Kin 355 Aron Newsletter j6r6a

AUGUST 2016

THE 5A MONTHLY News & Happenings from Miss Aron’s Classroom Oak Elementary School, Room 23 Email: [email protected]

Focus on Physical Activity & Academic Performance:

Classroom Events

Introduction  August 30th: “Meet My Family & I” Sheet Due

 September 5th: Labor Day (No

What does concentration, memory, classroom behavior, and self-esteem have to do with physical activity (PA)? Well, according to many studies, PA benefits many parts of your child’s regular daily life! In class this past week, we have started to talk

School)

 September 7th: Curriculum Night  September 14th: Field Trip to Uncle John’s Cider Mill

What’s Happening in the Classroom?  Reading: Short Stories by Various Authors

about how a healthy and active lifestyle can help a student’s school performance. For example, the increasing trend of overweightness and obesity in children poses serious health issues. The risk of heart disease and high blood pressure increases, while cognitive development is negatively impacted (Castelli, Glowacki, Barcelona, Calvert, & Hwang, 2015, p. 1). On the other hand, PA positively impacts cognitive development. The brain helps in learning as it does important functions like retrieve stored memory, which helps students recall information. As a tie-in to demonstrate the importance of maintaining healthy habits, I

 Writing: Persuasive Essays

have led students through class lessons that involve light PA to get the blood

 Math: Multiplication Tables

pumping throughout the school day! Over the next few monthly newsletters, I will

 Science: Health & Nutrition

provide more information on PA’s impact on academic success. Look forward to

 Social Studies: American

briefs on:

Revolution

 Physical education  PA during the school day  PA after the school day  Importance of walking

Melissa: 8/5 Kyle: 8/22

SEPTEMBER 2016

THE 5A MONTHLY News & Happenings from Miss Aron’s Classroom Oak Elementary School, Room 23 Email: [email protected]

Classroom Events

Focus on Physical Activity & Academic Performance: Physical Education

 September 5th: Labor Day (No School)

In fifth grade, your child is getting physical education (PE) 3 days a week for

 September 7 : Curriculum Night

40 minutes. Across the state and the country, however, youngsters are in PE for less

 September 14th: Field Trip to Uncle

and less time. The current trend for PE programs in schools is that many programs

th

John’s Cider Mill  September 30th: Health Logs Due

What’s Happening in the Classroom?  Reading: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes  Writing: Persuasive Essays  Math: Multiplication Methods  Science: Health & Nutrition  Social Studies: American Revolution Skits

are being eliminated at a certain grade and daily participation in programs decreases over the grades (Coe, Pivarnik, Womack, Reeves, & Malina, 2006, p. 1515). This means that out of the 6 to 8 hours that elementary students are in school, they are getting little scheduled PE, so less time for physical activity (PA). During the time for PE, less than half of it is on moderate to vigorous PA*, which as covered earlier, are the levels needed to cognitive functions and academic success. To conclude, studies have even noticed that “increased time devoted to physical education does not decrease academic achievement” (Donnelly & Lambourne, 2011, p. 38). So why do students need PE in the schools?  PA allows for “increased arousal and reduced boredom” (Coe et al., 2006, p. 1515)  Increased concentration from activities involving coordination  Increased attention span  Improved cognitive ability  Releases beneficial hormones like endorphins and dopamine  Generates energy that can be directed positively toward academic performance *Health guidelines recommend 20 minutes/day for at least 3 days/week for vigorous PA & 30 minutes/day for at least 5 days/week for moderate PA

Ali: 9/2 Michelle: 9/8 Shreya: 9/15 Dave: 9/21

OCTOBER 2016

THE 5A MONTHLY News & Happenings from Miss Aron’s Classroom Oak Elementary School, Room 23 Email: [email protected]

Classroom Events

Focus on Physical Activity & Academic Performance: Physical Activity during the School Day

 October 10th: Columbus Day (No School)

 October 20th: Meet the Artist  October 31st: Halloween Party

Within the six hour school day, there are many ways that kids can get physically active beyond just during physical education. In fact, it is often the case that “providing physical activity for students is in line with schools’ academic mission” (Castelli, Glowacki, Barcelona, Calvert, & Hwang, 2015, p. 2). Teachers generally are “willing to integrate physical activity into grade level-specific lessons” (Castelli et al., 2015, p. 3). This increases a child’s weekly amount of physical activity (PA), which has

What’s Happening in the Classroom?  Reading: Analyzing Pink and

health benefits—then, due to this PA, attentiveness can increase, which helps in classroom productivity. Even after just one session of PA, “children can increase their attention and memory, and reduce inappropriate behavior” (Castelli et al., 2015, p. 3) which allows for a more focused class time.

Say by Patricia Polacco  Writing: Peer Editing Stories  Math: Word Problems  Science: Digestive System  Social Studies: Civil War

http://bit.ly/1UWCouX

I have been teaching classroom lessons while incorporating PA, due to the Joyce: 10/2 Kiki: 10/5 Sam: 10/25

health and academic benefits shown through research. Many of my lessons are inspired by the program Physical Activity Across the Curriculum (PAAC). The program has seen significant improvements made in reading, math, and spelling scores by students in PAAC classrooms. By replicating their curriculum ideas, I hope to grow the academic performance of your child even more!

NOVEMBER 2016

THE 5A MONTHLY News & Happenings from Miss Aron’s Classroom Oak Elementary School, Room 23 Email: [email protected]

Classroom Events

Focus on Physical Activity & Academic Performance: Physical Activity after the School Day

 November 1st: Dia de los Muertos Event

Physical activity (PA) has been incorporated into our school through active

 November 11 : Veterans Day (No th

School)

academic lessons and physical education classes. While this contributes to improving student health and class performance, research suggests that after school and

 November 17th: Meet the Artist

weekend PA programs are optimal to higher academic performance. The amount of

 November 23rd-25th: Thanksgiving

vigorous exercise needed to impact academics is found in programs like FITKids or

Break (No School)

extracurricular sports. As Coe, Pivarnik, Womack, Reeves, and Malina (2006) remark, children who either performed some or met Healthy People 2010 guidelines for

What’s Happening in the Classroom?  Reading: Book Reports  Writing: Narrative Essays  Math: Division Methods  Science: Circulatory System  Social Studies: 19th Century America

vigorous activity had significantly higher grades than students who did not perform vigorous activity. If you are looking for ways to get your child involved in sports, I would recommend reviewing your park district’s program guide or looking online for local sports clubs! What are some ways that extracurricular PA can benefit academics?  Students in FITKids report improved working memory  Team sports can increase a student’s task orientation  Team sports can lead to a higher retention rate  Team sports can lead students to “a greater engagement with their institution” (Trudeau & Shephard, 2008, p. 7)

Sasha: 11/5 Rhea: 11/7 Ben: 11/15 Alex: 11/22 Mia: 11/28

 Sports have both significant physical and mental benefits! They can lead to more motivation both in school and in life

DECEMBER 2016

THE 5A MONTHLY News & Happenings from Miss Aron’s Classroom Oak Elementary School, Room 23 Email: [email protected]

Classroom Events

Focus on Physical Activity & Academic Performance: Walking

 December 5th-9th: Book Fair  December 15th: Meet the Artist  December 21st: Holiday Party  December 24th-January 8th: Holiday Break (No School)

In the Healthy People 2010 guidelines, which outlines ways to prevent certain health risks and sets public health goals for schools, it points out the benefit of walking to school (McKenzie & Kahan, 2008, p. 173). Walking is the ultimate physical activity (PA) because it is a low aerobic exercise that has many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, decreasing the risk of heart disease, and increasing weight loss. Your fifth grader has low aerobic capacity, so walking is an

What’s Happening in the Classroom?  Reading: Book Club Presentations

appropriate PA since it is low impact, low intensity, but high volume and can burn lots of calories! A great way to track walking is by using pedometers. These are a valid and reliable way to record steps—our classroom has enjoyed using them during physical education (PE) class! In addition to the health benefits of walking, this PA can contribute to

 Writing: Peer Editing Narratives

academic performance. The aerobic exercise of walking helps to “improve the

 Math: Creating Math Problems

cognitive control of attention…increasing attention and academic performance”

 Science: Respiratory System

(Hillman et al., 2009, p. 1044), as shown through improved reading comprehension

 Social Studies: 19th Century

assessments taken after exercising. Walking to or from school, during PE, and during

America

PA breaks throughout the school day can thus benefit our students and prepare them for better success in the classroom! Some fun ways to walk at home:  Dog walk  Nature walk  I Spy walk

Elise: 12/2 Lea: 12/10 Matthew: 12/13

References Castelli, D. M., Glowacki, E., Barcelona, J. M., Calvert, H. G., & Hwang, J. (2015). Active education: Growing evidence on physical activity and academic performance. Active Living Research, 1-5. Retrieved from activelivingresearch.org/sites/default/files/ALR_Brief_ActiveEducation_Jan2015.pdf Coe, D. P, Pivarnik, J.M., Womack, C. J., Reeves, M. J., Malina, R. M. (2006). Effect of physical education and activity levels on academic achievement in children. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1515-1519. Retrieved from wafapower.com/scienceresearch/PE_academic_achievement.pdf Donnelly, J. E., & Lambourne, K. (2011). Classroom-based physical activity, cognition, and academic achievement. Preventive Medicine, 52, 36-42. Retrieved from sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743511000491 Hillman, C. H., Pontifex, M. B., Raine, L. B., Castelli, D. M., Hall, E. E., & Kramer, A. F. (2009). The effect of acute treill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children. Neuroscience, 159(3), 1044-1054. Retrieved from sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452209001171 McKenzie T. L., & Kahan, D. (2008). Physical activity, public health, and elementary schools. The Elementary School Journal, 108(3), 171-180. Retrieved from jstor.org/stable/10.1086/529100 Trudeau, F., & Shephard, R. J. (2008). Physical education, school physical activity, school sports and academic performance. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5(10), 1-12. Retrieved from ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-5-10