Gym teachers focus on fitness, not sports

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jan 14th 2008 6:12PM

Wow, am I ever glad to read this. Some physical education teachers are warming up to the idea that gym class doesn't always need to be about sports and team games. Instead, they're getting their students up and moving with a mixture of activities that include solitary activities as well, like weight lifting, yoga, and Pilates. In the past, less skilled students may have spent their time on the bench or waiting their turn. Now, everyone is moving and sweating, and grades are based on effort.

Though I was a fit kid, I was never very good at team sports. I was shy and not very assertive, which left me more worried about what to do when I caught the ball than whether I was getting better at catching it. I would have thrived in class with this more individualized approach, and teachers are saying overweight kids are getting more exercise this way as well.

So kudos to you, gym teachers, for finding a way to help all kids succeed.

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Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vishaal 1-14-2008 @ 6:27PM

I HATED team sports in elementary!!! I was the chubby kid who got picked LAST...AND I also realized I got picked last cuz I was GAY! HAHAHAHA...much to my ignorance, I felt bad. OH, to go back and do it all again, I would have been the biggest b*tch with the best grades.

Chessia 1-16-2008 @ 6:26PM

For the schools that are giving more variety to their gym programs, kudos to them. I've visited other blogs about this topic, and the verdict is, athletic or chubby, EVERYONE hated gym class as a kid. This new strategy of individual activities is so great to teach kids lifetime fitness skills, as well as to battle the obesity epidemic. For those schools that don't offer active gym programs, it is important to get kids moving through extracurriculars or active play-time. In New York City it is obviously not an option to order kids to "go out and play" so extracurriculars become more important, esp. in the winter. The New York Kids Club, with 4 locations in NYC is a great place to get your kids moving. They have classes like rock climbing, martial arts, dance, and gymnastics as well as cooking classes that promote healthy eating. We are having a Free Friday on Jan. 18 for bloggers and their children to come check out the facilities, meet the staff, and enjoy free drinks and snacks. For those in the NYC area, it is a great way for kids to burn off the energy they aren't in most gym classes.

view the invite Here

Chessia 1-16-2008 @ 6:29PM

sorry! that didn't link....http://nykcbloggerparty.smnr.us
should work now

Dan 1-16-2008 @ 6:12PM

I was almost always picked last too in gym class... not gay, but I think sports are great teachers for kids. It seems that this is that building self confidence by not letting kids experience defeat and what not.... when they grow up and realize the real world is tough and will eat you alive without even thinking then God knows what is going to happen...

Great concept because it could instill good workout habits as they get older but I still think sports and competition is the best for gym.

Chessia 1-16-2008 @ 6:26PM

Andrea 1-17-2008 @ 8:40AM

It isn't true that everyone hated gym class. I LOVED gym class. It was my favorite part of the day. All my friends loved gym class. Once in high school, we took every gym, weight lifting, and recreational sports class we were allowed to.
I do think it is good that they are changing things up a bit because we definitely had a handful of kids who just couldn't catch or kick a ball. I don't do yoga or pilates, but it would be a great idea to make kids run tons of sprints and things like that that require no athletic ability. Kids are too fat now.