Whole Child Approach

Optimal learning cannot stand alone; it relies on effective functioning of the entire mind/body system. We must meet the physical and emotional needs of our students before they can be in an optimal state for learning.

  1. Oxygen
    • Oxygen is needed to break down food and turn it into energy.
    • The brain is only one-fiftieth of the body's weight, but it uses one-fifth of the body's oxygen.
    • At Porter Academy, we utilize deep breathing, muscle relaxation techniques, and frequent movement breaks, all of which increase the amount of oxygen-rich blood getting to the brain.

  2. Nutrition
      • In order to have a well-functioning nervous system, we must provide our bodies with the raw materials needed: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. We must also limit sugar, which weakens the body's ability to protect and restore itself.
        • Amino acids and essential fatty acids form the structure of developing nerves. Eggs, Fish, nuts, yogurt, and cottage cheese are good sources of these.
        • Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our bodies and brains. These are found in grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy sugar.
        • Sugar is yeast's main food source, so too many simple sugars in one's diet can lead to yeast overgrowth. As yeast uses the sugar, it creates toxins (acetaldehyde and alcohol) that
          1. can inhibit nerve net growth in the brain's frontal lobes. This can lead to decreased attention, behavior problems, irritability, hyperactivity, depression, fine motor coordination difficulties, decreased high level formal reasoning, and decreased inner speech that helps control one's behavior.
          2. can decrease the effectiveness of the immune system. This can lead to sensitivities to certain foods or environmental allergens.
      • At Porter Academy, we encourage healthy eating by helping students understand the food groups and track their own diets. We also understand and do our part to support children who do have food sensitivities and dietary restrictions.

  3. Water
      • The recommended amount of water is 1/3 oz per pound of body weight. It is best to drink this water slowly throughout the day.
      • It is very important to stay hydrated because our nervous system is electrical and depends on water to be able to create polarity and transmit neural impulses. If we don't have sufficient water, the polarity in our nerve cells is decreased, making them more prone to firing. When we are sufficiently hydrated, our neural polarity is increased, and we are able to be selective in our response to stimuli. This allows for focused attention for increased learning.
      • At Porter Academy, we encourage our student to take water breaks throughout the day.

  4. Physical Fitness
      • Only physically fit hearts and lungs are able to pump enough oxygenated blood to the brain for optimal functioning.
      • Movement stimulates nerve growth that serves as a foundation for learning.
      • Input to the Vestibular system activates the Reticular Activating System, which alerts the brain in preparation for incoming sensory input
      • At Porter Academy, elementary students participate in PE every day; middle school students participate in either PE or OT every day, both of which develop physical strength and endurance.

  5. A Sense of Security
      • There is a hierarchy of needs that need to be met before we are able to utilize executive/thinking areas of our brains.
        • The first is physical safety. Imagine trying to solve a calculus problem while surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. Children that come from a stressful environment or who have sensory over-responsivity to everyday experiences (perception is as important as reality as far as our brains are concerned) are going to live in a state of "fight or flight". This puts an overemphasis on survival-oriented areas of the brain at the expense of cortical functioning, especially within the frontal lobes. Through decreased activation of the cerebral cortex and through the release of chemicals (e.g., cortisol) that inhibit nerve growth by decreasing the uptake of protein, chronic exposure to stress inhibits brain development and learning.
        • The second is emotional engagement. If the person is self-motivated and fully engaged in the learning activity, they are significantly better able to process and remember the information. Sensory experiences run through an emotional filter (the limbic system) to assess value and meaning in light of past experiences. If the limbic system judges the input to be low in value, the brain is not going to remember it nearly as well as if the experience is highly valued.
        • Last is executive/thinking: only once we feel safe and emotionally engaged can we meet our full potential in regards to learning.

  • At Porter Academy, we work hard to create an environment that will be perceived as safe by each child. We also work to help each child develop intrinsic motivation and an enjoyment of learning.
    This is accomplished through various means:
    • activities that provide a just-right-challenge help the children experience success that improves confidence and makes them more open to an increased challenge
    • frequent positive reinforcement
    • learning activities presented in a way that makes them fun and engaging
    • small groups
    • quiet environment
    • grounding sensory activities throughout the day
    • exercises that help relieve stress: deep breathing, yoga, stretching, massage
    • emphasis on teamwork


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