P20P20

Health & Wellness LabHealth & Wellness Lab

Aaron BeighleAaron Beighle11

, Heather Erwin, Heather Erwin11

, Melody Noland, Melody Noland11

, & , & Anita CourtneyAnita Courtney22

11

University of Kentucky, Dept. of Kinesiology & Health Promotion University of Kentucky, Dept. of Kinesiology & Health Promotion22

Partnership for a Fit KY Partnership for a Fit KY

FoundationFoundation

Next Generation Learners must be Next Generation Learners must be healthy to contribute to societyhealthy to contribute to society

Healthy students become healthy Healthy students become healthy adultsadults

Healthy students are better learnersHealthy students are better learners Healthy students are productive Healthy students are productive

members of society throughout the members of society throughout the lifespanlifespan

Schools and Health PromotionSchools and Health Promotion

Schools as leaders in health Schools as leaders in health promotionpromotion

Efforts must assist schools with Efforts must assist schools with meeting their objectivesmeeting their objectives• Cost effectiveCost effective• UnobtrusiveUnobtrusive• User friendlyUser friendly• SustainableSustainable

Programs must be multifacetedPrograms must be multifaceted

Health and LearningHealth and Learning

Healthier students are better learnersHealthier students are better learners Educationally relevant health issuesEducationally relevant health issues

• NutritionNutrition• InattentionInattention• HyperactivityHyperactivity• Physical InactivityPhysical Inactivity• VisionVision• PregnancyPregnancy• ViolenceViolence• OthersOthers

Basch, 2010

Health and LearningHealth and Learning

Health impacts learning through Health impacts learning through causal pathwayscausal pathways• CognitionCognition• MisbehaviorMisbehavior• AttendanceAttendance• Drop outDrop out• AttentivenessAttentiveness• ConnectionConnection• MotivationMotivation

Research shows that schools with a Research shows that schools with a systematic, coordinated, and integrated systematic, coordinated, and integrated approach to student health have:approach to student health have:• fewer incidences of behavioral problemsfewer incidences of behavioral problems• improved school attendance ratesimproved school attendance rates• enhanced interpersonal relationshipsenhanced interpersonal relationships• higher student achievement higher student achievement

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Education Week, January, 2002.

Health EducationHealth Education

Health education, when conducted Health education, when conducted properly, is effective in improving properly, is effective in improving

--Students’ health knowledge--Students’ health knowledge

--Health skills --Health skills

--Health practices --Health practices

Marx, Wooley, & Northrop, 1998 Health is Academic; Kolbe, National Association of State Boards of Education, The State Education Standard, Autumn, 2002.

Nutrition and Academic Performance

Well-nourished students tend to have Well-nourished students tend to have higher academic performance and higher academic performance and score higher on standardized score higher on standardized achievement tests compared to achievement tests compared to poorly nourished students. poorly nourished students.

How nutrition affects learningHow nutrition affects learning

Lack of certain nutrients impairs Lack of certain nutrients impairs brain functionbrain function

Hydration is key for brain functionHydration is key for brain function Hunger reduces focus and retention Hunger reduces focus and retention

and increases inappropriate behavior and increases inappropriate behavior Eating breakfast is associated with Eating breakfast is associated with

class participation and higher class participation and higher academic test scores academic test scores

Physical Activity and LearningPhysical Activity and Learning

Improves cognition via blood flow to Improves cognition via blood flow to the brainthe brain

Decreases misbehaviorDecreases misbehavior Increases attentivenessIncreases attentiveness Improves concentrationImproves concentration Enhanced memoryEnhanced memory Improved math and reading skillsImproved math and reading skills Improved comprehensionImproved comprehension

Comprehensive School-Based Comprehensive School-Based Physical Activity ProgramPhysical Activity Program

Quality Physical EducationQuality Physical Education Recess/Activity breaksRecess/Activity breaks Out of school programsOut of school programs School wide programsSchool wide programs Staff wellnessStaff wellness Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement Parent/Family eventsParent/Family events Classroom based physical activityClassroom based physical activity

What principals have said What principals have said (Anecdotal data)(Anecdotal data)

““It’s a culture”It’s a culture” ““We want to be a part of that”We want to be a part of that” ““Our teachers love it”Our teachers love it” ““It has changed our school”It has changed our school” ““Parents say, ‘We didn’t do that Parents say, ‘We didn’t do that

when I was a kid’”when I was a kid’”

Physical Education

Maximizing physical activity time Quality instructional practices Standard-based curriculum Implementing motivational strategies

Classroom Activity

Activity cards Integration of academic content Indoor recess Videos

Recess

Activity zones Goal setting Transfer physical education to recess Active supervision

Afterschool

Training afterschool staff Developing policies, standards, and

expectations for physical activity Working with the physical education

teacher

Staff Wellness

Needs assessment Physical activity programs Stress management program

Staff who are interested in their own health are more likely to promote health among children.

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

Healthier students learn betterHealthier students learn better Health impacts student behavior, Health impacts student behavior,

attention, and cognitionattention, and cognition CSPAP can impact student health and CSPAP can impact student health and

learning simultaneouslylearning simultaneously