Welcome to the open forum! Please share your stories, thoughts, and questions below.
Physical Activity in Schools
PrincipalGarber
Tuesday April 10, 2012
7:10pm
I read ACTIVE-ate’s site and realized how important it is for children to exercise and to increase physical activity in schools. I’ve now mandated daily physical education and 30 minutes of daily recess in my elementary school, and have added more sports and dance classes to our after-school activities. I also told my teachers to have kids move in class and after-care. Our students are earning better grades and performing better on standardized tests. I also have fewer students in my office for discipline problems. Thanks, ACTIVE-ate!
PrincipalCarol
Wednesday April 11, 2012
7:43pm
I’m the principal of a middle school, and also added daily PE, classroom movement activities, and more active extracurriculars like cheerleading. Teenagers are notorious for bad behavior, but increased physical activity has improved their behavior and their grades!
ACTIVE-ate
Wednesday April 11, 2012
8:48pm
So happy to hear that more schools are starting to increase PE and recess time! You have our full support!
Movement Activities in the Classroom
TeacherTroubles
Monday April 16, 2012
5:15pm
My students behave terribly in class. They can’t sit still, throw spit-balls, and act out all the time. I spend the whole class disciplining and very little time teaching. After reading your site, it sounds like I need to add movement activities. What activities can I do?
TeacherMover
Monday April 16, 2012
7:25pm
My kids used to behave the same way, TeacherTroubles! I’ve been adding daily movement activities before and during classes, and my students are so much more attentive and well behaved. Before class starts I have kids march in place, do some jumping jacks, and then stretch out with yoga poses. Every 20 minutes I have kids walk around the room and reach their arms up to the ceiling. They can focus so much better, and their critical thinking skills have improved! Thank you, ACTIVE-ate, for teaching me that there’s so much science to back up my use of movement in my classes!
ACTIVE-ate
Tuesday April 17, 2012
2:45pm
Wow TeacherMover, we’re so happy to hear your success story—it sounds like you’ve found some great ways to incorporate exercise in the classroom! TeacherTroubles, don't forget to check out our resource page if you need any more ideas or inspiration!
Physical Education and Recess
RecessRules
Friday April 20, 2012
5:11pm
One of my 8-year-old boys had tons of excess energy and would run wild around the classroom all the time. I had to punish him with “time outs” all the time. Once the principal of our school added recess, the student released his energy during recess and behaved much better in class. He is now even learning more thanks to his better behavior!
SoccerMom1
Saturday April 21, 2012
10:16am
I told my 7-year-old son’s school principal to read ACTIVE-ate’s site. The school just added daily PE and increased recess time from 10 to 30 minutes. My son is enjoying school more, getting better grades, and behaving better at home! Amazing what exercise can do!
SoccerMom2
Sunday April 22, 2012
12:45pm
My daughter and son go to PrincipalGarber’s elementary school, and I’m really happy the school increased physical activity. ACTIVE-ate’s site taught me how important exercise is for children’s health, but as a single, working mom I don’t have time to drive my kids to after-school sports or classes. Both of my kids are behaving better and earning better grades in school. Thank you ACTIVE-ate, for improving our children’s lives!