Does physical activity improve student focus?

Research has proven that physical education improves performance in the classroom setting. I think that the role of being physically active has drifted away from the beliefs of this society. I have taught physical education at the grade school level, and now currently at the high school level and I believe it is a necessity. Some students only get physically active during their P.E. time throughout their day. The technology of computers and video games occupies the time of our children of this era. I am not, by any means, saying that our technology is a bad thing because I truely think its amazing to the benefit of everybody. But, I do think that being physically active is becoming less and less important in the minds of people. Yes, the obesity rates have been drastically rising and that is one reason to push hard for physical education classes, but also performance in core subjects improves with being active. If we want positive results in the classroom then physical education during school is essential.

As is true for many things, including physical activity in the classroom - regardless of the age group - has its place. Movement helps many learners internalize the lesson as long as the movement has purpose. Most learners are at least partially kinesthetic learners and benefit from movement to solidify their learning. Further, allowing students to learn information in a specific location and then assess them in the same location can evoke locational memory. Incorporating movement can also emphasize important points, provide relief during particularly intense lessons, and allow an acceptable outlet for students who need frequent movement. That being said, incorporating organized movement into all lessons, all the time is not realistic. However, allowing for what I call the "fidget-factor" is. Children - particularly young children - are not designed to sit still for long periods of time. Further, today's culture of the sound-byte approach to life suggests that breaking a larger lesson into mini lessons can be more effective; physical activity can be part of this process.

As an Exceptional Children's teacher, I see the benefit of physical activity for my students. I have used standing desks, ball chairs and incorporate many kinesthetic activities in my day. However, I also teach my students there are times they must learn to control their movements. They have to learn there are times and places where their focus must be controlled in a quiet and still enviornment. We are doing our children a disservice if we only teach them to learn in one environment. To grow socially, they have to learn control and focus in a variety of settings.

Having said that, please, please, please allow my students to have recess, pe class and opportunity to move in the classroom. Keeping a child in during recess because they could not focus enough to finish an assignment is counterproductive!

If you just look at your ADHD students alone, some periodic physical activity to run off some of that energy would help settle them down and help them to focus on the academic aspect at hand. But I also think that after physical activity if you don't hydrate maybe some who are against this are seeing sluggish students, not because of the activity but because the body needs fluids, more than a sip, and hydrating the student would be both beneficial to their bodies and to their minds.

Its so basic. A strong body supports a strong mind. Drinking milk is also a good thing.

When my kindergartners have just 10 minutes to run around the playground before Writing Workshop,I get much better results. The key is being set up and ready to write BEFORE we go out. All tools are out, names and date are on the journal page,we've had a mini lesson and they have thought about what they are going to write about that day. When they come in they get a quick drink from their water bottle and they are ready to write!

i think that it is helpful for students and they move around and do activities in class.. that helps students be more intrested in the work, bt having to stand up is a little too much for them..