More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
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Many of my students have extra energy in their bodies due to trauma, ADD and ADHD. Studies have shown that exercise helps these students focus better as well as helping with student emotional health. Active Living Research published research findings connecting the importance of physical activity and successful academic learning. The study group was 24 elementary schools. The key findings of that study are: "Physical activity can have both immediate and long-term benefits on academic performance. Almost immediately after engaging in physical activity, children are better able to concentrate on classroom tasks, which can enhance learning.Over time, as children engage in developmentally appropriate physical activity, their improved physical fitness can have additional positive effects on academic performance in mathematics, reading, and writing. Recent evidence shows how physical activity’s effects on the brain may create these positive outcomes."
Dr. John Ratey, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of the book "Spark", conducted a study of the effects of exercise on focusing and emotional health. The study was done at a high school where one group exercised before literacy and the other group slept in. The group that exercised did much better academically, retaining information and focusing than the group that slept in. The students that exercised also had a better emotional state.
Having a stationary bike in my classroom will give students the choice to get exercise in order to "wake up" their brains to focus and think better. When students are feeling sluggish, they will have the choice to move to the bike to pedal while listening and engaging in the lesson being taught. Students that are having emotional issues will be able to ride the bike to settle their emotions in order to learn.
About my class
Many of my students have extra energy in their bodies due to trauma, ADD and ADHD. Studies have shown that exercise helps these students focus better as well as helping with student emotional health. Active Living Research published research findings connecting the importance of physical activity and successful academic learning. The study group was 24 elementary schools. The key findings of that study are: "Physical activity can have both immediate and long-term benefits on academic performance. Almost immediately after engaging in physical activity, children are better able to concentrate on classroom tasks, which can enhance learning.Over time, as children engage in developmentally appropriate physical activity, their improved physical fitness can have additional positive effects on academic performance in mathematics, reading, and writing. Recent evidence shows how physical activity’s effects on the brain may create these positive outcomes."
Dr. John Ratey, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of the book "Spark", conducted a study of the effects of exercise on focusing and emotional health. The study was done at a high school where one group exercised before literacy and the other group slept in. The group that exercised did much better academically, retaining information and focusing than the group that slept in. The students that exercised also had a better emotional state.
Having a stationary bike in my classroom will give students the choice to get exercise in order to "wake up" their brains to focus and think better. When students are feeling sluggish, they will have the choice to move to the bike to pedal while listening and engaging in the lesson being taught. Students that are having emotional issues will be able to ride the bike to settle their emotions in order to learn.