“To be nobody but yourself - in a world which is doing it's best, night and day, to make you everybody else, is to fight the hardest battle any human being can fight - but never stop fighting." ee cummings

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"Student physical creations" began in Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1961 with students designing movement sequences, balancing, diving and jumping forms, presenting them to Elementary School assemblies.

Students who were interested in creating a variety of balancing positions with each other organized their work and presented assemblies to other students.

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 In addition to my teaching, I began coaching basketball and baseball in during my first two years of teaching. In the third year Ed Wingard, Head Coach and Athletic Director said, "how about coaching the Track Team". Ed and I had spent 3 years coaching basketball together. It sounded interesting. I said yes. 

When I began planning for the Spring Track season, 1964, my first time coaching Track & Field, a senior student said he wanted to do track. He had been the catcher on the baseball team I coached. Jimmy said he would like to do the pole vault. 

The rest is an ongoing adventure with years of exploration, learning and enjoying "the possibilities" as students, parents and others with curiosity sought to comprehend the interests of those who love to live and practice "kinesthetics". As time continued, it came to be called "gymcraftics."

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Because this side of me was always seen as second to academics, I never focused primary energy on the physical. I was always expected to begin with the academic. Today, I hope that I will be able to help others see that the notion of ‘multiple intelligences’ has validity. Each of us has our own set of potentials [intelligences] , needing encouragement in order for our whole system to develop more complete.

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Life long interests take on many forms. I have explored them due to support from family & friends.

My dad realized how much I loved sailing and diving into the water, so, when I was 14 he built a sailfish and I was able to find wind and waves that complimented my curiosity.  As time moved on Joc and Abby found their way to the tiller on our converted rowboat. 

I discovered the importance of my kinesthetic aptitude because, even with traditional courses, my interests always found a way into my schedule of creative activities. As I reflect now on the history of my interests, I wish that someone along the way had understood and communicated with me about the value of the physical as motivation for my learning.

Developing Positives & Collaborating

Balance and movement forms take place as a process that focuses on the expression of Interests by each person. This website grows as Photos, Words and Videos explore the variety of skills, collaborations and creative expressions that individuals have developed and are working on today.  Helping each person discover productive ways for learning complicated skills is an ongoing challenge.  Each of us has our own ways of learning: exploring movement, finding combinations and connections that we can use as we progress along a process that is unique. 

           Interests that are heard and respected by those providing support.

The Center for Evolving Education, Germantown, Philadelphia

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Maryland                      Wisconsin                    Pennsylvania

Massachusetts

As I traveled the path of my life, I became increasingly aware of my interests. Looking back, I am amazed at how little these interests were allowed to direct that which I studied as a young person. It took me over 40 years to finally acknowledge how important the kinesthetic part of me is and has been. When growing from child to adolescent, young adult and more, I had to struggle for time to do physical activity and expression. No one helped me acknowledge the link between the physical side of me and the intellectual.

                  Pairs, Triples and Group Forms                 

Balancing and going over something

If you are interested in this ~ contact us at [abandjeff@gmail.com]