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1.12 Kirkcaldy West Primary School, Fife

Learning with Confidence
Kirkcaldy West Primary School, Fife

Learning with Confidence.

Phase 1- Aug 2000
Research shows 70% of learning difficulties are caused by stress -remove that and you remove the difficulty -could this actually work? Certainly something new and different is needed for this Pr.6/7.
Encourage:

• relaxation & mental rehearsal -guided visualisation
• whole brain learning -Brain Gym. Allows brain breaks & effective learning through primacy/recency effects. (recall of first/last things)
• relaxation through use of music
• and change attitudes to self, school & life -positive affirmations.

Consult C.T. -willing to support project & continue L.S. initiated techniques!

Phase 2 -Session 2000-2001
Use P.A.C.E. Positive, Active, Clear, Energised) exercises daily with class & individually as necessary.
Phase in Brain Gym for specific subject areas
Display positive affirmations around classroom
Use guided visualisation -the children love this! They're relaxed & positive.
Initiate parental support -workshop.

Phase 3 -Monitor and Evaluation
Sample group complete pre- & post- study questionnaires, indicating self-esteem, motivation/confidence & strategies for effective learning; C.T. -observes throughout & evaluates project at interview.
Outcomes.

• All children show improved self-esteem.
• C. T. reports significant improvement in attitude to school, on-task behaviour, concentration & confidence -significantly more so in children with lowest self esteem-

'The way the children reacted & changed as a result of methods used can't be measured by a number & whilst a description makes it clearer, it doesn't come close to experiencing it for yourself. You have to be there' (C.T.)

Session 2001-2002: Brain Gym in all 19 classes.

Classes experimenting with use of music and positive affirmations.