Last Friday, I had the opportunity to hear several researchers with ties to the physical education and physical activity field at the DuPage County Institute in Naperville, Illinois. Dr. Dale Brown (Illinois State University) first spoke about Enhanced Physical Education, where he presented correlations of health-related fitness data to academic achievement. He repeatedly stressed the importance of collecting this data locally to further identify the added value of physical education to academics and learning. Dr. Brown mentioned that while it is the physical fitness scores that correlate to academic achievement, we should not be using absolute fitness scores for standardized grading purposes. However, he did see the importance of creating learning standards to teach and assess students with setting personal fitness goals, creating a personal fitness plan, and monitoring progress. He believed it was also appropriate to grade improvement.

Dr. John Ratey was the next speaker on my agenda. Dr. Ratey, a neuroscientist and author of Spark - The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, gave a convincing presentation about how exercise and physical activity help develop the frontal cortex of the brain, and prime it for learning. Ratey stated, “Kids who are fit have better memory due to a larger Hippocampus.” Ratey added, “Exercise affects the brain

system, the cellular environment, and new cell growth.” When I asked Ratey about the best type of exercise for developing the brain, he mentioned that any exercise, even strength training, is good for the brain, but the best was aerobic exercises with a coordination challenge. Ratey added that aerobic fitness scores correlate to improved IQ and cognitive test scores.

The final presenter I saw was Dr. Chuck Hillman, professor at University of Illinois (Urbana- Champaign). Dr. Hillman several conclusions from recent research supporting the importance of physical activity for brain growth in certain areas of the brain (i.e., Basal Ganglia & Hippocampus). Increased fitness correlates to increased brain matter. Hillman stated that even single bouts of exercise for 20 minutes can have positive effects on the working memory. Hillman concluded, “Higher fit kids can better recall complex memory tasks and better decision-making.”

HYP CALENDAR

March

4 Late Start PLC Day4 HPE CAT Meeting (4:30p)11 GYM Team Meeting (4:30p)

April

1 Late Start PLC Day2 HPE CAT Meeting (4:30p)8 GYM Team Meeting (4:30p)1-17 Fitness Testing Window (Elem/MS)

May

1-7 National PE & Sport Week3 Let’s Move in Parkway

Continued on next page

A great body of research supports the connection between physical activity and fitness in priming the brain for learning. Naperville School District, the host of the DuPage County Institute, along with Dr. Ratey, paved the way for integrating intervention

App of the Month

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with an interactive story book about the human body, Seuss-style. This app does cost $3.99 in the Apple App Store.

Articles of the MonthThe Parkway Health and Physical Education Program adopts many of the guidelines and position statements of our professional organization, SHAPE America (formerly the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance). Please take a moment and familiarize yourself with their position statement articles below found on the SHAPE America website (www.shapeamerica.org).

● PE is Critical to Educating the Whole Child● Code of Conduct for P-12 PE Teachers● CDC Executive Summary of BMI Measurements in Schools● Appropriate Uses of Fitness Measurement● Appropriate Use of Instructional Technology in PE● Position on Dodgeball in PE

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECT LINK

HPE LEADERSHIP

HPE Curriculum Action Team

Laura BeckmannEllen Donovan

John FinkKevin PettusBarb RussellAmy Sydnor

Kevin BueltemannAli Ghasedi

Nancy HesemannTeresa PolittePaulo Ribeiro

Jody ChambersTim Corteville

Dave McFarlandTerri O’LearyMatt Roach

MS Dept Chairs

Kevin BueltemannAli Ghasedi

Jeremy HouchinsCheryl MeadorTeresa Polite

HS Dept Chairs

Tim CortevilleChris Frankenfield

Sue KellerMatt Roach

Follow the Parkway HPE

Dept on Twitter

@rramspott

strategies of increasing standardized test scores by scheduling physical education and bouts of physical activity prior to prime episodes of learning in reading. The results were eye-opening. To learn more about the effects of exercise and the brain, be sure to read Spark - The Revolutionary Science of Exercise and the Brain, or John Medina’s Brain Rules. We, as physical educators, provide a unique role in our schools, developing both the body and the mind. It is important that we recognize the importance of developing student fitness, not only for the health outcomes (yes, there still is a childhood and adult obesity issue that needs addressing), but also for reducing the discrepancies in brain functioning as the result of low fitness.

Continued from Research Says article on page 1.

MARCH 2

The following information was shared by Sandy Noel (former NASPE Teacher of the Year) at the DuPage County Institute.

An Integrated Approach to PE and Common Core

● Provide a well-rounded education with meaningful experiences by implementing a variety of Multiple Intelligence strategies.

● Integrate and align with other subject areas, and create cross-curricular connections without compromising PE goals.

● Incorporate age-appropriate academic language and math concepts.

● Challenge all students at appropriate academic and motor levels.

● Reinforce listening, communication, and teambuilding skills within PE.

● Reinforce PE and wellness concepts by utilizing higher order thinking skills and ELA strategies.

● Use authentic assessments, along with rubrics with clear learning targets.

Implementing Common Core in PE

● Post PE and Health Standards, as well as student learning objectives.

● Utilize teambuilding and cooperative skills regularly in class.● Prepare station signs and pictures for students to read,

interpret, and follow.● Read books and have students perform movements.● Assign reading of fiction and non-fiction books, that relate to

PE topics.● Use math to form groups, perform tasks, and determine

performance.● Use equipment as math manipulatives.● Assess by integrating reading, speaking, writing, and

project-based learning: categorize, demonstrate, discuss, persuade, self-monitor, journal/log, pair-share, walk-talk, self-reflect and peer assess.

What’s on the HYP Website?

Journal Articles

HPE Library

Student Growth Assessment Info

Physical Fitness Assessment Info

Parkway HPE News Stories

HPE PLC Info

Common Core Articles and Info

PE Games & Activities

Check it out atwww.pkwy.info/ParkwayHYP

Easy ways to integrate common core:

Parkway is offering a wide variety of workshops this summer for certified staff professional growth opportunities. The summer opportunities are an excellent way for you to begin your Professional Learning Plan for 2015-16. Remember that Parkway requires its teachers to earn 3 credits every 3 years. Most of these summer course can be taken for credit or pay, but you must choose one or the other. The are many courses just for HPE teachers and many others offered across content areas. See the suggested courses below for HPE teachers, or see the recent email from Liz Morrison, Director of Professional Learning, for the complete summer course guide. Enroll for these courses on PEERS now as limited spots are available.

HPE Curriculum Development

Sexual HealthJune 8 - 16 (1:00 - 4:00p)

Health-Related FitnessJune 17 - 25 (1:00 - 4:00p)

July 21 (8:00a - 3:00p)Central High Commons

HPE Summer Workshop(Not listed in Course Guide)

Physical Education DayJuly 15 @ Parkway (8:00a - 3:00p)

Health Education DayJuly 22 @ Rockwood (8:00a - 3:00p)

Across Content Area Courses

UbD for Real PeopleJune 3 & July 22 (8:00a - 3:00p)Southwest Middle

Technology TuesdaysJune & July (See course guide for dates and descriptions)

Amanda StanecLive Move Learn

Jo BaileyHigh School PE Teacher (Wisconsin)

Naomi HartlSpark PE

Plus many other presenters and

vendors!

The 8th annual Let’s Move in Parkway event is scheduled for Sunday, May 3rd, at Creve Coeur Park. We hope all Parkway HPE teachers are able to join us and commit to working one of the shifts (11:30a-1:30p or 1:30-3:30p). We also need many other staff, parents, and students as event volunteers. For more information about LMIP 2015 and sign up as a volunteer, go to the event website at www.tinyurl.com/LMIP2015

Please help us promote LMIP 2015 at your school by posting signs and information around your school and in your school newsletter. Posters and signs will be delivered soon. The best thing you can do is promote it in your physical education classes and challenge your students in some way to attend, volunteer, and/or participate.

The Parkway Safe & Drug-Free Program is having a celebration night at Busch Stadium on Wednesday, August 29th, when the St. Louis Cardinals face the Philadelphia Phillies. Please consider purchasing a few tickets and joining us this night in support of our SADF program and students. Every ticket sold raises $13 for Parkway SADF. To order your tickets, go to www.tinyurl.com/sadfcelebration

Thanks to all of the Parkway HPE Programs that held a Jump Rope/Hoops for Heart event or Wear Red Day event at their school to support the American Heart Association is its’ efforts to combat Heart Disease. Below are some pictures from schools who held an event during February - American Heart Month.