Amidst the
turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables, bread
and desserts, I couldn't help to think about all the ways one can be
thankful on this special of days. And with that in mind how to Exercise
the thought to make life a little easier for the educational community,
especially, our health&physical education Pilgrims.
It would certainly
be amiss if we weren't thankful to our spouses for their understanding
how much time we spend pecking away and surfing the net to expand our
horizons. It wouldn't be possible to find sites like the following to
help our students to become more well-rounded .
If we want to start at the public relations arena then go to http://www.highwired.com
to assemble an easy template to showcase our teaching procedures, lessons
and school calendar for parents and students to use. Or like in the
past issue with http://familyeducation.com to sign
up for a universal , free e-mail service at http://www.myschoolmail.com. While
along the way to Plymouth Rock check out http://www.classroomconnect.com
for integrated lessons, links and resources. If you want to submit to
the Mayflower Gazette then try sailing over to http://www.thejournal.com for a free
subscription to a technological display of information that highlights
the Internet/technology advances to use in our classes .
This is only a small morsel to wet your appetite of some other avenues
to investigate :
Give a bountiful appreciation to sites like http://pe.central.vt.edu
that gives us lessons, links, best practices , message boards , and
programs from the best schools and teachers in our hamlets from Massachusetts
to California. Now, that is a long way to traverse the road
that is less traveled. Not to be outdone, and with no Competition
intended, this new resource, PE LINKS 4 U, has been
a wonderful example to experience the wide variety of topics that enhance
our profession on an equal level to our core subject Patriots.
Another Drumstick that can be utilized is called Fitnesslink
that can be accessed at http://www.fitnesslink.com. Here
are some examples that can be found on this e-mail based account for
valuable information:
Here's a quick tip for keeping energized this Thanksgiving. Eat breakfast.
A complete breakfast helps you automatically control what you eat the
rest of the day. To eat healthy is to partake in five to six regular-sized
meals throughout the day, instead of one Titanic-sized feast that's
going to make you sink to the floor. Eat a generous breakfast and you
won't be crazy for the gravy!
WALKING: GOOD FOR DIGESTION, GOOD FOR THE BRAIN
After your Thanksgiving feast, resist the urge to loosen your belt buckle
and settle in on the couch. Taking a nice, brisk walk will not only
aid in the digestion of all that turkey, but it may make you smarter,
too. According to a report by John O'Neil in his "Vital Signs"
column in the Nov. 16 New York Times, working out on a treadmill causes
the rodent brain to form new cells. Researchers found that running increased
the number of cells in the rodent hippocampus, a part of the brain regulating
learning and memory. In science and psychology it is a usual procedure
to first study lab animals, then see if the findings apply to humans.
Regarding activity and intellectual prowess, though, the correlation
had already been established. In September, Dr. Arthur Kramer of the
University of Illinois published his study which "suggested that
vigorous walking gives persons over 60 a revved-up memory, sharpened
judgment, and improved intellectual abilities." So take that post-Thanksgiving
dinner walk ... then challenge your family to a game of Trivial Pursuit.
(Source: FitnessLink Staff)
These are just
some of the ways to jump start our programs and help place them among
those with other areas of concern for parents and administrators. Also,
I am thankful for my wife, who has just become an administrator, to
engulf with a veritable and delicious FEAST of standards,
rules, articles, internet technology and support that makes my life
easier and hopefully yours.
Gerry Cernicky
