A brand new place just for teens was the final step in completing the Tony Bettenhausen Recreation Center addition. “The Pit Stop” Teen Drop-in Center has a brand new look post-construction, as the new room in the bottom level of the Rec Center is now open and ready to welcome new teens in grade 6-12 to come hang out with…
As childhood obesity grows, steps taken to get kids moving Eighth Street Elementary School student Aubree Grubbs furiously peddled a stationary bicycle one recent evening at the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center. Holding a video game controller, Aubree looked up at a television screen and guided a bicycle along a virtual course. The 6-year-old was not there just to get…
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…
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…
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…
We always tell our customers that the products and solutions we provide serve more than just one population. In a school setting, a PE class, fitness class, special needs kids, and the sports teams can all get a tremendous benefit from the Exergame products. The key is how they use them for each population. Below is a great article from…
By Dan Lawler, Ph.D. Education Consultant Exercise 4 Learning The NeuroActive BrainBike™ is an exercise bike that trains the body and brain for fitness. The BrainBike™ was engineered by Dr. Stephane Bergeron, MD, president of Brain Center America (BCA), and a team of international brain specialists. It is designed to improve user’s memory, concentration, multitasking, and a complete range of mental…
It’s my annual Year in Review of Sierra Vista Jr. High’s Physical Education program. It has been a year to remember. So many exciting new partnerships and programs that we have added to continue in making our Physical Education program “PE Heaven”! August-December We fully implemented the Cardio GX System by Polar in our Fitness Center and in our Gym…
By Dan Lawler, Ph.D. Education Consultant Obesity is a health crisis in the United States, as well as in many other countries around the world. On average, an obese person in the U.S. will cost society over $6,000 a year in loss of productivity and medical treatment. There are many experts and organizations in this country dedicated to changing this…
By Dan Lawler, Ph.D. Education Consultant Exercise4Learning™ As an elementary principal one of the most exciting interventions I have ever experienced was the implementation of our Exergaming® lab. Our school, not unlike many across America, had a minimal amount of minutes that students were receiving physical education. As a community, because of financial reasons, we saw little opportunity to increase…
By Dan Lawler, Ph.D. Education Consultant Exercise4Learning, LLP As an elementary principal for over 30 years, I have witnessed many strategies and techniques that influence student motivation to get fit. Motivation, as we know, can be induced artificially – i.e. fear, candy, rewards, etc. – but the effects are temporary. There is no substitute for the real thing – intrinsic…
Ever since the Commission on Excellence in Education published the Nation at Risk in 1983, school systems across America have been racing to improve academic performance. Over the years this issue has become a major political priority. Simply put, both parties had their ideas about how to reform public education. Both sides of the political spectrum have raised credible arguments…
