Our Healthier Communities Initiatives are built on the concept that local communities can work together to give all community members healthy choices and support the pursuit of healthy lifestyles.  More than 160 Ys are working in collaboration with community leaders to make changes in policies and the physical surroundings in those communities so that healthy living is within reach for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

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Active Living Strategy #8: Provide Professional Development of Staff to Improve Physical Education Instruction in Schools

When teachers are trained and feel confident about teaching physical education, the kids benefit from greater physical activity. Training classroom teachers to teach developmentally appropriate physical education has been effective in increasing the amount of time students are physically active.

 

Programs designed to train classroom teachers to teach developmentally appropriate physical education have been effective in increasing the amount of time students are physically active. Trained teachers have the potential to increase the quality and intensity of physical education. By supporting staff’s professional development to enhance physical education instruction, schools equip teachers to lead more effective physical education classes. Consequently, students become more active during physical education classes. Teachers have also reported satisfaction with the training and increased self-confidence in teaching physical education.

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References

1. Faucette, N., Nugent, P., Sallis, J.F., & McKenzie, T.L. (2002). I'd rather chew on aluminum foil. Overcoming classroom teachers' resistance to teaching physical education. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 21, 287–308.
2. Kain, J., Leyton, B., Concha, F., Salazar, G., Lobos, L., & Vio, F. (2010). Effect of counseling school teachers on healthy lifestyle on the impact of a program to reduce childhood obesity. Revista Medica de Chile, 138(2), 181–187.
3. Martin, M.W., Martin, S., & Rosengard, P. (2010). PE2GO: Program evaluation of a physical activity program in elementary schools. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(5), 677–684.
4. Sallis, J.F., McKenzie, T.L., Kolody, B., Lewis, M., Marshall, S., & Rosengard, P. (1999). Effects of health-related physical education on academic achievement: Project SPARK. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 70(2), 127–134.
5. Sheman, C., Tran, C., & Alves, Y. (2010). Elementary school classroom teacher delivered physical education: costs, benefits, and barriers. Physical Educator, Winter, 2–17.

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