CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) released a new report, entitled The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance, on April 14, 2010. The report indicates that school-based physical activity may help improve students’ grades and test scores and positively affect other factors that influence academic achievement. The report also concludes that adding time during …

Contributed by JC Boushh Since 1990, 40 percent of the nation’s 16,000 school districts have either modified, deleted, or are considering deleting recess from the daily elementary school schedule due to increased pressure from numerous sources to improve achievement. (American Association for the Child’s Right to Play, 2000)As schools, administrators, and teachers feel the ever-growing pressure to meet academic test scores and No Child Left Behi…

A recent gallop poll shows that principals support recess and feel it improves learning, concentration, and childrens' ability to focus on academics. The study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Playworks comes at a time that many districts are cutting recess and physical education programs due to wide spread school financial budget deficits.

The poll indicated:
1. 80 percent of school principals said they've seen proof …

Sharon Murray, the president of the Rocky Mountain Center for Health Promotion and Education, pointed out that states with “health-supporting policies” – things like minimum health and physical education requirements, an emphasis on healthy nutrition standards, funding for school-based health clinics and other student services – tend to have higher test scores and lower dropout rates than states that don’t.

“So my recommendation for action is, …

Contributed by JC Boushh East Providence Elementary School, Rhode Island eliminates recess for its elementary students to make time for a more comprehensive physical education program. In laymen’s terms out with free-play and in with Marine Corp. calisthenics. National statistics on recess indicate that approximately 50% of children are not getting recess in the United States public school system. Some of the reasons given for eliminating recess…

I ran across this interesting article from the Huffington Post called,
Attention Deficit Disorder: Ritalin Or Recess?

It explores the relationship between recess and ADHD and reviews the CDC report that I referred to in my blog on April 20.

You might remember that I referred to the April 15 release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new report on school-based physical activity and its association with academic performance.

Th…

Contributed by JC Boushh A recent article on The Many Benefits of Recess in Schools cites the Council on Physical Education for Children position paper on the crucial role recess plays in school academics. Recess allows children to take a break from the pressure of academics and allows them to practice major life skills; conflict resolution, cooperation, respect for rules, taking turns, sharing, using language to communicate, and problem solving…

Newsletter Link:  http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs125/1101617897150/archive/1116809709223.html
Just Released.  Play Nice News & Grants Newsletter.  This month includes:
Brain Break Resources WebpageDisney TRYit Activities5210 Let's Go Motor Break CardsGreeley Break CardsActive Academics

U.S. Map Stencil Winners for March 2013
Donna Roark
Assistant Principal
James Ellis Elementary
Niles, MI 49120

Joy Van Horn,
Physical Education Teacher
E…

Daily exercise for three months can improve the brain function of overweight children, according to a new study of 200 overweight, inactive 7- to 11-year-olds that was presented this week at The Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting. "We hope these findings will help persuade policymakers, schools and communities that time spent being physically active enhances, rather than detracts from learning," said the study's lead i…

More time on the playground.

Children who are enrolled in play-oriented preschools do not have a disadvantage. In fact, there were neither short-term nor long-term advantages of early academics versus play, and there were no distinguishable differences by first grade.

More on Preschools that emphasize play.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert=Rae_Pica

There seems to be a buzz recently about physical activity and better "test taking" performance. One such example is an article in the Twin Cities Pioneer press which reported that: "Moving around improves kids' literacy scores."

The article about Farmington Middle School East, said staff members have implemented the "Literacy Education in the Active Domain" to help students who struggle with reading. The LEA…

Contributed by JC Boushh The Cincinnati Enquirer recently posted an article “More Students Feel Lunchtime Crunch” investigating the growing issue of shortened school lunch times. Inquiries to parents throughout the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area showed a consensus among parents that many school lunch periods had been shortened by as much as 10 minutes. Students complained that there was not enough time for them to get in line to r…

Texas fitnessgram test results reveal a correlation between physically fit students and academic test scores. The findings, physically fit students score better on academic performance tests, have fewer discipline problems and better attendance records come as no surprise to educators. The correlation was first identified in CA approximately 6 years ago where student test scores reveal students in healthy fitness zones on California's Fit…

With the implementation of the Federal 'No Child Left Behind' regulations schools have been eliminating both physical education and recess citing the need for extended periods of instruction emphasizing math and reading skills. However, that may soon change. Results from a study released on April 2 indicates that a small but significant benefit for academic achievement in mathematics and reading was observed for girls enrolled in high…

I read an article today that definitely fits into the "pretending not to know what we know" category identified by esteemed educational researcher Carl Glickman. Such was the title of an article by Glickman in the early 80's . I think his reasoning is still applicable today.... Consider the story below.

In San Diego, CA Physical Education teacher Jessica Casilla encourages students to, "Come walk. Come on, warm up that body…

The "Texas Youth Fitness Study," provides an in-depth analysis and evaluation of data collected through the state-mandated health-related fitness testing of all public school children in Texas in grades 3 through 12.

A key finding was the link between higher physical fitness test achievement is related to higher state academic test scores and higher attendance, fewer negative school incidents.

Reliability and validity of large-scale te…

The recess movement in Orange County, Florida is growing and even received national attention yesterday when The Today Show put out an elementary recess survey.

The national survey shows that 99% of adults participating in the survey favor elementary school recess.  End of subject?  Not quite.  Parents in nearby Lake County have taken to the streets to join in the protest over the lack of recess at their schools.

The benefits of recess are well…

There’s no denying it. Childhood obesity is a public health problem. So what role should public schools play in the solution?

Clearly, the elimination of junk food and sodas on campus is a great first step. Most schools across the nation seem to have jumped on this bandwagon. However, the selling of candy for school fundraisers remains a challenge. I spoke recently to a representative from the National Fundraising Association who assured me…

For Christmas my daughters (25yrs & 27 yrs old) ask for the Nintendo Wii with the balance boards and fitness additional components. I figured it couldn't hurt. For my granddaughter I got a Smart Cycle. I don't ever endorse products but since these were so close to home I thought I'd share some research on these and other electronic games which aim to improve fitness.

Popular exergames include Nintendo Wii, Dance Dance Revolution…

Physical fitness scores and academic achievement seem to go hand-in-hand in yet another study. Statewide testing in California and Texas indicated the important relationship between fit kids and higher test scores. Now New York City has been added to the rapidly growing list.

Physically fit students tend to outscore their peers who are less-fit on academic tests, according to a new report from New York City’s Health Department and Department of …