The Millennial's Classroom: Encouraging de people chirren to move
We know that we need to exercise. We know that we should encourage our children to exercise daily. We'd love to do this but the days are so long, busy and fraught with admin requests, classroom projects and behavioral issues. It is hard. So, so, so hard.
So... do we just throw up our hands in defeat?
Nah.
Here are a few moves that I'd like to implement in my classroom to get my students moving more and instill lifelong positive attitudes about exercise and living a more active life.
1. Let's get creative
De chirren tired of de ole, beat up ball and broken hula hoop.
I've taught at schools that have unicycles for riding, gigantic tyres for crawling, tall monkey bars for climbing and an array of gear for basketball, tennis, football, table tennis and even frisbies. I've also taught at a school which only had a few broken hula hoops and a football.
I've found, though, that the more creative the schools got with their activities, the more engaged students were. The schools which treated P.E not just as a subject for one hour on Friday afternoons but those that brought the playground into the classroom had most success.
TIP: Look around your school. Which area has the most amount of traffic? Probably the entrance or near the cafeteria. In this area where children traverse often, we can put a simple challenge that is quick, varies in difficulty and has some element of competition.
*At one school, there were soft balls attached with strings to the ceiling at the entrance. Every time they passed, the students would try to hit the balls to the ceiling. They're being active for a few minutes extra every day without even knowing it.
Although at both schools, the kids used what they had to have fun, at the school with more challenges and options, the children are more active, are never just sitting around at playtime and generally are more busy playing which gives teachers more time for other matters .
We can be creative even with limited resources.
2. Reward with ACTIVITY not SNACKS
I taught at a school where we would reward the children on Fridays with KFC.
The nearby KFC branch would receive hundreds from our school every Friday as kids ordered their fried chicken, fries, cole slaw, corn, biscuits and cold Colas.
Knowing what I know now, I see the error of our ways. However...those were some damn good Fridays.
The children were hype to place their orders, we even saw changed behavior for fear of missing out on an amazing treat.
If we could direct that Friday KFC hype towards a few hours of activity, imagine the difference! It means that we have to make it a big deal, remind them of it and collaborate to be as creative as possible. 1000% HYPE! We must be enthusiastic about it to transfer that enthusiasm. Many teachers already do this but, can we make it better? Games time on steroids. Make this hour or two as entertaining as possible. This is their reward for a week of hard work as opposed to a box of fried food and a sugary drink.
3. Track it like its grades
We track their academic progress but how about putting that same energy into physical progress?
I was surprised when I asked a teacher here in Japan, what the sign on the front wall of the school in Japanese meant.
He said, " It's the school motto. It is 'strong mind, strong body, be kind.' "
None of my schools at home included emphasis on physical strength into their motto.
Let's set up charts that monitor running times and celebrae champions and improvers alike. Let's give awards. Let's watch videos with professional athletes, successful children in sports and popular feel-good clips which can serve to motivate them.
We want them to be sharp mentally but all of that brain power goes to waste if their bodies are allowed to deteriorate and just fall in line with the status quo of our country.
Let's do better.
So... do we just throw up our hands in defeat?
Nah.
Here are a few moves that I'd like to implement in my classroom to get my students moving more and instill lifelong positive attitudes about exercise and living a more active life.
1. Let's get creative
De chirren tired of de ole, beat up ball and broken hula hoop.
Google images
I've taught at schools that have unicycles for riding, gigantic tyres for crawling, tall monkey bars for climbing and an array of gear for basketball, tennis, football, table tennis and even frisbies. I've also taught at a school which only had a few broken hula hoops and a football.
I've found, though, that the more creative the schools got with their activities, the more engaged students were. The schools which treated P.E not just as a subject for one hour on Friday afternoons but those that brought the playground into the classroom had most success.
TIP: Look around your school. Which area has the most amount of traffic? Probably the entrance or near the cafeteria. In this area where children traverse often, we can put a simple challenge that is quick, varies in difficulty and has some element of competition.
*At one school, there were soft balls attached with strings to the ceiling at the entrance. Every time they passed, the students would try to hit the balls to the ceiling. They're being active for a few minutes extra every day without even knowing it.
Although at both schools, the kids used what they had to have fun, at the school with more challenges and options, the children are more active, are never just sitting around at playtime and generally are more busy playing which gives teachers more time for other matters .
We can be creative even with limited resources.
2. Reward with ACTIVITY not SNACKS
I taught at a school where we would reward the children on Fridays with KFC.
Google images
I'm sorry CEC!The nearby KFC branch would receive hundreds from our school every Friday as kids ordered their fried chicken, fries, cole slaw, corn, biscuits and cold Colas.
Knowing what I know now, I see the error of our ways. However...those were some damn good Fridays.
The children were hype to place their orders, we even saw changed behavior for fear of missing out on an amazing treat.
If we could direct that Friday KFC hype towards a few hours of activity, imagine the difference! It means that we have to make it a big deal, remind them of it and collaborate to be as creative as possible. 1000% HYPE! We must be enthusiastic about it to transfer that enthusiasm. Many teachers already do this but, can we make it better? Games time on steroids. Make this hour or two as entertaining as possible. This is their reward for a week of hard work as opposed to a box of fried food and a sugary drink.
3. Track it like its grades
Google images
We track their academic progress but how about putting that same energy into physical progress?
I was surprised when I asked a teacher here in Japan, what the sign on the front wall of the school in Japanese meant.
He said, " It's the school motto. It is 'strong mind, strong body, be kind.' "
None of my schools at home included emphasis on physical strength into their motto.
Let's set up charts that monitor running times and celebrae champions and improvers alike. Let's give awards. Let's watch videos with professional athletes, successful children in sports and popular feel-good clips which can serve to motivate them.
We want them to be sharp mentally but all of that brain power goes to waste if their bodies are allowed to deteriorate and just fall in line with the status quo of our country.
Let's do better.
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