The Importance of Physical Activity in Learning
Focused Area
Youth-At-Risk in Urban Settings
Relevance to Focused Area
With our countries problem of childhood obesity, finding ways to increase our children’s physical activity levels is becoming increasingly important for educators in urban settings to address in their classrooms. Lowering our student’s BMI is just one small aspect of the bigger picture. Along with a variety of health benefits, there are also many academic advantages exercise and physical activity can have on learning in the classroom.
Primary Strand
Mental & Physical Health
Relevance to Primary Strand
Various studies have shown the effects of physical activity on learning not only found an increase in student test scores, but also found that students had an improved ability to concentrate and are able to work for longer periods of time. Additional benefits include improved student attendance and a drop in disciplinary problems.
Brief Program Description
Various studies have shown the effects of physical activity on learning not only found an increase in student test scores, but also found that students had an improved ability to concentrate and are able to work for longer periods of time. Additional benefits include improved student attendance and a drop in disciplinary problems.
Physical activity can have a positive effect on learning and behavior in every classroom. Unfortunately educators are sometimes resistant to change, so the likelihood of adopting this to their teaching on their own is unlikely no matter how good it is for our students. I challenge and encourage all educators to come and learn more about the studies done in this area and learn easy day to day strategies to make it work in any classroom Pre-K through 12th Grade.
With our countries problem of childhood obesity, finding ways to increase our children’s physical activity levels is becoming increasingly important for educators in urban settings to address in their classrooms. Lowering our student’s BMI is just one small aspect of the bigger picture. Along with a variety of health benefits, there are also many academic advantages exercise and physical activity can have on learning in the classroom.
Summary
Classroom physical activity breaks can be integrated into academic lessons, allowing teachers to teach academic content through physical activity. Implementing exercise in the classroom is a win-win situation. We need to do everything we can to motivate all educators to get onboard. Teachers need very little training to incorporate activity breaks into existing classroom activities. Most activities or programs only need the support of the building leader. However, it is important to involve teachers in the planning, development and selection of classroom activity break materials and procedures, in order to reduce potential resistance to the implementation of classroom activity breaks.
In this session, educators will learn about the studies and research done in this area. Through this new knowledge and active practice, it will motivate educators to incorporate physical activity right away and every day. They will also walk away with easy day to day strategies to make it work in any classroom Pre-K through 12th Grade.
Evidence
The information shared in this session is based on the following research:
Brain Based Research of Dr. Chuck Hillman University of Illinois
Mahar MT, Murphy SK, et al. Effects of a classroom-based program on physical activity and on-task behavior. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2006; 38:2086-2094.
Chomitz V, Slining M, McGowan R, et al. “Is There a Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement? Positive Results From Public School Children in the Northeastern United States.” Journal of School Health, 79(1): 30–37, January 2009.
The strategies/activities have been put to practice successfully in both an urban and rural Pre-K - 4th grade setting.
Format
Individual Presentation
Biographical Sketch
Jeffrey S. Mochrie is currently the principal of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, which is part of the Cheektowaga Sloan UFSD in upstate New York just outside Buffalo, New York. The Theodore Roosevelt Elementary building houses the youngest learners in the district UPK-2nd Grade with over 300 students. Jeff also serves as the districts Health and Wellness coordinator. He takes great pride in his work, encouraging all the faculty and staff to incorporate physical activity in their classrooms. He has received numerous grants and recognition for his work from the American Dairy Association, the NFL Fuel Up and NFL Play 60 programs. Prior to his current position he was the principal of a rural UPK-4th grade elementary school in Holland, New York. Preceding his administrative positions he was a 4th and 5th grade teacher for nine years.
Start Date
10-23-2016 10:00 AM
End Date
10-23-2016 11:00 AM
Recommended Citation
Mochrie, Jeffrey S. Mr., "The Importance of Physical Activity in Learning" (2016). National Youth-At-Risk Conference, West (2015-2017). 10.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_vegas/2016/poster/10
The Importance of Physical Activity in Learning
Various studies have shown the effects of physical activity on learning not only found an increase in student test scores, but also found that students had an improved ability to concentrate and are able to work for longer periods of time. Additional benefits include improved student attendance and a drop in disciplinary problems.
Physical activity can have a positive effect on learning and behavior in every classroom. Unfortunately educators are sometimes resistant to change, so the likelihood of adopting this to their teaching on their own is unlikely no matter how good it is for our students. I challenge and encourage all educators to come and learn more about the studies done in this area and learn easy day to day strategies to make it work in any classroom Pre-K through 12th Grade.
With our countries problem of childhood obesity, finding ways to increase our children’s physical activity levels is becoming increasingly important for educators in urban settings to address in their classrooms. Lowering our student’s BMI is just one small aspect of the bigger picture. Along with a variety of health benefits, there are also many academic advantages exercise and physical activity can have on learning in the classroom.
