Robin Folkerts

“Math in Motion”, the winning program submitted by Folkerts, is a multi-sensory approach to cognitive development, which incorporates physical exercise, stretching, yoga, and cross-body movement. It allows the 300 Kindergarten through fifth-grade students and their math buddies to be physically active while simultaneously learning multiplication facts, place value, addition and subtraction, fractions, and other number concepts. “Math in Motion” is designed to engage a child’s total learning modality (visual, auditory, motor, and kinesthetic), and to build connections between the two halves of the brain. In addition to making learning easier for all types of learners, this approach also increases the students’ critical thinking ability and reduces a child’s math anxiety, thus linking math improvement with play. As an additional benefit, the program increases physical activity leading to improved health in the target population. Folkerts resides in Wichita.