Fidgeting kids. Tired kids. Unfocused kids.
We've all seen it, or it was us in classrooms when WE were kids.
The San Juan Board of Cooperative Services, or BOCES, is in the middle of a two-year program, TAKE 10, which focuses exactly on that: taking small breaks throughout the day for physical activity, relaxation, or other exercises that can help students get back on track and able to focus in the classroom.
The program features three components:
Before-school movement, also known as the 100 Mile Club,Integration of movement during instruction time, andUnstructured play."We want to increase the amount of physical activity in our eight school districts throughout the school day," said Cindy Erickson, the TAKE 10 grant coordinator for BOCES. The board, which provides special education and therapy services for school districts in Southwest Colorado, received a $1 million grant from the Colorado Health Fund to fund the two-year project.
Probably the most visible component of TAKE 10 promotes movement before school, particularly for elementary students. Two or four times a week, students walk around the schoolyard, or in the gym when the weather's bad, tracking their progress throughout the year.
The program's been a big hit at Ignacio Elementary School, with many students already passing the 100-mile mark in April or May, said Principal Kathy Herrera. Students can also participate in local walks and 5Ks to add to their total.
Students pay a $10 fee to cover the cost of incentives the program provides, and it also creates "buy-in" for the project. After 25 miles, students receive a T-shirt, at 50 miles they get a pencil, and at 75 miles, a bracelet.
For the component on movement during instruction time, Erickson provides training for teachers to read cues from their students when it's time for a break, then lead them in simple exercises or stretches. Particularly during 90-minute block classes in high school, just standing up for a couple of minutes and promoting movement helps students. Erickson has conducted five trainings for 50 teachers in each district, and will provide more in August so most teachers in the area will have received the training.
Some students have started asking for the movement activities when they're getting board or restless, she noted.
Finally, for unstructured play, TAKE 10 provides individual equipment for students to use at recess, such as hula hoops, jump ropes, balls, balance beams and flags.
Each school also receives a recess cart for taking out and storing equipment.
Erickson said school counselors like the activities and will sometimes use them before a session, for example, where two kids are having an argument.
"It tones down the conflict," she explained.
The program is increasing its access for students with disabilities, providing strider bicycles, for example, for students who have difficulty walking.
A video of Ignacio's TAKE 10 program is on the school district's website, www.ignacioschools.org, on the homepage.
