Smith finds physical activity leads to more attentive students
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?I knew something had to change,? she said, ?but I didn?t know what to do.?
As Hickory Creek is one of three pilot sites for the school system?s Coordinated School Health Program, Smith sought the advice of program coordinator Mary Jane Paz. Soon after, Smith began a daily walking program for her class. In no time at all, she said, the program began paying dividends as her students became more health conscious, scored better on the TCAP tests and had fewer behavior problems.
The program was instituted in January with a 20-minute walk nearly every morning on the school?s nature trail. Walking was voluntary and each student was allowed to walk at his or her own pace. While most were excited about getting additional time outside, she said a few were less than enthusiastic about the physical activity.
One overweight boy, she said, even went so far as to lay down on the pavement, not wanting to continue. In time and with a little motivation, however, class participation reached 100 percent, with the boy in question leading his classmates.
Paz praised Smith?s program and said the need is acute for additional physical activity and health education in schools.
?Health and physical education has changed a lot over the past 20 years. Where elementary students used to go to P.E. every day, they now do so only twice a week at most elementary schools,? Paz said, adding during this same 20 years adolescent obesity rates have tripled.
But while programs such as Smith?s have numerous physical and academic benefits for students, Paz said teachers are often reluctant to devote time to anything other than academics. ?With the increase in accountability, teachers are under tremendous pressure not to take away from instructional time,? she said.
However, Smith noted with higher test scores she has found the time spent letting her students walk to be a prudent investment.
?When we would return to the classroom, the kids had gotten their wiggles out as well as their need to talk. Their behavior improved and they came back ready to learn for the rest of the day,? she said.