PE4life Hosts Successful Professional Development for Arkansas Schools!

Last week, we hosted two successful events with guest speaker Jean Blaydes Madigan, Neurokinesiologist/Consultant/M.Ed, international speaker, and noted author of “Thinking on Your Feet: A Year’s Worth of Lesson Plans” and “Action Based Learning™ Lab Manual.”

Jean introduced exciting new brain research that supports the importance of movement in the learning process. This latest research advocates for and justifies daily quality physical education and/or movement in the classroom. Jean uses fun and exciting games, fitness, and rhythmic activities to demonstrate how to boost a child's brain power, how to prepare the brain for optimum learning, and how to improve memory and retention while reinforcing the classroom teacher's curriculum.

Siloam Springs
January 17, 2011 – Siloam Springs, AR – More than 300 teachers and school leaders from the Siloam Springs School District and other surrounding districts attended this high energy professional development opportunity. Here's what Siloam Springs School District's Curriculum Director, Connie Matchell, had to say about the event:

"Our day with Jean was wonderful. I have never had such an overwhelmingly positive response to any professional development day. The most impressive thing however is the level of implementation of Jean’s suggestions that I am seeing in classrooms all across the district. I was very impressed by the way that she was able to address all levels from Pre-K to high school, she even specifically talked directly to speech pathologists and foreign language teachers. Thank you for the opportunity to have Jean in our district."

Springdale
January 18, 2011 – Springdale, AR – One hundred academic & physical educators, community leaders, parent advocates, and health & wellness champions from more than 30 schools gathered at Har-Ber High School for this free Community Presentation.

The opportunity to host Jean Blaydes Madigan at these events was provided by the Care Foundation.

Were you one of the attendees at these events? Leave a comment letting us know what you enjoyed most!

Want to book Jean for a workshop? Email Rachelle Gardner at programsupport@pe4life.org or call 816-472-7345.