'Active Classroom' program gets kids moving in order to learn


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WOODS CROSS — Picture any classroom. The desks are in rows the children are seated, quietly working. Now picture Odyssey Elementary in Woods Cross, the students are up and moving, music is playing and laughter fills the classrooms.

Many would think that it's impossible for learning to take place in an environment like this. Tim Best, the Healthy Lifestyle supervisor at the school, says that's exactly what makes it possible for their students to learn.

As adults we have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time, so why should we expect the same from our kids? Children attend school for eight hours a day, and sitting for that long can make it hard to focus.

The Active Classroom program was designed as an academic program based on research that shows students learn best when they have blood flowing to both hemispheres in the brain.

"You need to get that oxygen flow to where it needs to be and the only way to do that is by moving," Best said. "The students at Odyssey start the day off with running, squatting, jumping and dancing, and once they've finished their exercise, they're ready to learn.

"Kids are always paying attention, sometimes it's just not to the teacher" he said, so when that happens, teachers know it might be time for another dose of excitement and physical activity to get the wiggles out and refocus.

Odyssey Elementary was built with the vision to get kids up and active, creating a healthy lifestyle and increasing successful learning time. Sarah Roundy, a Health specialist at the school says, this program isn't here to take instructional time away from the classroom but to enhance it. This program has really changed the learning environment for the entire school.

"It makes it fun for kids, and they're more engaged in their learning, and when you have kids who are more engaged, more learning is happening," she said. "We want to get those kids to be healthy, to be moving, (and) to get them active, so this stays with them as they grow up."

By implementing these healthy habits at a young age, they will stick with these students as they grow into adulthood. Principal Vicki Corwin said Odyssey Elementary is "a wonderful place to be a student and a teacher. Parents love it! Kids love it!" and we all know that happy kids make happy parents.

If your child's school does not have an Active Classroom program, she said it's important that parents keep up the habit of getting active with their children that way your kids are making lifelong healthy habits. Jenniffer is a Special Projects Producer who heads up the Your Life Your Health, Zero Fatalities and High 5 initiatives. For questions, feedback or possible story ideas, please email jmichaelson@ksl.com.

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