How Physical Movement in Your Classroom Can Help Improve Student Achievement

With cuts to physical education and recess periods becoming more and more commonplace in schools across the nation, students might have more time each day for classroom instruction — but at what cost?

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to our physical health, but research has shown that movement doesn’t just stimulate the body. It also increases oxygen flow to the brain; therefore, it has a significant impact on brain function. 

According to the Healthy Schools arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity in the classroom helps:

• Improve concentration
• Keep students motivated and engaged
• Reduce disruptive behavior
• Lead to higher test scores and grades. 

Other studies link movement to stress relief and mood enhancement, which helps the brain to retain information more effectively. 

Conversely, experts say, expecting young people to sit still and listen for an hour without a break — the commonly accepted method of running a classroom — results in a loss of concentration and engagement. The less information retained, the poorer the academic performance for students of all ages.

Here at The Teachers Academy, in developing our professional development courses for teachers in Montgomery County, we continue to evolve with the changing dynamics of education. We understand how vital movement can be in the success of students, and although distance learning is the order of the day during the COVID-19 crisis, we can prepare you to better integrate physical activity into your classroom curriculum once school resumes.

We’ve listed a few “starter” suggestions in this infographic. 

Even without an organized lesson plan involving physical activity, simply allowing students a short break every 20-30 minutes to stand up, stretch their legs, or take a few laps around the room can make a big difference in their ability to process information. 

If you’re ready to delve deeper into this topic and start applying the ideas covered in this post, our Move To Learn course is the ideal next step. We cover everything from why it’s so important to get students moving in the classroom, how exercise helps to improve memory, and ways you can revamp your old lessons to include more activity. 

Move To Learn is just one way educators in the Philadelphia area can earn Act 48 hours online while adding valuable skills to their teaching toolbox. Browse our website to learn more!