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Literacy 7-12

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Literacy 7-12 > Strategies > Gestures

Gestures

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Overview

Adding gestures and motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding, particularly within content area instruction. Supplementing verbal information with actions reinforces concepts and engages student Attention. When students communicate discipline-specific concepts using gestures similar to those of their teacher, they can deepen their conceptual Vocabulary.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how this fifth grade teacher uses hand gestures to emphasize important concepts during her review of place value in mathematics. By using two modalities, students can better remember the key information.

  • Both teachers and students can use hand signals to communicate or support their learning. Providing specific demonstrations of concepts using gestures and movement can help students retain more information. Visual gestures that complement spoken language allow for multiple ways of processing information, supporting greater retention of information in Working and Short-term Memory.

    • Design It into Your Product

  • Providing a visualization or animation in addition to audio or text activates visual Working Memory and supports deeper comprehension. Developers can also use these visualizations or enactments to capture and maintain Attention on key content. Providing spaces with video capability where students can record their explanations of key concepts using language and gestures may support readers as they acquire content knowledge.
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    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
    Examples

    Body Language & Classroom Management

    NEA suggestions for teacher body language

    Examples

    Teacher Gestures

    How movement and gestures are important in the learning process

    Research

    Cognition & Memory

    Topic that includes cognitive science theories about how the brain processes information on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Research

    Prospective Memory

    Subtopic that includes research on the different ways the brain creates prospective memories on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Physical Well-being
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Cognition
    Attention
    Auditory Processing
    Inhibition
    Long-term Memory
    Short-term Memory
    Working Memory
    Literacy
    Background Knowledge
    Disciplinary Literacy
    Vocabulary

    More Multisensory Supports Strategies

    Audiobooks

    Audiobooks allow students to hear fluent reading and experience books above their reading skills.

    Text-to-speech Software

    Transforming written text into audio supports learning by activating different parts of a learner's brain for comprehension.

    Movement Breaks

    Brain breaks that include movement allow learners to refresh their thinking and focus on learning new information.

    Music & Dance

    Connecting information to music and dance moves enhances Short-term and Long-term Memory by drawing on auditory processes and the cognitive benefits of physical activity.

    Word Processing

    Research has shown that students write longer pieces with stronger quality when they use word processing software.

    Visual Reading Aids

    Visual supports, like text magnification, colored overlays, and text manipulation, help students focus and properly track as they read.

    Dictionary & Thesaurus

    Dictionaries and thesauruses can serve as resources for students to expand their Vocabulary knowledge, as they provide easy access to definitions and similar words to help students remember words and meanings more readily.

    Dictation/Speech-to-text

    Dictation can allow students with transcription difficulties to still participate in the writing process and generate ideas.

    Mindfulness Breaks

    Short breaks that include mindfulness quiet the brain to allow for improved thinking and emotional regulation.

    Word Sorts

    Word sorts are multisensory activities that help learners identify patterns and group words based on different categories while promoting Vocabulary development.

    Sound-blocking Devices

    Using earplugs or headphones can increase focus and comfort.

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