AstroPop Meets Footgaming: School FUN

There are many reasons to play casual games, but more often than not they are played during leisure time. These students are among the first "FootGamers," a term trademarked by Judy Shasek to describe a new way to use a dance-mat type game controller to play games that are conventionally played with a mouse or keystrokes. Watch the students observe Shasek playing AstroPop with the mat. Comments like, 'Wow! Now I bet my mom will let me play these cool games 'cause I'll be getting some exercise!" filled the air. The learning curve was minimal, with 4th graders reaching level 5 in their very first try.

Many school Districts have wellness mandates that include 150-225 minutes of physical activity weekly for various grades. When the computer lab can be re-invented as an activity area as easily as plugging in a mouse-type peripheral - the Foot POWR Pad, opportunity to add more physical activity becomes an economical reality. It's economical in terms of both time and money.

The reasons to embed physical activity in the learning environment are plentiful. FootGaming is a powerful ExerLearning opportunity. For more information, contact invenTEAM

Wii Sports and Faculty Wellness

At McCall Elementary in Redmond, OR enthusiastic 4th graders are vending FITNESS - not candy, sodas or snacks. Signs like this cover walls and halls throughout the school. Students sell their peers time playing Wii Sports (50 cents - or students can earn WiiSport coupons via good behavior and school work goals attained) is good business.

The students are quick to point out that the more money they make for their school the more variety of games they can buy for their "customers." A favorite is 'WallBall" in the Wii Playground series.

These students have spent time studying the effects of rhytmic aerobic exercise and balance on their brain. They use a PowerPoint called, Brainy Stuff" to share the research with peers and teachers.

They have also learned strategies for helping their teachers meet wellness goals. In a popular program called Gen Xe3, teams of two students mentor a teacher in how to reach his or her wellness goals.

"We help our counselor by letting her have fun playing Wii baseball," comments one student.

"Yeah, she gets stressed out dealing with a lot of kids and a lot of problems, "chimes in another. The teachers are no less excited about the program. One reading teacher has discovered a way to add upper body conditioning, "Wii boxing is amazing, "she giggled. And her student mentor couldn't agree more.

"You should see her boxing. Her hands are like, flying. She beats us all," he said grinning. Bridging four decades, Wii Sports vending and student-faculty wellness mentoring is thriving at McCall Elementary.

To learn how your school can add this program, e-mail us now.

The Vision: Lawler and Zientarsky Rock!

Students in Naperville Central High's Freshman Literacy classes are engaged in a unique and creative reading unit. Read more here

They are self-targeting in differentiated reading groups while documenting their CRISS reading strategies and engaging in meaningful discussions revolving around the umbrella questions that blanket the Patterns course – How do I define myself? How do I take responsibility for my decisions?

The focus of the reading is Marshall “Major” Taylor http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/ an amazing man from the mid-west that fits nicely into the archetypal hero framework and is a wonderful example for kids to appreciate decision making and defining moments in the face of adversity. Essentially, kids are taking ownership of the reading strategies that work best for them as they look to transition out of Freshman Literacy.

In addition to the reading strategies, students will continue as they have for the last couple of weeks to sprint ½ miles on the stationary bike (to gain fitness and experience empathy for the character) on Mondays and Fridays and record that data along with their reading data in their group’s reading binder. Also, they designed a wristband to recognize Major and his traits in order to fundraise for a Chicago based charity that seeks to put the power of the bicycle at the feet of caregivers in Zambian villages http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/ . Ultimately, they are preparing detailed questions for a real audience in an authentic assessment situation as they will engage in a student-led interview with Rahsaan Bahati, the only African-American in the U.S. professional cycling circuit (former national champ/current national points leader) as he takes time out of his busy international racing schedule with Rock Racing from L.A. to visit the students. The interview and the introduction the kids generate is set to be published mid-May prior to a group of FL kids presenting their reading documentation to the school board on May 19th!

For some data on how these amazing students have soared in their learning, visit the FL HOME. We heartily congratulate Phil Lawler and Paul Zientarsky for their vision, passion and dedication - and the teachers, Marc, Maxyne, and Dee. For more and a PDF to download, click here. A great article from Education Week is found here.