CREATIVE MOVEMENT IN CLASS - STILL AN UNKNOWN FOR MANY TEACHERS
ABSTRACT

Thispaper is describing a research, which is dealing with the usage and effects of the creative movement and other similar relaxing techniques of teaching and learning in the lower grades of the Slovene primary school programme. Statistics are based on reports made by 164 teachers in the years 1998 through 2004. The analysis showed that the above-mentioned method is mostly used in the first grade of the primary school in all subjects, especially in Slovene language class, music class and mathematics. The second aim of the research was to line out the general effects of the creative movement teaching method. Above all, teachers pointed out the relaxation amongst pupils, better communication pupil-pupil and teacher-pupils, improved motion of pupils, a higher degree of imagination and creativeness, pupils were also easier to motivate in to work with.

Teachers are using the following relaxing techniques in their classes: didactical and dancing games, dance, movement with music, movement with fairy-tales, fantasy travelling and massage.

It was concluded that the method of creative movement is still relatively unknown among Slovenian teachers. It is in our opinion that better knowledge of the above mentioned and other similar methods is a key element in reaching a higher level of teaching in Slovene primary schools. This statement is also supported by the evaluation of questionnaires on creative movement classes taken by the students of The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education and of The University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Koper. Even more importantly, teachers, who are at present using the method of creative movement in their everyday work with children, support our statement.

Key words: holistic teaching, relaxing techniques, creative movement

CREATIVE MOVEMENT IN CLASS - STILL AN UNKNOWN FOR MANY TEACHERS
ABSTRACT

Thispaper is describing a research, which is dealing with the usage and effects of the creative movement and other similar relaxing techniques of teaching and learning in the lower grades of the Slovene primary school programme. Statistics are based on reports made by 164 teachers in the years 1998 through 2004. The analysis showed that the above-mentioned method is mostly used in the first grade of the primary school in all subjects, especially in Slovene language class, music class and mathematics. The second aim of the research was to line out the general effects of the creative movement teaching method. Above all, teachers pointed out the relaxation amongst pupils, better communication pupil-pupil and teacher-pupils, improved motion of pupils, a higher degree of imagination and creativeness, pupils were also easier to motivate in to work with.

Teachers are using the following relaxing techniques in their classes: didactical and dancing games, dance, movement with music, movement with fairy-tales, fantasy travelling and massage.

It was concluded that the method of creative movement is still relatively unknown among Slovenian teachers. It is in our opinion that better knowledge of the above mentioned and other similar methods is a key element in reaching a higher level of teaching in Slovene primary schools. This statement is also supported by the evaluation of questionnaires on creative movement classes taken by the students of The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education and of The University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Koper. Even more importantly, teachers, who are at present using the method of creative movement in their everyday work with children, support our statement.

Key words: holistic teaching, relaxing techniques, creative movement

CREATIVE MOVEMENT IN CLASS - STILL AN UNKNOWN FOR MANY TEACHERS
ABSTRACT

Thispaper is describing a research, which is dealing with the usage and effects of the creative movement and other similar relaxing techniques of teaching and learning in the lower grades of the Slovene primary school programme. Statistics are based on reports made by 164 teachers in the years 1998 through 2004. The analysis showed that the above-mentioned method is mostly used in the first grade of the primary school in all subjects, especially in Slovene language class, music class and mathematics. The second aim of the research was to line out the general effects of the creative movement teaching method. Above all, teachers pointed out the relaxation amongst pupils, better communication pupil-pupil and teacher-pupils, improved motion of pupils, a higher degree of imagination and creativeness, pupils were also easier to motivate in to work with.

Teachers are using the following relaxing techniques in their classes: didactical and dancing games, dance, movement with music, movement with fairy-tales, fantasy travelling and massage.

It was concluded that the method of creative movement is still relatively unknown among Slovenian teachers. It is in our opinion that better knowledge of the above mentioned and other similar methods is a key element in reaching a higher level of teaching in Slovene primary schools. This statement is also supported by the evaluation of questionnaires on creative movement classes taken by the students of The University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Education and of The University of Primorska, Faculty of Education Koper. Even more importantly, teachers, who are at present using the method of creative movement in their everyday work with children, support our statement.

Key words: holistic teaching, relaxing techniques, creative movement

Vesna Geršak