Engaging minds through physical activity
Children need to move! Students cannot be expected to sit still in a normal chair for 4-5 hours a day. How can anyone expect a student to not fidget or move and learn? As a special needs teacher of students with Emotional Disabilities, I have chosen to provide my students with several seating options. Most [...]
“I did yoga with my students last year, mainly in my first block class. They said it helped their focus for the remainder of the day and helped reduce the stress of homework and outside things.” – Mac Underwood-Cohick, Physical Education and Health Teacher, The Ensworth School, Nashville, TN “I’ve used yoga with my classes [...]
When it comes to introducing activity in the classroom, many educators often wonder where to start. Brooke Sydnor Curran, Founder and CEO of RunningBrooke, makes it her goal to assist teachers and principals as they incorporate more activity into their classrooms and schools. In the latest installment of our interview series with Brooke, she explains [...]
The Springboard to Active Schools initiative is an online platform that assists teachers, administrators, parents, and other school physical activity leaders with strategies to maximize activity efforts related to Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs. The Springboard to Active Schools site provides a plethora of information, resources, and training related to classroom physical activity. Specifically, the [...]
Research has shown that incorporating physical activity and movement into the classroom increases overall productivity in our work and learning environments. Therefore, creating free-time with active classrooms. Research out of Texas A&M (Benden et al., 2015) shows that by adding standing desks in a call center environment, over the course of 12 weeks, workers were [...]
The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSWC) model outlines ways that schools should consider to educate the whole child. Some schools are fortunate enough to offer high quality physical education. This would be taught by a certified physical education teacher. However, many students are still not meeting daily physical activity guidelines. In addition, the [...]
It is recommended that school-aged children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. For instance, at the intensity of a brisk walk or more. In order to achieve health-benefits, they should do this each day. The Challenge Schools have been tasked with contributing at least 30 minutes of that recommendation [...]
Most blogs on this site focus on ways to get students up and moving. While increasing activity in the classroom does engage minds and promote learning, it’s also important that I remind myself to MOVE! Let’s be honest, teachers need movement too! Small amounts of movement spread throughout the day helps give me little bursts [...]
