The importance of health and physical education in primary/junior education
Welcome to Mr. D's Fun Fit website! As an elementary school teacher, I believe that Health and Physical Education is an integral part of facilitating learning for the whole child. HPE benefits students in a multitude of ways including:
- Team building, self-esteem, school involvement, being active, learning skills, improved focus and concentration.
I also believe, along with Mandigo (2009) and Berg (2010), that “physical education is equally or more important than literacy education.”
As we know, our bodies are complex machines with integrated parts. Each part performs its function and contributes to the body as a whole. In order for the machine to run efficiently, we literally have to fuel and maintain it (food, water, relaxation), and also exercise it. If we don’t exercise our bodies and minds (physically and cognitively), our bodies can lose strength or fail to remember. Like with anything, the more time we dedicate to something (whether it be physical, or cognitive), the better and more efficient we become at it. The current research has stated that exercise has multiple benefits. Berg illuminates to us that studies have shown that physical exercise actually strengthens cognitive function. Berg also states that Physical Education unfortunately has a lower priority in classrooms from most educators. Berg mentions that Physical Education is equally or more important than literacy education.
In my opinion, physical education is equally important as literacy education. If we are teaching and facilitating learning for the whole child, then the physical aspect must also be equally taken into consideration. It would be nice to see each subject across the curriculum having an equal amount of time dedicated to the facilitation and learning of that specific subject / discipline. However, the reality in our classrooms is that the priority is placed more on the math, science and language curricula. I think this is in due part to the fact that these subjects can be easily measured, tested, reported (i.e. EQAO tests). Additionally, our society has also deemed these academic subjects to be important as they will help their son/daughter ‘get a job’. We have seen the ill effects of this attitude toward favouring specific subjects over others and making cuts to HPE program time - Child obesity is constantly rising, and most students might be choosing to spend more time inside playing a video game rather than going outside and being active.
We know that having a balance of things in our life can contribute to well-balanced healthy lifestyle. Why shouldn’t we have a well-balanced curriculum?
I also believe, along with Mandigo (2009) and Berg (2010), that “physical education is equally or more important than literacy education.”
As we know, our bodies are complex machines with integrated parts. Each part performs its function and contributes to the body as a whole. In order for the machine to run efficiently, we literally have to fuel and maintain it (food, water, relaxation), and also exercise it. If we don’t exercise our bodies and minds (physically and cognitively), our bodies can lose strength or fail to remember. Like with anything, the more time we dedicate to something (whether it be physical, or cognitive), the better and more efficient we become at it. The current research has stated that exercise has multiple benefits. Berg illuminates to us that studies have shown that physical exercise actually strengthens cognitive function. Berg also states that Physical Education unfortunately has a lower priority in classrooms from most educators. Berg mentions that Physical Education is equally or more important than literacy education.
In my opinion, physical education is equally important as literacy education. If we are teaching and facilitating learning for the whole child, then the physical aspect must also be equally taken into consideration. It would be nice to see each subject across the curriculum having an equal amount of time dedicated to the facilitation and learning of that specific subject / discipline. However, the reality in our classrooms is that the priority is placed more on the math, science and language curricula. I think this is in due part to the fact that these subjects can be easily measured, tested, reported (i.e. EQAO tests). Additionally, our society has also deemed these academic subjects to be important as they will help their son/daughter ‘get a job’. We have seen the ill effects of this attitude toward favouring specific subjects over others and making cuts to HPE program time - Child obesity is constantly rising, and most students might be choosing to spend more time inside playing a video game rather than going outside and being active.
We know that having a balance of things in our life can contribute to well-balanced healthy lifestyle. Why shouldn’t we have a well-balanced curriculum?
Summary
Physical literacy is just as important as language literacy. Research has shown the importance and benefits of movement, both physically and cognitively. In the 21st century where society is more in tune with their devices than the outside world, the importance of physical activity is more imperative now than ever before.
Enthusiastic teachers who have a genuine concern and interest in their students have the power to instil in their students the value of HPE. Daily active HPE can contribute to a students’ wellbeing, increasing their alertness, motivation and success. HPE has also shown to enhance a student’s positive self-concept. Planting the seeds early and instilling a love for HPE is not only essential in helping students develop their locomotor skills and physical fitness; a quality HPE program can also promote and reinforce concepts that contribute to a lifelong healthy lifestyle.
When planning HPE activities for students, teachers should have an understanding of where their students are at and set the stage for an optimal learning experience. In order to do this, educators must create the following key conditions: 1.) a safe, inclusive, non-threatening environment, 2.) having clear and achievable goals and expectations, 3.) offering opportunities to empower students.
Along with effective planning comes effective assessment. Assessment should drive our instruction along with taking into consideration our students’ interests and the ministry of education’s curriculum goals. We should tailor the curriculum to the student, not the student to the curriculum. Along with teaching the key aspects of movement skills, demonstrating these skills and giving effective feedback, educators must know where to observe from in order to assess effectively.
When promoting a safe inclusive environment, teachers can accommodate for various learners through differentiation – varying equipment, modelling, repeating instructions, etc. “A truly inclusive physical activity environment is not one where children are all doing the same thing. Instead, it’s one where children are participating at their own ability levels in a shared activity session. All children are active, and all children are enjoying the benefits of physical activity.” (Holt, 2014) https://www.ophea.net/article/everyone-game#.VQyNaOFHSXB
Inclusion takes teamwork and when teachers, parents, students and other members of the school and outside community are involved great things can happen.
Class management is all about philosophy. It is what the teacher believes to be the reason why they are in the profession to begin with. Great teachers have the ability to read students and appropriately problem solve on the fly every day. Great teachers know who they are as individuals. To paraphrase Parker J. Palmer, ‘we teach who we are.’
Great HPE teachers aren’t solely the best athletes. Great HPE teachers are the ones who exude a passion and love for being healthy, making great choices and being physically active. Great HPE teachers are also enthusiastic and show a genuine concern and interest in their students.
At the end of the day, students may not remember everything we have taught them in HPE. Students will however always remember how we made them feel. That positive feeling can transcend and encompass our students on their journey of being 21st century lifelong learners.
Enthusiastic teachers who have a genuine concern and interest in their students have the power to instil in their students the value of HPE. Daily active HPE can contribute to a students’ wellbeing, increasing their alertness, motivation and success. HPE has also shown to enhance a student’s positive self-concept. Planting the seeds early and instilling a love for HPE is not only essential in helping students develop their locomotor skills and physical fitness; a quality HPE program can also promote and reinforce concepts that contribute to a lifelong healthy lifestyle.
When planning HPE activities for students, teachers should have an understanding of where their students are at and set the stage for an optimal learning experience. In order to do this, educators must create the following key conditions: 1.) a safe, inclusive, non-threatening environment, 2.) having clear and achievable goals and expectations, 3.) offering opportunities to empower students.
Along with effective planning comes effective assessment. Assessment should drive our instruction along with taking into consideration our students’ interests and the ministry of education’s curriculum goals. We should tailor the curriculum to the student, not the student to the curriculum. Along with teaching the key aspects of movement skills, demonstrating these skills and giving effective feedback, educators must know where to observe from in order to assess effectively.
When promoting a safe inclusive environment, teachers can accommodate for various learners through differentiation – varying equipment, modelling, repeating instructions, etc. “A truly inclusive physical activity environment is not one where children are all doing the same thing. Instead, it’s one where children are participating at their own ability levels in a shared activity session. All children are active, and all children are enjoying the benefits of physical activity.” (Holt, 2014) https://www.ophea.net/article/everyone-game#.VQyNaOFHSXB
Inclusion takes teamwork and when teachers, parents, students and other members of the school and outside community are involved great things can happen.
Class management is all about philosophy. It is what the teacher believes to be the reason why they are in the profession to begin with. Great teachers have the ability to read students and appropriately problem solve on the fly every day. Great teachers know who they are as individuals. To paraphrase Parker J. Palmer, ‘we teach who we are.’
Great HPE teachers aren’t solely the best athletes. Great HPE teachers are the ones who exude a passion and love for being healthy, making great choices and being physically active. Great HPE teachers are also enthusiastic and show a genuine concern and interest in their students.
At the end of the day, students may not remember everything we have taught them in HPE. Students will however always remember how we made them feel. That positive feeling can transcend and encompass our students on their journey of being 21st century lifelong learners.
Current research promoting physical literacy:
Berg, K. (2010). Justifying Physical Education Based on Neuroscience Evidence. JOPERD, 24-30.
Mandigo, J. (2009). Physical Literacy for Educators. SIRC, 27-30.
Mandigo, J. (2009). Physical Literacy for Educators. SIRC, 27-30.
The Importance of Physical Activity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Q5hPE9Al0
Run, Jump, Learn! How Exercise can Transform our Schools: John J. Ratey, MD at TEDxManhattanBeach: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBSVZdTQmDs