Adventure to Fitness - America's #1 Educational Fitness Program for Kids

Calling all elementary school teachers - this is something you definitely are going to want to check out!

Adventure to Fitness is a FREE educational fitness program for students. Check out this video to learn more about the program.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!  I used this many times with my students last year when events were going on in the gym and I had to push into classrooms.

Students Need Recess

A fellow classmate of mine passed along an article to me that I thought deserved some attention.

Despite Benefits, Recess for Many Students Is Restricted

State Senator of New Jersey, Shirley K. Turner, has proposed a bill that would require schools to implement 20 minutes of recess. This may not seem like a lot of time, but it is when your school doesn't make anytime.
The article points out obstacles that many schools face with recess - not enough staffing, no time in the academic schedule, the potential for behavior issues between students, etc. What is great about these obstacles is with a little creative thinking by the school administration and teamwork amongst educators, these problems can be eliminated. There shouldn't be any excuses! Students need recess. 

Check out these two articles regarding this topic:

Pediatricians say kids need recess during school

The Rebirth of Recess

If You're a Kid.....

I think many elementary PE teacher's would agree, teaching kindergarten has it's challenges. Students this young are in the early stages of learning social skills, understanding their bodies, and developing communication skills. Playing music can help these developing skills and really get the kids movin' and groovin'! They (we), find the music to be motivating, fun, and encouraging.

My favorite songs to play are the ones where students have to listen to directions as they move.

Here is an example:

We Need More Physical Education in Schools

Dr. Thom McKenzie explains why it's so important for children to have quality Physical Education in school and how caring adults can support it. Designed especially for parents, teachers, school board members and administrators.

Kids and Exercise: How much is enough?

At some point in the beginning of my fitness unit, I ask my students how much time they should spend exercising every day to keep their body fit and strong. As one could imagine, I get all sorts of answers! When I finally reveal the answer, I sometimes see shocked looks or hear gasps. Our discussion then turns to what kind of exercise makes up for that time.  We talk about climbing the monkey bars out on the playground during recess, riding our bikes after school, playing tag with a neighbor, or even walking to school.  Most students then realize, maybe they aren't so far from that number of minutes.

This week I want to ask my readers....

How much physical activity do children need?

Find out the answer here!

Shape of the Nation

NASPE's infograph based on the findings of the 2012 Shape of the Nation Report. 

  Which fact intrigues you the most? 

Examining Generational Differences

This blog entry is in response to a professor’s prompt: “As educational technologists, what did you take away from these generational differences readings? How would you handle a colleague who bought into the notion of digital natives?” 

 

View Professor Barbour’s Blog with prompt here. 

 

The readings included:

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants – Part II: Do they really think differently? On the Horizon, 9(6). Retrieved from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

McKenzie, J. (2007). Digital nativism: Digital delusions and digital deprivation. From Now On, 17(2). Retrieved from http://fno.org/nov07/nativism.html

Reeves, T.C. (2008). Do generational differences matter in instructional design? Online discussion presentation to Instructional Technology Forum from January 22-25, 2008 at http://it.coe.uga.edu/itforum/Paper104/ReevesITForumJan08.pdf

The order I read the readings was in the order shown above.  In prior graduate school class, we were assigned a reading by Prensky when studying the topic of Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants.  Prensky’s article makes sense to me mainly because I categorize myself in the Digital Native group. Although the technology used during my schooling in the 1990s looks way different than it does now, it was still present.  We had a computer class that we attended and teachers used different types of media to support their lessons.  Many of my teachers I would classify under Digital Immigrants, and I must admit, I work with teachers today who would also be in that group too.  A big different between then and now is many forced to change.  

  

I think what I took away most from the readings was from the Digital nativism: Digital delusions and digital deprivation.  McKenzie makes you think twice about how quickly you had agreed with Prensky’s ideas of the digital world.  Mckenzie nitpicks several claims in Prensky’s article – mostly all revolving around the lack of evidence Prensky used to support his claims.  The one claim that surprised me the most was Prensky citing the name of the doctor incorrectly for one of the studies used about brain structures, and also not citing that doctor’s work. I don’t know if this would have even crossed a reader’s mind if not for McKenzie’s findings.  Although McKenize basically finds Prensky’s article insulting, I don’t know if I can agree with that feeling.  Maybe if I was from a different generation or if I was being categorized as Digital Immigrant, I might have some resentment towards Prensksy.  I wonder what generation McKenzie is from considering how much steam was released in his article.

Most of my colleagues have or are in the process of understanding and teaching to the Digital Native. I see the younger generation of teachers at my school using technology constantly in their lessons whether it is by the use of their white boards, bringing their classes to the computer lab for assignments, or using ActiVotes for classroom discussions.  The teachers who are still adapting to technology show frustration at times, but do see the benefits with using different technology tools, and therefore do not give up.