"A S.M.A.R.T. new program at Jefferson"

By Kremi Spengler, The Journal, New Ulm, MN, October 11, 2009

S.M.A.R.T. sites report high levels of academic achievement.  Students are continuously challenged and stimulated by the activities that are incorporated into their daily academic routine.  Schools who have implemented this program for some time have reported a strong positive correlation with academic scores, said Jefferson Elementary School Principal Pam Kirsch.  She added that S.M.A.R.T. students have increased flexibility, stamina and upper body strength - "these are physical and academic gains."
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"Hartley Teachers Learn to be SMART by Being Active"

By Ruth Ann Hager, Waseca County News, Waseca, MN, July 31, 2009

“Society has changed so much; kids aren’t playing outside like they used to, they’re playing video games, watching television and sitting at computers. They’re not ready to be learners,” said Hartley Elementary School principal Michelle Krell.  The idea behind SMART is that visual, tactile and auditory activities stimulate the brain and increase learning.
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“Teacher Workshop Trains the Brain”

By Tanner Kent, Mankato Free Press, Mankato, MN, July 30, 2009

At first blush, it appeared 90 teachers were simply having a good time.  But as those teachers danced to the beat of a boombox blaring “La Bamba” in a crowded conference room, something more profound was taking place.  They were actually learning an easy technique for stimulating their students’ corpus callosums — which connects the two hemispheres of the brain — through physical movements that cross the body’s midline.
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“DPS S.M.A.R.T. Room Promotes Kindergarten Pre-Reading Skills”

Dyersburg State Gazette, Dyersburg, TN, December 11, 2008

Kindergarten teachers at Dyersburg Primary School are busy learning what children have known for generations—the importance of play.  Based on the latest brain research, the S.M.A.R.T. program integrates current neuro-developmental maturation techniques into the regular curriculum to produce a booster effect for acquisition, retention, and production of basic skills.  And how do kindergarteners do that?  By jumping, climbing, balancing, crawling, swinging, and yes, even spinning.
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Life to the Max
Featuring Eagle Point Elementary S.M.A.R.T. Program
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Check Out
"What's Cool In School"
Jordan Elementary School
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(if you are having problems viewing click here to watch it at the KARE11 site)

Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN

By Emily Johns, Star Tribune, May 08, 2007

Jordan Elementary School first-grade teacher Cindy Lind, right, watched as her students, including Carly Brosious, center, played in the SMART room. The SMART program uses physical activities to stimulate brain growth. And all this running and jumping seems to work. “I’ve never had a better group of spellers,” Lind said.
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EDITORIAL: Teaching, learning, Star Tribune, December 24, 2002

When Minnesota became the first state to offer charter schools a decade ago, the idea was to encourage innovative alternatives to traditional public schools. Educators, parents and others were given the flexibility to use different teaching approaches--especially to help children who were failing in so-called "regular" schools.
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Marshall Independent, Marshall, MN

By Deb Gau

HENDRICKS — With all the lights in the room dimmed, first and second grade teacher Barbara Deuel clicked on a lantern and asked her students to read the word written on a flash card she was holding. After the kids chorused, “jump,” Deuel clicked the lantern off for a moment while she changed cards, and back on again.
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