Movement and Learning in the Early Years

Christine Macintyre was formerly Senior Lecturer at Edinburgh University and is now a freelance consultant.

EARLY INTERVENTION IN MOVEMENT AND LEARNING Part One: Making the Case Development of the Brain Self-Esteem Being Bullied Part Two: Movement and Learning The ABC of Learning - Attention. Balance and Control Differences in Movement Ability The Importance of Movement Ability The Size of the Problem Ways to Help ANALYSING, OBSERVING AND ASSESSING MOVEMENT Part One: Analysing Movement Factors for Analysis Movement Abilities Open and Closed Skills Part Two: Observing and Assessing Movement Assessment Observation Examples of the Process of Assessments Other Factors in Assessment LEARNING AND PERCEPTION Part One: Learning and Movement Constructivism The Pace of New Learning Matching Teaching and Learning Styles Critical Learning Periods Part Two: Perception The Vestibular Sense The Auditory Sense The Tactile Sense The Visual Sense The Senses of Taste and Smell The Proprioceptive Sense The Kinaesthetic Sense Some Questions for Parents to Consider HANDWRITING AND MATHEMATICS - A MOVEMENT PERSPECTIVE Part One: Handwriting A Sense of Hand Preference/Dominance Ability to Recognise/Visualise/Remember the Pattern of the Letter or Word The Strength and Control in Their Shoulder, Arm and Hand The Necessary Movement Abilities Enough Spatial/Kinaesthetic Competence The Correct Resources Enough Space on the Desktop Left-Handed Writers Part Two: Mathematics Conservation Visual Perception Sequencing Difficulties Counting on the Number Rack Spatial Understanding in Different Algorithms Mental Maths The Confusing Language of Mathematics PROGRAMMES OF ACTIVITIES FOR PERCEPTUAL-MOVEMENT PROGRAMMES Introduction Six Golden Rules Fun Ways of Teaching Planning and Organising Movement The Importance of Practice APPENDICES Norms of Development Competences from the Curriculum Guidance Documents The Underlying Factors Influencing Movement A Brief Outline of Specific Learning Difficulties

`It is always good to be able to welcome a book on such a key factor as movement in early childhood development, and this text has been written to support parents and practitioners who wish to understand how movement contributes to all aspects of learning -intellectual, social and emotional, as well as physical' - Marian Whitehead, Nursery World