Building health and wellness in PE

MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — As kids, PE might have been considered a time to step away from the books and take a break from learning, but we were really trading one classroom for another. Yet, the lessons learned in the gym don’t always require a pen and paper.

PE teachers help demonstrate the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle. Madison Elementary PE Teacher Austin Sanders says he’s responsible for helping students create healthy habits as early as possible.

“The earlier you start incorporating movement every day the easier it is to keep it up throughout your life,” said Sanders. “These kids being in kindergarten all the way to fifth grade…the more that they love to move their body, the more likely they are to do it every day for the rest of their life. So that’s what I’m trying to teach them.”

Physical education has a strong influence on our lives long-term. At its core, PE is a curriculum designed to help students develop skills, knowledge, and behaviors for active living, physical fitness, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence.

Under the Alabama State Department of Education, all public and private schools must, “carry out a system of physical education.” For grades “k” through 5, this means a minimum of 30 minutes of uninterrupted physical activity and 50 minutes for grades 6 through 8.

This time blends fun with fitness to help kids understand how daily dedication to being active can cultivate a healthy body.

Fifth grader Ethan Fletcher tells News 19 he’s been taking notes.

“I learned that staying healthy gives you protein and muscle. You can play around a lot and do a bunch of things and have a lot of energy,” Ethan said.

And that energy transfers to the classroom. According to the CDC, regular physical activity has a positive impact on cognitive skills, attitudes, and academics, which are important for improving academic outcomes.

In Alabama, PE teachers must study subjects like kinesiology, anatomy, and team sports.  The key is relaying these topics to students…and more importantly, keeping them engaged while learning.

University of West Alabama Professor Natasha Satcher-Bell has a method for that.

“I always say that success plus enjoyment equals continued participation,” explained Satcher-Bell. “So, if they’re having fun, they’re going to continue doing that.”

The University of West Alabama has a Teacher Preparation Program that ensures teachers are well-versed in the building blocks of health and wellness to incorporate that information in their lesson plans effectively.

Professor Gunner Cazers says it’s quite a “rigorous” but impactful four-year program that prospective teachers go through.

“When we develop our teachers I think we develop them with a range of teaching styles and different methods that they can use.”

Sanders says he’s even incorporated technology in the way his students learn about eating healthy. A new system provided by Madison City Schools allows a series of games to be displayed on the gym floor for students to perform exercises and study fruits and vegetables.

Whether through technology or a game of tag, physical education can be fun and inspiring. A wellness lesson that lives on in the quality of life as a student and future adult.

Though their schedules get a little busier, high school students are also required to stay active. In Alabama, high school students must take at least one credit of physical education to graduate.

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