Asthe Physical Education Department Chair at Sierra Vista Jr. High School, ourPE program hosts PE Demonstrations for educators, principals,superintendents, and community leaders from all around the country to come andsee the “New PE”curriculum in action. The demonstrations are designed to getthem excited about the possibilities on how a comprehensive curriculum isimplemented on a daily basis and the variety of equipment that is used…
Those of us who were lucky enough to get one of thefirst video game systems and play the game Pong all remember playing long hourswith family and friends in the living room. Video games have come a long waysince then, but still require a lot of living room time, most likely on thecouch. This has led to very sedentarylifestyles for…
By Dan Lawler, Ph.D. This school year a Title I teacher in Colorado will beintegrating into her teaching both effective practices in literacy instructionand current research on how exercise prepares the brain for learning. She is a strong literacy teacher, longgrounded in strategies that have been supported by research in readinginstruction. This year she is excitedto add this new dimension…
New products like the Nexersys keep the Exergaming market fresh bycombining technology, games, and fitness. Exercise and getting a great workout does not need to be work, itdoes not need to be boring, it can be fun and engaging. All goodExergaming products will do this. Commercial grade Exergame products have been used for many yearsin health clubs and non-profit facilities…
One of the long standing professional strengths of educators is their willingness to share ideas and programs that are working with other teachers and principals. This professional courtesy has helped thousands of other schools and children to benefit from the original school’s hard work and success. For example, if a school is getting great results in reading the school and teachers…
The IMAGINE campaign began in 2007 when agroup of Grand Forks citizens started raising funds to build a new health andwellness facility and renovate the existing Family YMCA. Thanks to donors’ andbusiness sponsors’ vision and generosity, all residents can now benefit fromexceptional new health and fitness facilities. We have found nothing quite like it in the country. Today, this historicmovement…
Play games? Yes,playing games can improve your fitness and overall health. The AmericanMedical Association strongly supports prevention and wellness efforts topromote a healthy America, including the promotion of physical fitness, andactivity-based games (Exergames) offer a fun and engaging way for kids, adults,and seniors to increase their physical activity. Physical activityhas been shown to help reduce many health risks, including diabetes,…
By Joe Szydlowski The Gateway Unified School District governing board signed off on using federal grant funds on interactive exercise gaming equipment at its Wednesday night meeting. The equipment features games to encourage kids to move around, said Matt Diskin, program director for the Physical Education Program (PEP).He obtained the funds from a $1.2 million federal grant for the district…
Last year, I was offered the opportunity to test a new product,MOVE + by Motion Fitness. I was extremelyexcited for this and now fortunate enough to write about my experiences. I guess there is something to say about firstimpressions and by seeking professional developments when you are canattend. As a member of TEN (The Exergame Network) and an activeparticipant in…
By Dan Lawler Ph.D. Every teacher in every classroom eventually faces the dilemma of how to motivate the uninspired student. Often teachers look to utilizing positive rewards as a means to increase desired behaviors. Some traditional strategies, especially at the elementary level, include longer recess, special seats, positive phone call home, lunch with the teacher, and positive verbal feedback. Extrinsic…
Port Discovery Children’s Museum is ranked as one of the top 12 children’smuseums in the country by Forbes and offers three floors of educational,interactive exhibits and programs for children ages birth through ten years. All of the Museum’s programming aligns with the Maryland Model for SchoolReadiness and the state curriculum, with a focus on five core Platforms ofLearning: 1. EarlyChildhood Learning…
Most oftenwellness programs focus on improving employee fitness levels along withemphasizing good nutrition. Seldom isany specific attention given to retaining and improving the functions of thebrain. “A life-long commitment tostimulating brain activity contributes to quality of life, especially in thelater years. Exercises that promote brain health vary widely and include physicalactivities such as walking and intellectually stimulating activities. Amongother benefits, brain…
