10/21/13
Westwood Action Lab....

Mr. Suarez's class was in the lab this morning at 8:15.  This is a great time for his class since his Specials time is after lunch.

Neuroscience tells us that the brain shifts its attention and focus about every 90 minutes. Even a short break from focused concentration allows the brain to consolidate information for better retention and retrieval of memory. When a human sits for longer than 20 minutes, the physiology of the brain and body is altered because gravity has pooled blood into the hamstrings and has robbed the brain of needed oxygen and glucose, i.e. brain fuel. The student loses focus and attention and can easily become sleepy or restless. Everyone, students AND teachers, can benefit from a fitness break.
This article appeared in the Texas Elementary Principal and Supervisors Association Journal: Instructional Leader. 

Physically Fit Kids Do Better In School

 A new study in the Journal of School Health found that physically fit kids scored better on standardized math and English tests than their less fit peers.
 Researchers examined the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement "in a racially and economically diverse urban public school district of children enrolled in 4th through 8th grade."
The results showed that the odds of passing both math and English standardized tests dramatically increased as the number of fitness tests that were passed increased, even when controlling for gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status.

 “For families and schools, these results suggest investments of time and resources in physical activity and fitness training may not detract from academic achievement in core subjects, and, may even be beneficial."