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Delivering Quality PE Improves Student Physical, Academic Fitness

Schools that provide quality physical education are seeing the benefits well beyond student fitness levels.

The IDEA Public School network saw five of its Texas-based high schools earn rankings among the country’s most challenging high schools. Teachers in Nevada and Iowa are working to prove the direct correlation between improved physical fitness and academic performance.

In many cases, students wear heart rate monitors such as the IHT Zonewrist heart rate monitor while they exercise during their physical education classes. Teachers then analyze the data through IHT’s Assessment Measures software, where they gauge each student’s individual performance based on that day’s goal for time spent exercising at an elevated heart rate.

At IDEA Public Schools, five high school campuses that put a priority on helping students achieve Center for Disease Control-recommended minimums of physical activity per week were honored for academic achievement by the Washington Post. Read More

Auburn
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Auburn physical education teacher wins state award, reflects on career

Originally published Dec. 26, 2017 in the Auburn Citizen.

By Kelly Rocheleau

As an Auburn school district teacher and coach, Shelly Connors tries to set aside what issues she’s grappling with in her life and focuses on her students.

That said, Connors, physical education teacher for Auburn Junior High School and varsity tennis coach for Auburn High School, feels it’s important to let students know they don’t have to seem as if everything is going perfectly in their lives all the time. For the sake of setting that example, she does sometimes mention to students when she is having a bad day. The students understand, she said, because they’ve had rough days too.

“I think when we try to be something that we’re not, it gives (students) a false image of what reality is really like,” Connors said.

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How physical activity can boost young brains

Originally published Sept. 23, 2017, in the Las Cruces Sun-News

Savannah Burke, For the Sun-News

There was a time when children would play outdoors and get exercise by riding bicycles, running or playing hopscotch. The popularity of cell phones, video games and computers and increased academic demands have contributed to the decline in outdoor play for children. Except when children are involved in sports, gymnastics or similar activities, some may not be getting enough exercise, which may lead to undesired health consequences.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity during childhood is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions. Not only does regular physical activity improve overall health and fitness among children, but they will also build strong bones and muscles and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.

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IHT Spirit Mobile App
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New IHT Spirit Mobile App Extends IHT Zone Distance Learning Tools

Tuesday,  Sept. 19, 2017, IHT released its newest tool to further personalize physical education for every student: the IHT Spirit Mobile App.

The new mobile app, available as a free download through the Google Play and iOS App stores, enables users to take part in physical education classes and workouts connected to the IHT Spirit System® outside of the traditional school day and classroom. By controlling their IHT Zone wrist heart rate monitors on their mobile phones, students connect back to classroom workouts or track workouts they design themselves.  

IHT worked to develop a mobile app that takes the monitors beyond the classroom. A growing number of students fulfill their physical education requirement outside of the traditional classroom setting. More than 55 percent of U.S. school systems offer students the opportunity to take physical education as part of a virtual learning program. Read More

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Clyde-Savannah Elementary receives Active Schools award

Originally published Sept. 14, 2017 in the Wayne Post.

Active Schools, a national movement dedicated to ensuring 60 minutes of daily physical activity is the norm in K-12 schools, honored Clyde-Savannah Elementary School with the 2017 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award for its efforts in creating an active school environment.

The award is the nation’s top physical education and physical activity distinction for K-12 schools, and celebrates a school’s commitment to providing students with at least 60 minutes a day of before, during and after school physical activity. Only 452 schools across the country received the award in 2017.

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