MERCY MATTERS

GoNoodle!

by Nicole Davis

Have you ever heard of GoNoodle? GoNoodle is a web-based educational tool geared toward K-5 that is designed to encourage movement throughout the day. GoNoodle does this with fun videos and interactive activities. Not only do children in Shawnee benefit from the exceptional program, but all schools in a three-county area do also! Thanks to Mercy-St.Rita’s, all schools in Allen, Auglaize, and Putnam County receive the premium package in their classrooms. At Elmwood Elementary, in the Shawnee School District, GoNoodle is an important tool used every day.

I had the privilege of observing GoNoodle in action! Mrs. Cupples and her first-grade classroom include it in their daily routine to transition between independent and group learning. They often use GoNoodle after lunch to get up and move or during rainy days. The young learners were excited to share the variety of songs that they enjoy and knew their favorites by heart. KidzBop with popular music, obstacle courses, work out tunes, silly songs, Play60, and yoga exercises were only some of the choices they shared. More importantly, they expressed how GoNoodle made them feel: “calm,” “happy,” “sweaty,” “I feel like I can do my work,” and “ready for the day!” On another visit to Elmwood, Mrs. Cupples’ first graders visited Mrs. Hedges for their music class. GoNoodle allows for students in Mrs. Hedges’ classroom to have a fun, energizing, brain break while meeting state music standards at the same time. Students love to move to the beat of the music on GoNoodle and sing along with familiar songs. Mrs. Hedges likes to do this in class when a brain or movement break is needed to gain attention. She also uses the KidzBop station most often in the music room as it allows for singing and dancing to happen at the same time.

Mrs. Daily, the principal of Elmwood Elementary, also shared how grateful she is for the positive impact GoNoodle has on her school. “Our kids need and require movement more than ever.” She went on to explain that it supports positive behavior, uses movement to boost mental effects, and promotes whole wellness for the students. In self-contained classrooms, GoNoodle is the perfect transition time for children, “to be ready for the next challenge.”