Tired of Wiggles, Wobbles, and Wandering Minds? Here's How Movement Saved My Sanity (and Transformed My Classroom)
If you’ve ever looked around your classroom mid-lesson and realized nobody is actually listening, you’re not alone.
Students are fidgeting.
Chairs are squeaking.
At least one child is upside down in their seat.
And your beautiful lesson? Floating somewhere in the ether.
Yep. I’ve been there.
And I found the solution—not in another behavior chart or newfangled app—but in one simple, powerful shift: movement.
What if I told you your students don’t need to sit still to learn—they might actually learn better when they move?
Let’s dig in. (Garden pun fully intended.) ðž
ðŋ The Root of the Problem: Kids Aren’t Built to Sit All Day
Research backs it up: children are more likely to retain information, stay focused, and regulate emotions when their bodies are in motion.
According to the CDC, incorporating physical activity during the school day not only improves concentration and behavior, but actually boosts academic performance. Harvard researchers echo this, reporting that movement increases oxygen flow to the brain, improving memory and cognitive function.
And guess what? You don’t need to carve out an extra hour or install a jungle gym to make this happen. You just need a little creativity and the willingness to let your classroom layout—and your teaching—move with your students.
ðļ My Classroom: Where Movement Isn’t a Break—It’s a Strategy
In my fourth-grade classroom, movement isn’t a “reward” or a once-in-a-while brain break. It’s embedded into how we do learning. Here's how:
ðķ♀️ Walk, Don’t Sit: Task Cards on the Move
Instead of handing out worksheets that keep students glued to their chairs, I place task cards around the room. Students rotate from one to another, solving problems on clipboards, chatting with peers, and engaging with the content in a way that’s both active and meaningful.
It’s basically academic trick-or-treating. And yes, they love it.
ð§ Directional Learning: Corners with Purpose
To bring movement into even more lessons, I labeled my room's walls and corners with:
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North, South, East, West
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1, 2, 3, 4
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A, B, C, D
Now I can say, “Go to the corner that matches your answer!” or “Move to North if you agree, South if you disagree.” Suddenly, it's a geography review, a formative assessment, and a wiggle break all at once.
✋ Vocabulary You Can Feel
We attach motions to new vocabulary.
– A hand chop for “divide”
– A “toss” motion for “distribute”
– A full-body stretch for “expand”
It’s multisensory learning, and it sticks. Literally and figuratively.
ð§♀️ Brain Breaks, Yoga, and Movement Transitions
Between parts of a lesson, we move from desks to carpet or from small group to partner work. These mini-transitions reset the brain and prevent the kind of mental fatigue that leads to daydreaming and doodling.
Sometimes we throw in a quick yoga pose, a GoNoodle dance, or “Simon Says: Geometry Edition” (make an obtuse angle with your arms!).
Spoiler alert: they laugh, they learn, and nobody falls asleep.
ðž Why It Works: Movement Grows Minds (and Manages Energy)
Here’s what I’ve noticed since making movement a daily part of our routine:
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More focus during lessons
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Fewer behavior issues
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Better collaboration
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Stronger retention of concepts
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WAY more joy in the room
We’re not just getting the wiggles out. We’re teaching kids how to listen to their bodies and minds—and use movement as a tool for learning.
ðŠī Don’t Just Sit There… Try One Thing This Week
If you’re feeling stuck—or your students are—try adding just one of these this week:
✅ Put up direction signs in your corners
✅ Swap a worksheet for task cards around the room
✅ Add movements to vocabulary
✅ Let kids transition between spaces instead of staying at their desk
✅ Try Simon Says with academic terms
And don’t worry about being perfect. You don't need to uproot your whole routine. You just need to play little seeds of movement. ðŧ
Ready to stop fighting fidgets and start flowing with them?
Let’s grow a classroom where movement isn’t just allowed—it’s celebrated.
Until next time, keep growing, keep moving, and keep those brains blooming.
Sprinkling movement and magic,
Jennifer ðŋ
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