We Are Teachers of Children

In a classroom setting there are many things that children need to learn, but those are common in most classrooms.
I have idea's about what I think will help children learn better.
Some of these idea's are from sources, some are from my own imagination, but either way I believe they will work for the good of the children.

Here are some idea's:

Have a thermometer that goes up to 1,000 (or  more)
Every time a child gets an A (100%) the red line moves up.
for every 100 mark the class reaches, the class can choose a reward from the reward jar.
These rewards should be something simple and fun, but something that is not done every day such as "Extra recess."
Every 25 mark (or 50) give out a small candy or prize, such as a single starburst or one army man.
When the 1000 mark is finally reached a huge reward is in order.


I have been thinking recently about the obesity epidemic that is spreading rapidly across the country.
Part of this has to do with poor nutrition at home, which the children and I have no control over. Schools have tried to remedy this by providing three meals a day.
But another part of this is the lack of exercise.
Children and adults alike are spending less and less time keeping their bodies healthy and more time keeping their minds occupied. not every happy, just occupied.
"Enjoyment and skill development are the two key factors given by children and adolescents as reason to engage in and maintain programs of physical activity." (Children Moving, Graham, Holt/Hale, Parker. 8th edition Pg 45)
PE is a resource to be used to help children learn what sort of physical activity they want to pursue, to lay the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. But too often it is put off as some unneeded period of time where all the children do is play dodgeball, not really learning anything.
So many schools are pushing for less and less PE time, But it is physical activity that wakes the brain up from a stupor.

An idea for helping children feel comfortable with my at the beginning of the year, and for helping me to understand the living situation of my students:
Visit each student at their home during the summer before school starts.

Idea for helping students embrace the joy of running:
During gym time, before school, after school, some other time, whenever there is time take the kids out running. But I don't stand at the starting line and wait for them to meet me again, I run with them, changing my pace to meet with the fast kids and the slow kids, making sure they all know the pace they are going at is just fine.