Reading, Writing, Running: The Connection Between Physical Activity and Academic Achievement 
Cuts to physical education have become common in schools across the United States – in response to budget concerns and pressures to improve academic test scores. However, evidence shows that children who are physically active perform better in the classroom, and that daily physical education does not adversely affect academic performance. Schools can provide outstanding learning environments while simultaneously improving children’s health and physical fitness.
This webinar will highlight the positive influences physical activity has on academic outcomes, including improvements in concentration, memory, classroom behavior, and intellectual capacity. It will also discuss the perceptions held by many teachers in regard to the role of physical education and physical activity during the school day.
Featured Speakers:
- Lynn Couturier, President of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and Professor and Chair, Physical Education Department, The State University of New York, Cortland (powerpoint)
- Janis Nielsen, Project Manager, Teachers for Healthy Kids (powerpoint)
- Janet Carter, Executive Director, Team-Up for Youth (powerpoint)
Moderator:
- Paula Card Higginson, Deputy Director for the RWJF Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Associate Director for the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Click here to listen to the post webinar Q&A session.
