Akron Life January 2023

EDUCATION

movements on the floor to develop motor skills. They also toss bean bags to work on eye tracking, which helps with reading, and left-right brain com munication, which helps with math. “Our bodies … it’s a bridge to help ing children grasp higher-level learn ing,” says Miskinis. “Children build those physical capacities and deepen awareness of their body, self-control, patience, stillness.” Often, Miskinis modifies activities, such as one where students walk on a balance beam and raise a Hula-Hoop over their heads and step through it. She might cup their elbows to guide them. Grace’s 6-year-old brother in first grade, Jude Heller, struggled with that exercise, but with Miskinis’ assis tance, eventually he felt successful. “She helped me do it,” Jude says, “and find my inner strength.” “It helps my children to learn better … when they’re self-aware of their body,” adds RyAnn. “It’s giving them a sense of self-worth.” KP

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