Oscars Acceptance Speech: Fitness Finders Wants to Thank You!

If Fitness Finders, Inc. were to win an Oscar tonight, this is how our "Thank the Academy...” speech would go…

“Wow! What an incredible honor. Teachers, parents, school administration—Thank you all, we could not have done it without you. As you know, it takes a village to raise a child. 

Teachers

Thank you for sharing in our enthusiasm for helping kids develop positive habits. Our commitment to provide program incentives and curriculums falls short without your hard work and creativity. We applaud your efforts to create a cycle of excitement, motivation, and achievement for children by utilizing programs such as Mileage Club®, Pack-a-Snack®, and I Love to Read®. We love hearing about how you use tokens to teach and motivate your students. Every time that we work together, we are partnering for a better future.

Parents

You are a wonderful encouragement to your children! Thank you for affirming their efforts by asking to see their hard-earned tokens. A big thank you for setting a good example by eating healthy, exercising regularly, and reading with your kids. We could not do what we do without your impact in the home. 

School Administration

Thank you for investing in our mission to Shape America’s Future. Thank you for supporting your faculty’s passion, creativity, and dedication to children. You work for grants, take the time for purchase orders, do research, and endlessly hunt for funding. We recognize the challenges you face. 

Closing Remarks

It has been an incredible journey since our business started in 1969. One of our foundational beliefs is that early developed habits significantly influence lifelong potential. Thank you all for believing in our mission, and sharing in the joy of investing in our future leaders.”

How To Protect A Student’s Heart

By profession, teachers cultivate minds; but by imitation, they also cultivate overall health and 

fitness. Quintilian, a Roman rhetorician, once said, “It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.” Nurses may be the first, but teachers are among the most consistent voices children will hear.  Betty Lindquist, a 27 year experienced educator, said, “Students look up to us as role models, and we want to say the right things and help set them on a good path.”

The Cardiovascular State of Our Youth

Julia Steinberger, Director of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Minneapolis in Minnesota recently authored a journal statement for the American Heart Association. Steinberger said that poor diet and physical inactivity are the top two reasons for the weakening cardiovascular heath of today’s youth.

“About 91% of U.S. children have poor diets,” said Steinberger, “because they are consuming sugary foods and drinks.”

10 Ways to Influence Student’s Heart Health

In a previous blog post, we talked how to Protect A Teacher’s Heart. But part of an educator’s responsibility as a role model, beyond the curriculum, is to pass that heart healthiness on to their students. Here are some ideas:

1. Plan a faculty student lunch day, ensuring all faculty are on their best nutritional behavior.

2. Provide a heart supporting fitness curriculum such as Mileage Club®.

3. Utilize a heart healthy eating curriculum like Pack-A-Snack®.

4. Establish a faculty program, like the Mega Mileage Club®, to practice along with the students. Celebrate milestones together and share enthusiasm for physical activity.

5. Plant a school garden that students can volunteer to tend during break.

6. Award a “lunch of the week” to a student who brings the most vegetables in their lunch.

7. “Take brain breaks,” said Lindquist. “My students loved to move to educational songs like Dr. Jean.”

8. Enthusiastically share personal fitness accomplishments, like completing a 5k, walking around the block with your spouse, or lifting your heaviest weight.

9. Use number oriented exercises like weight lifting and jogging as an alternative way to teach math concepts (for example: If I lifted ____ lbs and added ____lbs to each side, how much am I lifting now?)

Set a good example – One adage says, “Actions speak louder than words.” You can explain an idea in words, but often it takes showing a concept for the habit to establish meaning. So don’t just tell students to eat healthy and exercise, show them.

Why Should I Care About Valentine's Day?

We know Valentine's day as a time to exchange gifts, celebrate romance, and express love. But 1,739 years ago, the Romans faced an entirely different situation.

The Emperor's Dilemma

According to History.com, Saint Valentine served in the Roman Empire in 278 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius II was confronted with a series of brutal wars, and struggled to put together an army large enough to face his challengers. There seemed to be little interest in the military, and Claudius blamed his men's loving dedication and loyalty to their families. In the emperor's mind, familial care was interfering with national advancement and security. To counteract the internal threat, Claudius II banned all marriages and engagements within his empire.

The Saint's Rebellion

Saint Valentine, considering the ruling unjust, continued to perform marriages in secret. He enabled a legal confirmation of love, and provided an opportunity for men to continue pursuing a life at home with their families.

The emperor was angered when he discovered Valentine’s disobedience, and promptly imprisoned the priest. Legend has it that Saint Valentine was befriended by his prison guard’s blind daughter, who may have provided the priest with food. He left her a note signed, "From your Valentine" before his execution on February 14^th.

Valentine was named a Saint after his death for his enduring beliefs. Could he also have been the first one to give a "Valentine"?

There is no definitive way to prove the origin of Valentine's Day. In fact, this is one of several Valentine's Day origin theories (the Catholic encyclopedia states that three St. Valentines were martyred on February 14^th).

The Holiday's Meaning

There are plenty of distractions that can keep us from each other. Whether it is your family, your classmates, your students, or your coworkers, hold the people in your life close and be thankful for the opportunity to serve them. Never let a day go by without intentional acts of love. A simple kind gesture, an encouraging word, or a walk in the park can improve anyone’s day. Intentionally set aside time in your life for the people you love, not just the things you do.

Protect a Teacher's Heart

Heart Month

In the month of February, the heart gets a lot of attention. Of course, there is the symbolic red heart, with its swooping, rounded top and pointed bottom. We see it everywhere as Valentine’s Day approaches. But what about the most important heart? The one that is inside of us.

The Heart of Fitness Finders

Here at Fitness Finders, heart healthiness is a major focus, stemming all the way back to the passion of our founder, Charles Kuntzleman. He even wrote about this in his book, “Instructors Guide for Feelin’ Good,” stating that regular exercise will make the heart stronger and more efficient. Exercise decreases resting heart rate, so the heart is not nearly as strained as we move through everyday life. That is why you will see a heart shaped eyelet in every Toe Token® in our Mileage Club® program.

The Heart of a Classroom

A passionate, encouraged, and supported teacher is like a healthy heart...
     Thump Thump — A kindergartener recites the alphabet
     Thump Thump — A fight is broken up
     Thump Thump — A first grader learns, “I’m sorry”
     Thump Thump — 30 research papers are graded, just in time for bed
But the pulse behind education can gradually weaken if the teacher's heart goes unprotected. "Those kids become ours in a way," said Betty Lindquist, an elementary school teacher with 27 years of experience. "We want to do everything right for them, and that can result in stress buildup."

Protecting a Teacher's Heart

"Teachers need support from administration, constant encouragement, and an outlet like exercise," said Betty. "I used to walk with other teachers to give us space and release the stress of the day, as well as encourage each other. "

Here are some other ideas of how you can reinforce a teacher’s heart’s defense:

• Anyone: Reconnect with a favorite teacher. Thank them for their influence on your life and update them on how you have put your education to work. 
• Kids: Say something nice to your teacher, at least once per week. 
• Parents: Send an encouraging email, thanking your child’s teacher for hard work. 
• Teachers: Establish support systems within your network of coworkers. Encourage each other and vent stress when necessary. Consider a structured fitness program like The Mega Mileage Club®, to keep you moving and working toward a goal together. 

"The heart of teaching will always be in me," said Betty. "There is nothing like seeing those light bulb moments and grounding students in the love of learning."