Monday, July 21, 2014

International Bal-A-Vis-X Training


This past June I attended an integrative movement-training course in Scotland. There were people from as many as 8 countries in attendance. All were there to learn a program called Bal-A-Vis-X and develop skills to work with children as well as adults who struggle with
learning/life for various reasons. These reasons could range from deficit in learning ability, to physical challenges, and includes those who experience anxiety from over achievement syndrome. Participants learned and practiced the proper technique of form & rhythm to ensure a consistent, synchronistic method for integrating the individual within him/her self and to his/her surroundings. The goal of practicing this technique in a setting like this is to develop uniformity for the group to work together harmoniously and to let participants experience this synchronization with guidance from trainers and practitioners so that when the attendee’s returned to work with students, clients, or family they would have the skills necessary to be successful and help those they work with succeed. Adaptations were learned for exercises in order that they could be carried out in what the founder, Bill Hubert, has coined “elastic time”. That would be adapting exercises to a level in which all participants would be successful while still working rhythmically and in a technically correct means. The goal being-start with what a client  ‘can’ do and work forward.

Also in attendance were other Practitioners and Trainers, such as myself. Trainers have been sanctioned by Mr. Hubert to conduct a 16-hour training. These trainings include, Level 1 & 2 with adaptations for special needs (also known as Session A & B). Trainers have participated in hundreds of hours of training under Mr. Hubert’s watchful eye to develop the skills necessary to properly train others to be successful in working with their own students/clients. The Trainers attending this training worked to further their skills of observation (noticing), mentoring, and instructing. I was able (as always) to pick up subtle nuances that further my skills as a Trainer and Practitioner. It was a fantastic experience to meet and work with this international group of learners, practitioners, and trainers!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Exciting Bal-A-Vis-X News!


I have been working with 28, 4th grade students & teacher in their classroom doing Bal-A-Vis-X for 30 minutes one day a week since September. I teach the class a new exercise on Tuesday each week & review some of the exercises from previous weeks as well as correct technique and answer questions. The teacher works with the students several times between my visits. When I checked my email on Wednesday, this is the message I received from the teacher:

Hi,
After you left we finished up and I gave the class the DAZE test-A 3-minute comprehension test. Unbelievably high scores! I looked at the growth from mid year and even the low-low kids made huge gains! We will practice Bal a Vis X before every end of year test from now on! WOW!

I know classroom teachers have a great deal of work to get done and that class sizes are bigger than ever before. Many teachers feel that they can’t take extra time to include movement into student’s lessons. Bal-A-Vis-X is an integrative movement program that helps students focus and settle behaviors so that less time is spent on behavior management. Bal-A-Vis-X can also be integrated into many academic lessons. With more time on task behavior along with focused attention the teachers who incorporate Bal-A-Vis-X into the teaching/learning day find students accomplish more academically.