PASS
A Guide Book to Creating Physically Active School Systems
by
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We began writing a book because we want to see all children succeed. We teach college students how to become physical educators and in doing so we get much pleasure and joy when our students become contributing members of society by becoming physical education teachers. We also feel it is our responsibility to teach our students to be effective physical educators, and in this vein, we encourage them to become pro-active; to reach out to the classroom teachers; to incorporate curriculum related material into the PE program; to physically educate ALL students; to start before and after school programs; to help administrators, faculty, parents , community leaders, and most importantly CHILDREN to make the important connection between physical activity and increased cognition, attendance, and decrease in behavior issues, not to mention the overall health benefits of being active which eventually leads to a decrease in childhood obesity. It is our intent to help all educators understand and be able to feel comfortable using the powerful tool of movement to enhance students’ physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive fitness. It started as a guidebook for administrators and ALL educators. It has evolved into a bigger project where we are training several school districts throughout Connecticut in the PASS initiative. We eventually want the whole State and Nation to adopt the PASS philosophy and reap the benefits of happy, healthy, smart children!! Whether an administrator, faculty member, classroom teacher, or special area teacher, everyone wants to see their students’ learning improve. Improved learning validates the roles and influences of educators and administrators. The purpose of this book is to assist educators in how to create a physically active school. Understanding the role physical activity and/or movement plays in the gymnasium and the classroom will contribute significantly to this effort. Movement helps to differentiate instruction, by increasing retention, motivation, attention and engagement in the learning process. It should be utilized for its full potential benefits in both the classroom and gymnasium. The solution begins and ends with the decisions we make. Children are not getting as much physical activity as they should, despite the many benefits. It is important to establish good physical activity habits as early as possible. So how do we do that? By making physical activity and quality physical education a part of your school’s culture by increasing the amount of physical activity students participate in, throughout the day, every day. It is critical that we take the steps now to educate and make a change in our student’s lives to help them lead a healthier, more productive life. It can be challenging to motivate students, especially when it comes to a lifestyle change. The most effective way to instill change is to make it simple and attainable. By imbedding physical activity as a part of the school’s culture before, during and after school, children will more likely adopt it as a part of their everyday behavior. This book provides strategies and resources on how to create a physically active school with examples of activities and programs that can be incorporated throughout the school day. By providing opportunities for physical activity throughout the school day, students can bring this new behavior home and out into the community so we can all learn the importance of healthy behavior while improving cognition and academic success. As a school professional, your role in implementing physical activity into your school begins with a commitment to build a healthier, more physically active school environment for the future of your students. The goal is for all children to get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, with at least 30 minutes attained at school (SHAPE America, 2014; ACSM, 2000). Schools are a key setting for students to get their 60 minutes of physical activity, given the amount of time spent there. Schools can provide a variety of strategies and approaches to help students become more physically active, that include quality physical education programs and opportunities within the school that increases access to physical activity for all students to be physically active not just during physical education class but throughout the day. Students can get most of their physical activity through a quality physical education program that is complemented by activities before, during, and after school, recess, physical activity breaks, intramural programs, interscholastic sports, and walking or biking to and from school. Schools play a key role in shaping the social and physical development of their students. Many know the health-related benefits associated with being physically active, and now the field of exercise science can add brain power to the long list of tried and true benefits. Educators need to realize that all faculty and administrators are on the same side in fighting childhood obesity, reducing the onset of type II diabetes, and using exercise to combat behavior disorders instead of drugs, while at the same time raising test scores. Ratey (2008) refers to the good news as a revolution, so let us take up the cause and raise our heart rates, put our heads together, and pull out all the stops to give children the best chance to be smart, healthy contributing members of society, by providing them with a truly interdisciplinary, holistic education.
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About the Book
Whether an administrator, faculty member, classroom teacher, or special area teacher, everyone wants to see their students’ learning improve. Improved learning validates the roles and influences of educators and administrators. The purpose of this book is to assist educators in how to create a physically active school. Understanding the role physical activity and/or movement plays in the gymnasium and the classroom will contribute significantly to this effort. Movement helps to differentiate instruction, by increasing retention, motivation, attention, and engagement in the learning process. It should be utilized for its full potential benefits in both the classroom and gymnasium. The solution begins and ends with the decisions we make. Children are not getting as much physical activity as they should, despite the many benefits. It is important to establish good physical activity habits as early as possible. So how do we do that? By making physical activity and quality physical education a part of your school’s culture by increasing the amount of physical activity students participate in throughout the day, every day. It is critical that we take the steps now to educate and make a change in our student’s lives to help them lead a healthier, more productive life.
About the Author
Carol M. Ciotto Carol M. Ciotto is an associate professor at Central Connecticut State University in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance Department and has been teaching in the teacher preparation field for the past eleven years. Prior to teaching at CCSU she spent twenty-three years serving as a physical education teacher, an assistant principal, and a principal in the public school setting. She holds a BS in physical education, an MS in school administration, and a sixth year supervisory/administrative certificate. Carol has served on the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) executive council as a vice president of physical education, vice president of dance, and the 2013–2014 president. She is currently the executive director of the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) Eastern District and is a member of the Connecticut Cadre of Physical Education Trainers. Carol has presented at various conferences at the state, regional, national, and international levels over the past thirty-four years and has published peer reviewed articles in various educational journals. Throughout her career, she has received several awards and recognitions for her service to the profession and her excellence in teaching, including Teacher of the Year. Carol has a true passion for teaching and learning and is committed to continuous service to the field. Dr. Marybeth H. Fede Dr. Marybeth Fede is an associate professor of exercise science at Southern Connecticut State University. Alumni of SCSU, she holds a BS in physical education (’79), MS in human performance (’86), sixth year in school health (’87), and she also earned her EdD in adult education from Nova Southeastern University (’09). She has been teaching at Southern as an adjunct and now as a full-time professor in the teacher preparation field for the past twenty-seven years. She is on the board of directors and is the secretary of the alumni association. She also serves the professional organization, the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (CTAHPERD), as the conference program coordinator. Marybeth has presented at various conferences at the state, regional, national, and international levels over the past fifteen years and has published peer-reviewed articles in various educational journals. She has two beautiful children, Jacquelyn, twenty-five, and John, twenty-four. She is an active person who practices what she preaches and loves to dance, golf, and ski, not necessarily in that order.