Behavior-Yoga

This grant will be utilized to address the concern of decreased attention to task, retention of information and behavioral occurrences within the classroom setting.
Exercise is known to decrease behaviors of concern. It is an evidenced based practice which is used to reduce aggression and increase attention to task. Yoga is a relaxing and organizing exercise that can be specifically constructed to assist with primitive reflex integration. With some programs certain designated exercises aide in the retention of information in specific content areas.
To implement this proposal the materials needed are yoga mats, blocks, blankets, music, yoga bands and books to assist with selection of appropriate poses for curriculum. We also plan to utilize themes based on what area of content is being taught at that time.
Those involved with implementation will include but not limited to related services providers and classroom staff. The students will actively participate in learning the pose with assistance and demonstration. This task will occur daily and will be in short increments in which activities will be monitored for data collection for approximately 30-60 minutes post exercise. Goals that will be specific targets are attention to task and behavioral occurrences. These will be compared to a baseline which will be taken at the beginning of the program prior to any yoga activities.
Through engagement in these activities as a class, we should see students achieving success with gross motor exercises as well as improvement in classroom performance. We should also see student attendance increase, unwanted behaviors decrease, self esteem increase and attention to task as well as retention of information increase. Therefore, student success should improve graduation rate of special needs students that are involved in this program.