The Dance Foundation is more than just a dance studio. Our DancePartners program takes dance to schools and organizations in the community, using movement to help young children meet developmental goals and school-aged students grasp math and language arts concepts.
West End Academy in Birmingham launched our Math in Motion curriculum last year. We recently sat down with three teachers to discuss the results. West End Academy is a community school serving primarily black and Latino students. Test scores have historically been a problem in this underserved community, but these teachers are working diligently to engage their students, and the results are promising.
Math in Motion
Math in Motion uses movement with elementary-age students to explore math concepts, making them memorable and more easily understood. We use active learning to explore symmetry, rhythm, patterns, shapes, problem-solving, and math outside the classroom. Students understand numbers, methods for representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
Some people are surprised to learn that we teach math through dance. Even these teachers were a little skeptical at first. But once they saw how their students responded, they became fans.
“At first, I didn’t believe in it,” said Jarred Rosser, a second-grade teacher at West End Academy. “After seeing the smiles on their faces and how they engaged with the lesson plans, I had to open my eyes. ”
Another second-grade teacher, Erin Shaw, says the program helps students meet standards.
“Math in Motion provides opportunities for students to move while reinforcing math skills. It gives the students a break from the routine while helping them meet the credentials that we need for math.”
Let’s explore some of the benefits these teachers and students have experienced through Math in Motion.
Enhanced Multilingual Engagement
Math in Motion helps teachers teach math concepts across language barriers. Briana Leanard-Lott said it has been a big help with her second graders.
“I love Math in Motion for my kids. I have 19 students in my class. One speaks French, and seven students speak Spanish. Math in Motion took the time to count in English, Spanish, and French. It benefitted everyone in the classroom without slowing us down. We stayed on our toes, and the instructor made math fun for them. It helped the students who only speak one language learn to speak three.”
Active Learning Reinforces Academics
Students learn and retain concepts better when they are physically active in the learning environment.
“I have a lot of busybodies. Someone is always wiggling. I have to give them brain breaks,“ said Mrs. Leonard-Lott. “I find that it helps when we mix in something like ‘Simon Says’ or something to get movement in it for three minutes or so. My class does daily affirmations with motions, saying, ‘I am smart. I am kind. And I am right where I’m supposed to be.’ That builds confidence in themselves and their classmates, and even I can hear them reminding each other when they get frustrated. Math in Motion does a great job building on this. My students love it. I say, ‘It’s time to go to math motion,’ and their faces light up.”
Mrs. Shaw says Math in Motion has been instrumental in helping her students learn patterns.
“Some of our kids wouldn’t learn patterns without a hands-on approach. When Math in Motion teaches counting by twos and threes using beats, it sticks with them better. When they have to move and keep up with the beat while making a pattern, it reinforces the concept.”
Boost in Confidence and Social Skills
The teachers at West End Academy report that Math in Motion helps their students develop confidence and social skills.
“The Dance Foundation’s program is great. It gives my students confidence,” said Mr. Rosser. “Math in Motion really brings them out. They enjoy it because they feel like they can dance better than me, and then they feel like they can do math as well.”
Mrs. Shaw says Math in Motion helps students socialize and understand group dynamics.
“Socialization takes a while for some students. We have to teach them about their space and making space for those around them. When they’re actually physically in a space where they’re bumping into each other while moving, they tend to learn it quite quickly. They learn to work together and the manners they need to use to succeed in life.”
Mrs. Leonard-Lott sees students blossom as dance gives them confidence.
“It’s really nice to see The Dance Foundation instructors involve some of my kids who are shy. One minute, they’re shy, and the next, they are dancing out of nowhere. They’re great dancers with crazy dance moves. I think that when they’re in an environment where they feel safe, they know there’s a place where they can be who they want to be in whatever shape or form, and it’s just fine. And it’s just nice to see kids branch out.”
Mr. Rosser says Math in Motion helps connect students and build community.
“I have one student who didn’t make a lot of friends at first. She thought a lot of people didn’t like her. But they didn’t really know her. Then, her personality came out during Math in Motion. She started goofing around with their fellow classmates, and now the whole class loves her. She started off as a loner, and now she has 18 friends. It brought my class together as one.”
Emotional and Physical Outlet
Students in all settings have a lot of emotional and physical energy bottled up. This can be particularly challenging in a school serving an underserved and under-resourced area. The teachers at West End Academy feel that Math in Motion helps students find an outlet.
“Math in Motion gives them the opportunity to let it out,” said Mr. Rosser. “Dancing gives them an opportunity to express themselves in a different and appropriate way.”
Math in Motion Makes a Difference
“Math in Motion is definitely worth it,” said Mr. Rosser. “I feel like other schools should at least give this a try. Just give it two weeks. I think it’s a great investment of time that benefits everybody.”
We lead Math in Motion for students of all backgrounds across the greater Birmingham area, but the schools that need it most can’t afford even very low program fees. Our donor’s generosity allows us to bring DancePartners and Math in Motion to these students. Click here to pledge your support so we can bring Dance Connect to more schools. Your generous support makes the Dance Foundation’s DancePartners program, including Math in Motion, possible.