No Recess in Syracuse?

You heard me, there will be no recess scheduled in Syracuse city schools this year.  On top of that you can bet that they don't have daily PE either as it is not mandated by the state DOE.

“If they are going to opt to do recess, they are going to be taking time from ELA (English language arts) and math, and that’s a choice I hope every teacher considers very carefully,” Kelley said.

They have obviously not read the latest on brain development, physical fitness and academics.

I spent a few days in March at Naperville, IL where PE, recess, and physical activity is paramount to learning for all, but especially for those with difficulty learning math, and reading (part of Common Core). These are the results for the Learning Readiness PE program over 5 years:

• Reading rose 1-2 grade levels
• Math scores increased 10-22%

Don't forget to get your resources for the benefits of exercise, fitness on academics at:

• NASPE Advocacy Toolkit - http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/advocacy/governmentRelations/toolkit.cfm
• Postion Statements http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/standards/PEPS.cfm 
• Let's Move in Schools - http://www.aahperd.org/letsmoveinschool/about/overview.cfm

One of the main authors of the brain study on youth who exercise is Chuck Hillman and you can find one of his papers here from the Nature journal "Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition"

Will You "Move Your Body" with Beyoncé?

Beyoncé reworked her 2007 song "Get Me Bodied" in part to support Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign to curb childhood obesity.  Will doing a song that encourages more physical activity be the start of something wonderful? I think its great that she was willing to help out, but this video is being supported by several national organizations, sadly neither AAHPERD or NASPE were part of this initiative despite having the Let's Move in School Campaign already underway:-(

According to the linked article, only National Association Of Broadcasters, the American Association Of School Administrators, the National Middle School Association, and the National School Boards Association.


[Source Yahoo! Music]

High intensity exercises reduce CVD risk factors better than aerobic activities in adolescent youth (study)

Image by Jett Loe via Flickr
Some questions for you:

• Do you provide activities that are of high intensity or do we primarily focus on moderate levels of activity?
• How might you take advantage of this new study and create more high intensity activities?
• How will you deal with the fact that children do not have high cardiovascular fitness levels and then you're asking them to work extra hard? 
• Do you know how the body (especially youth) responds to movement and the bioenergetics involved in exercise?  
• Have you taken EXS 387, EXS 397 prior to student teaching?  
• Do you think it's important to have this knowledge and skill set in human movement to be a great and transformative educator?

This article examines the effects of brief, intense exercise in comparison with traditional endurance exercise on both novel and traditional markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in youth.


The effects of time and intensity of exercise on novel and established markers of CVD in adolescent youth - Buchan - 2011 - American Journal of Human Biology


DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.21166


Related articles

• Better a sprint than a marathon: Brief intense exercise better than endurance training for CVD (physorg.com)
• Short, intense exercise can also improve heart health: study (canada.com)
• A quick sprint beats a long run when it comes to your health (dailymail.co.uk)

USDA Nutrition Guidelines 2010 (201)

The USDA announced previously the Dietary Guidelines for 2010 but they finally released the document that emphasizes a better balance of nutrition and physical activity (PA) along with a limiting in processed, high-fat, high-sugar, high-fat foods.

Image via WikipediaHow can you use these new guidelines in your programs to help your students be more physically educated and healthy for a lifetime? Please leave a comment below on how you might bring these guidelines into our St.Mary's experience so that the after-school students can learn and explore what the government recommends in terms of healthy living.

Press Release
Executive Summary
Selected Messages for Consumers
Backgrounder
Questions and Answers

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
(Policy Document)

Balancing nutrition, physical activity to avoid obesity is focus of new dietary guidelines [NEWS AND FEATURES]

nutritionguide2011

Related articles

• New U.S. Diet Guidelines: What Not to Eat (webmd.com)
• Dietary Guidelines Call for Eating Less (online.wsj.com)
• Eat Less, Eat Better, Exercise More - And Here's How (blogs.wsj.com)

America Supports You

Walk with us... Celebrate Freedom... and Remember
WHAT IS THE AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU FREEDOM WALK?
The America Supports You Freedom Walk is a national tradition that calls on people to reflect on the lives lost on September 11, 2001, remember those who responded, honor our veterans past and present, and renew our commitment to freedom and the values of our country. Each year the number of walks held throughout the nation grows, as more people are moved to participate.

The tradition was born when Pentagon employees, seeking a way to honor the victims of the attack on the Pentagon and their families, and pay tribute to those who responded to that attack as well as those who serve, organized a walk from the Pentagon to the National Mall. Nearly 15,000 people took part. Now, America Supports You Freedom Walks are taking place in communities across the nation. Last year 255 communities participated, and every state was represented, along with eight nations overseas.

Grammy-Winning Oak Ridge Boys to Perform After Freedom Walk - Video

Healthy Eating & PA: Addressing Inequities in Urban Environment

The Prevention Institute released a report in May 2007 entitled: Healthy Eating & Physical Activity: Addressing Inequities in Urban Environment. This document provides guidance for fostering the momentum for improving nutrition and physical activity elements of environments, particularly in socially and economically disadvantaged urban communities. Prevention Institute is a national center, based in Oakland, dedicated to improving community health and wellbeing by building momentum for effective primary prevention of illness and injury. The document can be found here http://www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/pdf/RWJNC.pdf

Physical Activity Guidelines 2008

On October 26, 2006, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the Department will develop comprehensive guidelines, drawn from science, to help Americans fit physical activity into their lives.

"Physical activity is vital to promote and maintain health, but it's easy for many of us to overlook," Secretary Leavitt said. "The physical activity guidelines will underscore the importance of physical activity to America's health and assist on the journey to a healthier life. Good health—wellness—doesn’t just happen. Wellness has to be a habit."

On October 26, 2006, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the Department will develop comprehensive guidelines, drawn from science, to help Americans fit physical activity into their lives.

"Physical activity is vital to promote and maintain health, but it's easy for many of us to overlook," Secretary Leavitt said. "The physical activity guidelines will underscore the importance of physical activity to America's health and assist on the journey to a healthier life. Good health—wellness—doesn’t just happen. Wellness has to be a habit."

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans will be issued in late 2008. The Physical Activity Guidelines will summarize the latest knowledge about activity and health, with depth and flexibility targeting specific population subgroups, such as seniors and children. This effort is inspired by President Bush's personal dedication to physical fitness and his desire that every American have access to science-based guidelines.

The development of the Physical Activity Guidelines will use a Federal Advisory Committee process. Information related to the guidelines development process can be found in this site.