Willmar Public Schools District Staff Completed 4-day SMART Training

SMART (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training) is a staff development program for producing higher levels of kindergarten and first-grade pre-academic readiness and early academic achievement by enriching many typical school activities with brain stimulation components.  

SMART:

·         Is based on the concept that movement anchors learning.

·         Uses physical activity as the foundation to academic learning.

·         Integrates activities into the classroom, gymnasium, and playground.

·         Is embedded into the regular curriculum.

·         Uses age-appropriate activities that are fun and engaging to actively stimulate the brain.

·         Challenges and stimulates children by the activities that are incorporated into their daily academic routine.

·         Is a multi-sensory approach to learning based on brain research. This program develops physiological and neurological readiness skills essential to classroom success.

·         7 teachers and the Steps to a Healthier Willmar School Coordinator were trained in February 2007.

·         54 district staff completed the 4-day training from July 31 – August 3, 2007.  Staff represented classroom teachers, music teachers, English Language Learner teachers, special ed. staff, occupational and physical therapists, early childhood teachers, physical educators, and paraprofessionals.

Steps supported the training by assisting with grant writing for training funds, workshop implementation, providing healthy snacks during the training, promoting classroom implementation, providing 100 Frisbees for staff to use in implementing the program and Steps funds for 13 stability balls which complement program implementation.