Be a 50 Million Strong by 2029 Champion - Part 3

(Editor's Note: This is the second of a three-part series in which Angela shares the strategies that she has used to get her students physically active and healthy. Be sure to check the other issues of pelinks4u to learn about additional strategies.)

A Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) is a multi-component approach used to provide students with opportunities to be physically active, achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and to encourage lifelong physical activity (CDC, 2015). The five components of a CSPAP include: quality physical education, physical activity before, during, and after school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.

Although all components of a CSPAP are important, staff involvement and family and community engagement are often the least implemented. In my experience as a physical educator, these two components were the most challenging to implement, but worth the time and effort. The support of family, staff, and community is imperative in promoting physical activity. I challenge you to implement these two components. You will be amazed by the amount of support you receive from parents, community, and staff!

Staff Involvement

Faculty Exercise League
The Faculty Exercise league was created to provide faculty members and their families with opportunities to enjoy exercise through participation in a sports league. Faculty members from different schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) participated in various sports such as volleyball, soccer, kickball, and basketball. Students enjoyed cheering for their school and watching their teachers engage in physical activity. The faculty members were great role models for healthy living and enjoying being physically active!

Benefits:

1. School unity!
2. Students have the opportunity to see their teachers engaging in physical activity.
3. Teachers have the opportunity to meet teachers from other schools in the district.

Suggestions:

1. Don't try to plan the sport events at the last minute.
2. Communication between schools is important. Communicate often.
3. Games should be on a master calendar that is shared with all participating schools.
4. Encourage team unity and school pride.
5. Make sure the date and time of the sports events are on the school calendar. It is also a good idea to advertise the events early in the school newsletter or other forms of parent communication.
6. Be careful to avoid creating highly competitive situations but rather highlight the joyfulness and benefits of being active.

Faculty Aerobics
Travis ES teachers had the opportunity to engage in physical activity after school through an aerobics exercise class that I offered.

Benefits:

1. The teachers really enjoyed being able to get a good workout in before heading home from work.
2. The teachers in the upper grades communicated more with the teachers in the lower grades.
3. Fun!

Suggestions:

1. Teachers enjoy this time together. If you cannot teach the class, find a substitute rather than canceling.
2. Be on time and prepared.
3. Have Fun!

Healthy Tigers
Posters were hung on the wall to display the faculty members' healthy habits. Travis Elementary teachers shared ways they enjoyed being physically active and their favorite healthy snack. Faculty members also submitted mileage logs each week to show how much they were exercising at home.

Benefits:

1. Teachers are encouraged to think about physical activity and healthy eating.
2. Students are inspired by what their teachers are doing to be physically active.

Suggestions:

1. Discuss the idea with the teachers before presenting the idea to the students.
2. Make sure the posters are aesthetically appealing.

Family and Community Engagement

Bring Your Parent to PE Week
My favorite annual physical education activity was Bring Your Parent to PE Week. Bring you Parent to PE Week was a week in which parents participated in physical education class with their child.

Bring Your Parent to PE Week allowed me the opportunity to promote my physical education program to parents, faculty, and the community. Family members who participated had the opportunity to not only hear about, but also participate in the learning that was taking place in my physical education class. The week also provided an opportunity for the students to enjoy being active with their parents.

Benefits:

1. Students and parents share in the common goal of being physically active.
2. Parents become more knowledgeable about the content being taught in physical education class.
3. Fun!

Suggestions:

1. Don't try to plan Bring Your Parent to PE Week at the last minute. Students and parents look forward to this event. Parents often need to make special arrangements to attend, so make sure to plan ahead and allow time for parents to make their plans to attend.
2. The first event does not have to be perfect, but should be well organized so that parents will see the benefit and return to the event in future years.

   

3. The activities that students and parents participate in should be simple, safe, and fun. This will cut down on confusion and reduce any injury risks.
4. If you have a class routine, STICK TO IT! The more you divert from normal, the more the students will be confused and the event will appear disorganized.
5. Make sure you have plenty of help. Flow and smooth transitions are extremely important.
6. If permitted, take pictures! The following week display the pictures.
7. Make sure the date and time of the event is on the school calendar. It is a good idea to advertise the event early in the school newsletter, or other forms of parent communication. You might even consider inviting the media.
8. Have fun! It's important that the parents see that you enjoy what you do.

Saturday Family Fun Days
During the school year, Travis Elementary families had the opportunity to be physically active together on Saturday mornings. The families enjoyed being physically active and meeting other families in the school community.

Benefits:

1. It's a great way to promote physical activity outside of regular school hours.
2. Families enjoy being physically active together.
3. Families can meet other families.

Suggestions:

1. This event should be stress free and fun.it's on a Saturday morning!
2. Provide various activities in which attendees can be physically active.
3. Have at least one activity in which everyone is participating together.
4. Identify a family that regularly attends. If there is a time you cannot be there, they can help out.
5. Make sure the dates and time of the event is on the school calendar. It is also a good idea to advertise the event early in the school newsletter or other forms of parent communication.
6. Have fun!

PHIZBIZ Videos The "PhizBiz" kids worked with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to create exercise videos for children. The videos were broadcasted on the HISD network channel. The PhizBiz kids worked with community organizations such as the Houston Texans to create the videos.

Benefits:

1. Children enjoy exercising with other children.
2. Physical activity is promoted on the school district channel.
3. Children engaged in physical activity with community organizations.

Suggestions:

1. Be prepared to help students with making the exercise video.
2. Provide lots of time for the students to prepare for the video.

Biography: Angela Heinemann received a BS in Exercise Science from Tulane University in 2001 and her MEd from the University of St. Thomas in 2006. She taught physical education at Travis Elementary School in Houston, TX. While teaching at Travis, Angela created many programs at her school and in her district to promote physical activity. Angela received the Teacher of the Year award while at Travis Elementary and the Young Educator of the Year for the Houston Independent School District. After eight years at Travis, Angela and her family decided to trade in the tall buildings in Houston for the vast mountains in Utah. While in Utah, Angela has led professional development in the school district in which she lives, and is currently the Past President of the Utah Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. She is working on her PhD in Sport Pedagogy at the University of Utah.

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