Smart Moves. Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head

Customer Reviews

New age pseudoscientific nonsense...

2007-08-26
...the "thinking cap" exercise is my favorite -- there's a photo showing some young girl pulling her ear lobes down almost to her collar bone!...the accompanying text claims that such yanking on the ear lobes stimulates "energy sites" in a manner analogous to acupuncture and facilitates thinking...ouch!...I think I'll pass on that one!...and the "energy yawn"??...or the "calf pump"??...no doubt there are reams of scientific research supporting such "techniques" for stimulating thought -- they're just not on this planet...personally, I think you should save your money and attend some of Ms. Hannaford's presentations at the "New Thought Center of Hawaii" where, over the years, she has presented such enlightening seminars as "The Cosmic Order of Sound" and "The Heartful Experience Sufi Dancing at night"...or maybe go out and buy some nice crystals and incense...but whatever you chose, don't waste money on this book.

Perfect remedy for a sedentary generation!

2007-05-18
As many of the other reviews suggest, this book should be required reading for parents and educators. First of all, the explanations of the mechanics of the brain are very well presented for a lay audience--very easy to understand. The neuroscientific explanation then lays the groundwork for the thesis that Hannaford presents--that we need to consider the impact of the body and movement on the development of the brain. This book is a great step forward for holistic modes of education. Power Brain Kids

REQUIRED READING FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

2007-01-09
Hannaford is the wise teacher who shows how the body and mind are connected and how certain moves and exercises can improve school performance and even attitude. This is an extremely valuable book for anybody who works with kids, and will open your eyes to the whole child, not just the child-as-student. VERY highly recommended. Should be required in every teacher preparation program in the country!

Never thought of it before.

2006-07-08
I'm a former teacher, current family lawyer, mother of a nine year old, and homeschooled last year. My daughter's current tutor recommended this book, and a lot of pieces are beginning to fall into place. Coordination, reluctance to ride a bike. I wish I'd had this book 10 years ago.

Great Resource

2006-06-30
This book is easy to follow and is a great resource for those interested in improving functioning, particularly in children. The brain research included in the book is outstanding, maybe a little overwhelming for a lay person not used to reading this type of information, but made to be as user friendly as possible. One school I'm in has used some of the basic principles presented in the book with noticeable positive results in a very short time. This book is worth the money and time spent reading.

This should be recommended reading for those considering a Waldorf education...

2006-01-04
Neurophysiologist and educator Dr. Carla Hannaford brings the latest insights from scientific research to questions that affect learners of all ages. Examining the body's role in learning, from infancy through adulthood she presents the mounting scientific evidence that movement is crucial to learning. Dr. Hannaford offers clear alternatives and remedies that people can put into practice right away to make a real difference in their ability to learn. She advocates more enlightened educational practices for homes and schools including: a more holistic view of each learner; less emphasis on rote learning; more experiential, active instruction; less labeling of learning disabilities; more physical movement; more personal expression through arts, sports and music; less prescribing of Ritalin and other drugs whose long term effects are not even known.

* This is the revised and enlarged second edition of a very popular book that has sold over 100,000 copies. * Includes recent research on the brain and a new emphasis on the importance of the emotional environment for learning. * It begins with a new foreword by well known scientist Candace Pert whose work on neuropeptides has revolutionized our view of the mind/body connection.

My copy is filled with high-lighting 2005-09-07
This book goes way beyond "Brain Gym" (itself a wonderful piece of work) - Dr. Hannaford goes into great detail about neural networks and how they play a part in awareness, emotion, learning, and of course survival. Although somewhat technical, this information lays solid ground for the later chapters. The information in this book has nicely complemented all of my work. Brian E. Walsh PhD, author, Unleashing Your Brilliance

Rejoice in a new edition! 2005-06-28
A revised and enlarged edition of this classic (1995) has just been published. Carla is always at the cutting-edge. Her insights have been confirmed by advances in neuro-sciences and all of the first edition are still valid. But it is good to have some additional new input from the past 10 years. I'll first select a few quotes as appetizer.
Candace Pert, from Georgetown University, in her Introduction, admits that Carla "has also highlighted new research and insights which go beyond my 1999 book Molecules of Emotion... Learning is naturally a pleasurable experience and Carla Hannaford shows us how to return to that state as she explores the research, and ways and means of achieving the optimal learning environment."
Carla in concluding her Preface: "It has been a wonderful experience to bring forward so much new research, which strongly supports our need as human beings to connect, love, laugh, play and share music with each other to make each moment the best learning experience possible. I invite and challenge you to partake of the new findings of science, and to explore simple ways to optimize our experience and that of our children, to live more complete, passionate, creative, satisfying lives."
An important up-date is the heart-brain connection, more elaborated in her excellent book: Awakening the Child Heart: Handbook for Global Parenting. Other short, but significant up-date reports are interspersed throughout the book.
There are more expansions in Chapters 11: The Vestibular System, and 12: Fight and Flight--The Stress Effect on Learning.
Additional paragraphs on oxytocin and dopamine in relation to learning have been included. Those who don't mind being distracted by more neuro-chemistry, may find Why We Love and The Edge Effect also interesting.
There are some changes and additional diagrams and photos. I'm glad that Carla's own artistic sketchings are all kept.
This book is a "must" for every parent and educator.

A resource every teacher and parent should read! 2003-12-09
I read this book -- the first time -- when it was initially released in 1995, and I was overwhelmed by the validation it provided me. At that point, I'd been a children's movement specialist for 16 years and had been working tirelessly to help teachers and parents understand the importance of movement in the child's life and education. Carla Hannaford -- a neurophysiologist! -- was now backing me up!

With today's increasing emphasis on standardized testing, Smart Moves becomes an even more important resource, as it details why the mind and body are NOT separate entities. I display this book at every presentation I make to parents and teachers!

Rae Pica
Author, Your Active Child

great way to understand the brain gym concept 2003-01-06
Starting with the science of why you do this and ending with the practicality, this book is understandable and very readable.