S.M.A.R.T. on Sweet Reason Discussions
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What is S.M.A.R.T.?
S.M.A.R.T. (Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training) is a program educators use in pre-k, kindergarten, first, second and third grade classrooms to integrate fun and challenging physical activities into the school day. The activities are designed to prepare the brain for reading and learning in a way that traditional instruction does not. Compatible with any existing curriculum, the multi-sensory activities stimulate the brain and increase its capacity to learn. Students who have developed mature readiness skills through S.M.A.R.T. have shown an increased attention span, ability to focus and improved reading scores.
S.M.A.R.T. is also the centerpiece of our training institute, the Minnesota Learning Resource Center (MLRC). Since the MLRC's establishment through funding from the state legislature in 1999 and the U.S. Department of Education at the federal level, the MLRC has implemented S.M.A.R.T. in over 250 elementary schools nationwide, training 4,700+ educators and exposing over 60,000 children to S.M.A.R.T.
Does S.M.A.R.T. Really Work?
When using nationally normed measures on students across the state and nation, the results showed that students who participated in S.M.A.R.T. outperformed those who did not participate in S.M.A.R.T.
To see data collected from a study involving S.M.A.R.T. pre-kindergartners, please view the following: 2011 S.M.A.R.T. Early Childhood Executive Summary
To see data collected from studies involving S.M.A.R.T. kindergartners—third graders, please view the following:
To see two decades of A Chance To Grow's data, view this summary.
How Do I Get S.M.A.R.T. At My Child’s School?
There has been an explosion of brain research and how brain function relates to how a child performs in the classroom. S.M.A.R.T. is one of the few programs that actually shows teachers how to take that brain research and apply it in their classrooms. When first approaching your child’s teacher, invite them to watch our video that shows a sample of S.M.A.R.T. Activities in action and specifies the foundational readiness skills the activities address. Then you can refer them to the studies we’ve done in partnership with actual S.M.A.R.T. schools. These can be found here at the bottom of the page or by clicking on the links to the studies above. Refer them to this website for more information about workshops, hosting workshops, or purchasing our S.M.A.R.T. program and curriculum guides. We are also happy to work with schools or groups of schools and provide them with information to help access regional funding for workshop related expenses.
I’m a Teacher. How Do I Get S.M.A.R.T. at My School?
The best way to start S.M.A.R.T. at your school is to send a team of two or more teachers to a S.M.A.R.T. or S.M.A.R.T. Pre-K Workshop. Experience has taught us that S.M.A.R.T. succeeds when one or more teachers take ownership of the program and act as S.M.A.R.T. Leaders in the school. If you’d like S.M.A.R.T. to be implemented on a larger scale, consider talking with your administrator about the possibility of hosting a S.M.A.R.T. Workshop for the district or entire school staff. If your school is outside of the Twin Cities Metro Area, this option is often cheaper than sending an entire staff to a workshop in Minneapolis and ensures a staff-wide understanding of the program and its benefits.
Show Me S.M.A.R.T. in Action!
Eagle Point Elementary (2009):