It’s the first day back from Winter Break and I am dragging.
Late nights and late morning are part of the regular diet of relaxation in my
house over the holidays, but there is a bigger reason why at 2:15 today I drank
cup of coffee #3: lack of physical activity. Without it, I am simply not myself.
I wasn't the only one in need of get up and go. Due to the weather turning bitterly cold, the MS was unable to
get outside today, and like many 6th graders, I don’t take the
absence of recess lightly. And it isn’t all about fun. More and more research
shows movement matters not just to a student’s physical and emotional well-being,
but to their academic health too. Just today I read an article in Education
Week citing new evidence linking physical activity and academic success.
In a nut shell, the study found “a significant relationship between physical
activity and academic performance.” Why? Increased blood and oxygen flow to the
brain boosts production of norepinephrine and endorphins which help improve
mood. Even more interesting was the finding that exercise, specifically in school sports, “increased growth
factors that help create new nerve cells and support synaptic plasticity.” That
plasticity is no small thing. Just like your biceps and hamstrings, keeping
your brain fit and flexible opens the way for improved learning and performance.
What’s exciting about this finding? Schools will now be able
to think intentionally about PE and recess periods to tailor their
programs to benefit each student's body – and mind.
Jim
