they value having this way to restore a natural pace. **Finding Your P.A.C.E. (From “The Brain Gym” – Teachers Edition)
The P.A.C.E. exercise routine prepares the brain to learn, and gives students a chance to settle in to the relaxed, unstressed, self-initiated pace that allows for optimal thinking.
Try doing P.A.C.E. before starting or during breaks between important exams.
Energetic-Sipping Water
Start by sipping water. Hold each sip in your mouth for a moment before swallowing.
Clear-Brain Buttons
Make a “U” shape with one hand and place the thumb and index finger in the soft depressions just below your collarbone and to each side of the sternum; place your other hand over your navel. Rub the Brain Buttons for about thirty seconds as you move your eyes slowly to the left and right along a horizontal line (where the ceiling meets the wall), keeping your lower hand still. Switch hands and repeat the activity.
Active-Cross Crawl
Stand comfortably and cross the midline of your body as you smoothly and alternately move one arm and its opposite leg, then the other arm and its opposite leg, rhythmically touching the hand, or elbow, to the opposite knee.
Positive-Hook-ups
Part One: Cross your ankles. Next, extend your arms in front of you and cross one wrist over the other; then interlace your fingers and draw your clasped hands up toward your chest. Hold like this for a minute or more, breathing slowly, with your eyes open or closed. As you inhale, touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth at the hard palate (just behind the teeth), and relax your tongue on exhalation.
Part Two: When ready, uncross your arms and legs, feet flat on the floor, and touch your fingertips together in front of your chest, continuing to breathe deeply for another minute and while holding the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth while you inhale.
How PACE worked for Cody
My son Cody struggled with many areas in school. When he was a fifth grader, he started out the year at a 3.6 reading level. I convinced him to just do PACE every day, and he always did it at least once. His reading level increased from 3.6 to 5.5 by years end, and I have no doubt that this was due to the PACE activity he did. His previous test scores had indicated that he would not make AYP. Yet he did PACE before that years state exam, and then easily met the standards in reading, exceeding the state average! – Carrie Q.
