
KoganSteps
outline

Ellen and Dr. Priscilla Feir, Educational Director
2020 - Outline for KoganSteps Workshops
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Functional Movement – A New Direction in the Treatment of Autism and Other Neurological Dysfunction
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Why researchers now call for a body-oriented approach
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Engage the brain via the body
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Understand and teach functional movement and motor control
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Use the 3 basic elements of all physical activity (Space, Time, Energy)
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To improve motor movement, social skills, attention and language
Current Research on Movement, Socialization and the Autistic Child
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How movement affects “Theory of Mind”
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Movement and the development of empathy
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The concept of “universality” - the power of moving together
Understanding Movement as the Precursor for Language Development
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Movement and communication
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Action plus sound
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Gesture and facial expression
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Postural alignment
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Motor behavior and speech Production
The Link Between the Mirror Neuron System, Movement, Imitation and Functional Behavior
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Understanding the biology of autism
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Engaging the Mirror Neuron System
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See an action, do an action, speak an action
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Modeling, music, movement
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Singing, imitation and motor activity
Evaluation – The Movement Evaluation Continuum - A New Theoretical Framework to Assess a Child’s Ability to Move Functionally
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Identify movement deficits
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Create activities to address those deficits
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Integrate new knowledge into your current treatment plan
Creative Strategies that put Movement Theory into Practice
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Rhythmic Cueing – the link between music and motor behavior
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Imitation/modeling
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Repetition, Routines, Predictability
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Anticipation/Inhibition
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Body Image
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Authentic movement
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Visuals and Props
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Attention and Co-contraction
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Singing, Sound, and Music Making
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Using Both Sides of the Brain
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Lab Work - Experience Eight Movement Studies to teach and inspire
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The Tire Dance
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The Plate Dance
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The Card Dance
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The Weight Dance
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The Mountain
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The Mozart
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The Shape Dance
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The Scarf Dance
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Clarify and integrate movement vocabulary
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Collaborate with peers and create your own movement studies
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Areas of Caution
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Touch policies in the school
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Respecting the child’s terms
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