S.M.A.R.T. Program
This year, Blooming Prairie Elementary Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten classes began implementing the S.M.A.R.T. program. S.M.A.R.T.
What is S.M.A.R.T.?
Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training (or S.M.A.R.T.) consists of age-appropriate activities that are fun, engaging, and provide brain stimulation while keeping students physically active. It is a multi-sensory approach to learning, designed to develop and enhance the physiological and neurological readiness skills students need to succeed in school.
When do the students do S.M.A.R.T.?
Each Pre-K and Kindergarten class receives 30 minutes in the SMART room daily. Additional SMART activities are integrated into other classroom learning and transitional times.
How does S.M.A.R.T. help?
S.M.A.R.T. activities activate the BRAIN STEM where learning readiness skills are developed.
The SMART program provides a beneficial way of providing physical activity to student’s daily schedule.
It is designed to help each student progress at his or her own rate and to enrich and enhance the student’s abilities in a positive and “play-like” atmosphere.
Why is my child doing S.M.A.R.T.?
- Increase daily physical activity
- Stimulate both sides of the brain
- Enhance readiness skills
The overhead ladder helps to develop upper body strength, eye-hand coordination, stimulate eye teaming and to increase oxygen intake.
The balance beam helps to develop balance skills.
The creep track helps to develop balance, depth perception, eye-hand coordination, bilateral coordination, eye teaming while integrating classroom content.
The pencil roll helps to develop proprioception (inner sense of movement and position) and low-level vestibular (equilibrium) and visual skills.
The alligator crawl helps to develop coordination at the basic level and integrate both sides of the brain.
Fine motor activities help to develop the fine motor skills and wrist control for writing.
