Gestures
Overview
Adding motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding. Supplementing verbal information with gestures that represent real-world objects, like angles or shapes, can facilitate thinking about mathematical ideas that are not easily described by words alone.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
At 22:02, watch how this fifth grade teacher uses hand gestures to increase students' understanding of a word problem on adding and subtracting fractions. By using pointing gestures, this teacher directs student Attention to the key concepts in the problem.
Design It into Your Product
Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.
Watch how ST Math allows learners to visualize math concepts in an interactive way. Through multimodal instructions and representations, learners increase their math comprehension and, in doing so, become more motivated to learn difficult mathematical concepts.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Multisensory Supports Strategies
Communication boards are displays of graphics (e.g., pictures, symbols, illustrations) and/or words where learners can gesture or point to the displays to extend their expressive language potential.
Short breaks that include mindfulness quiet the brain to allow for improved thinking and emotional regulation.
Brain breaks that include movement allow learners to refresh their thinking and focus on learning new information.
Providing physical and virtual representations of numbers and math concepts helps activate mental processes.
Connecting information to music and dance can support Short-term and Long-term Memory by engaging auditory processes, Emotions, and physical activity.
Research shows physical activity improves focus and creativity.
Incorporating multiple senses with strategies like chewing gum, using a fidget, and sitting on a ball chair supports focus and Attention.
Using earplugs or headphones can increase focus and comfort.
Transforming written text into audio activates different parts of the brain to support learning.
Tossing a ball, beanbag, dice, or other small object activates physical focus in support of mental focus.
Visual supports, like text magnification, colored overlays, and guided reading strip, help students focus and properly track as they read.
