It’s been some time now that claims about links between physical activity and brain function are being made. The word “endorphins” has made its way into common everyday lexicon. The promise: exercise leads to the release of neurotransmitters, namely endorphins, which in turn help the brain function optimally.
These theories are now being put to the test, both in the lab and in the classroom.
In the lab: Dr. Charles Hillman from the University of Illinois set out to examine whether moderate exercise, walking or running, would improve cognitive and academic performance in children.
What he found was that after children engaged in 20 minutes of walking on a treadmill they were better able to tune out noise and other distractions while performing various mental and problem solving exercises. Their scores were also higher by ten percent after the walking exercises than they were before. Academically, they found that reading comprehension improved a full grade level for the children who engaged in the walking activity.
In the classroom: This might sound a bit out there to strict traditionalist educators. I, for one, think the people over at Naperville Central High School in Chicago are on to something big.
As more cuts are being made in school and education budgets, often the first thing to go is physical education. Not so at Naperville; they are a step ahead and above. Children with academic difficulties start off their days with a physical education class.
And here’s the kicker: Physical education is not confined to the gym. Exercise bikes and therapy balls are brought into the classroom. The students do their work while on the equipment. From writing on a tray attached to the bike, to reading while balancing on a bright red ball, they are on the move.
The results? Children who routinely underperformed in all academic areas, after participating in morning physical education classes and moving around, saw their reading scores double and their math score improve by twenty points.
There’s a saying, “A man’s health can be judged by which he takes two at a time – pills or stairs.” Can stairs, or in this case bikes and balls, replace the Ritalin and the Adderral?
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