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Showing posts with label after school activity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label after school activity. Show all posts

Monday, May 23, 2022

Build Better Behavior with Running

Perhaps you’ve had this happen to you as a kid, or maybe to one of your own children: after forgetting to complete your homework or throwing a little tantrum in the classroom, you were denied recess time. Instead of enjoying recess time, you were forced to sit quietly at your desk and complete schoolwork. 

It’s quite a common practice for teachers and administrators to deal with unruly behavior.  In fact, a 2006 study from the CDC confirmed that a whopping 81.5 percent of elementary schools allowed faculty to exclude students from recess as a form of punishment.This probably stems from the misconception that kids running around during recess rewards the student for improper behavior. 

However, this disciplinary method is counterproductive—and can cause even more difficulties in the classroom. To see fewer of these issues, get kids running. You read that right, and to be clear, we are not suggesting using running as a form of punishment. 

It makes sense. The more kids exercise and run, the more energy they burn—allowing them to reenter the classroom with a fresher, calmer mindset. In 2010, researchers conducted a study on elementary school children, comparing kids’ behavior in class on recess and non-recess days. Without a doubt, the students were more on task and less fidgety during the recess days. Jarrett and her colleagues also noted all the children with ADD benefited from the exercise. 2 

Additionally, a separate study in 2019 examined student behavior in the classroom after implementing a run club program. The results showed that classroom behavior significantly improved after participating in the run club—the results were a difference that was “not seen prior to the start of the program.” The researchers went on to conclude that physical activity can decrease disruptive activity in the classroom. 

This isn’t surprising. Our customers have repeated this since the 1990s. A Mileage Club during recess reduces playground hassles and allows kids to run off their energy so they can settle down and more effectively learn. 

Besides getting much-needed exercise and physical activity, run clubs also promote social interaction between peers, provide brain breaks after studying long and hard, and encourage kids to get creative and use their imaginations. But above all else, be reassured that a fun and engaging run club like Mileage Club also helps kids rein in their emotions and behavioral outbreaks. 

If you aren’t running yet, don’t you think your school could benefit to improve in this area? 


Monday, April 8, 2019

Kilometre Club Spotlight

Mileage Club® is the #1 Run Club for kids in North America. But have you ever wondered how our Canadian neighbors, who use the metric system, run a Mileage Club? We talked to Claudine Lukawesky in Toronto, Ontario who was happy to share information about her school’s Kilometre Club (KC)!

"Kilometre Club was started at our school, Northlea EMS, approximately 10 years ago! It started as a pre-practice to help students prepare for Track & Field tryouts, but quickly became a Club for any child. Our school has approximately 800 students from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8. It is French Immersion, English, and Developmentally Delayed tracked."

"KC is run solely with parent and student volunteers, although we have staff members present for liability reasons. We only purchase our goods through Fitness Finders® due to safety reasons – we like that you make your products with no lead in the chains or plastic charms, and that you now offer the safe LaceLink™ Lanyards."

"We always start KC on a Wednesday so we can make reminder announcements on Monday and Tuesday. (Many people would forget if we started on a Monday. ðŸ˜Š) KC “runs” for 13 mornings from 8-8:30, always ending on a Friday."

"Students are encouraged to run, walk, hop – we’ve even had kids in wheelchairs being pushed – around our 200 metre track. Every time they go around the track, they receive a popsicle stick. When I ring my cowbell at 8:30, students finish the lap they’re on and head to the “Attendance Table” where we record their number of sticks under their classroom teacher’s name. We do this for two reasons: to track the number of kilometres and to track KC attendance. At the end of the 13 days, the class with the most attendance wins a pizza lunch!"

"After the Attendance Table, students head over to the “Charm Table,” and pick out one charm for their bracelet. It doesn’t matter how many laps they’ve completed, all the children receive one charm per day of participation. This is done because we want ALL kids to participate and feel equal. Not everyone is an elite athlete, but at Kilometre Club you are treated like an athlete! We are just so proud of the effort from all the kids and want to focus on that instead of making it all about competition. Although, we do still encourage competition within yourself – and to get your class to participate to win the pizza lunch!"  

"I have had so many parents thank me because of how our program has made their child feel included. Knowing that one charm is given out per day of participation, and not by number of laps, makes children feel so special that they are happy to come out for exercise. We have had kids with anxiety issues, and doing Kilometre Club before school helps them feel more relaxed. Children with ADD/ADHD burn off some extra energy so they can focus better in class."

"I'm going into my 10th year of Kilometre Club, and each year it is an honour to have kids in the neighbourhood see me and come thank me for doing this program that they look forward to every year! Benefits of KC are that children are encouraging one another to participate; they are completing laps with friends; and, the older grades get to do a lot of the organizing and help out with the younger grades. Thanks to Fitness Finders for making safe products that encourage children to be active and do something!!"

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Customer Profile - Betty Kern: Physical Education Teacher


Fitness Finders® Customer Profile: 

Betty Kern, MS, CSCS

Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, 2017


"I teach Physical Education to 4th - 6th graders at 
Schrop Intermediate School in the Springfield Local School District 
just south of Akron, Ohio." 





What's Been a Highlight of Your Teaching Career?

"A highlight of my teaching career came just recently after being awarded the Ohio Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  My school had a surprise assembly for me.  They decorated the gym with running shoes that the students had colored and written messages on.  In addition, our custodian made me a larger than life running woman for the gym.  Every student in the school also wrote me a letter...all 570 of them!  These letters are so touching and demonstrated to me that the students learn and absorb so much more than I'd ever imagined.  At the assembly, 28 students read aloud their letters to me in front of the whole school.  It was an amazing, moving moment and one that I will never forget!"


What's Your Favorite Teaching Tip?

"My favorite teaching tip is to remember that what you are teaching your students today could be brand new to them!  It might be the first time they have ever experienced that topic, skill, activity, etc.  Remember how hard it is to learn something new.  Teach it to them as if they have never seen it before.  Be patient and be willing to slow down and make sure everyone understands. The extra time will pay huge dividends!"


How Do You Use Fitness Finders® Products?

"Fitness Finders® Awards are used in our Running Clubs throughout the year.  Students earn a Sneaker for every 50 points they earn and every 5 miles they run during a running club season.  Each week students look forward to receiving their awards! Many students ask to run extra laps to earn extra points so ultimately they can earn extra Sneaker Awards!

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd charms are also used for grade awards at the club races. 
Fitness Finders® Awards are also used at our "all school" races held during the school day.  If a student improves his/her mile time, then an award is given.  For example, Turkey Awards are used for the Turkey Trot, Snowflake Awards for the Winter Fun Run, etc.  One child last year said that was the first award he'd ever earned in school! He was so excited!  

Fitness Finders® Walker Awards are used in Morning Walking Club when students reach various mile levels.  

Lastly, we use the EZ Scan® App for our walking club and for our upcoming Mile Tracker Challenge."


Fitness Finders® appreciates Betty Kern's support and commitment to excellence.