Bike and read in the classroom!

[eridani]

http://www.upworthy.com/this-simple-yet-brilliant-idea-is-making-kids-smarter-and-healthier

Ertl was an elementary school counselor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the experience got him thinking, "I bet a bunch of kids would find it fun to read while exercising ... we could get some exercise bikes and give it a shot."

The principal at his school, Ward Elementary, was on board, so he hatched a plan and put it in motion. The experiment started with a single bike in the corner of a classroom.

<snip>

The kids loved it, and they were reading and moving more. The school wanted to know if there were real learning benefits attached to Read and Ride. They compiled data that showed that reading test scores and proficiency were up — and the more time students spent in the Read and Ride room, the better they did on state reading tests.

Read and Ride programs now exist (at least informally) in 30 states across the country, and educators all over are getting behind the trend. They aren't just using exercise bikes — under-desk ellipticals, something called Bouncy Bands, and exercise balls used as chairs are showing up in classrooms, too.

As an added bonus, these types of exercises are especially good for students who are, um, a little less gifted in the athletic department (*raises own hand*). Since the rider controls the speed and intensity, each student can set their own pace, and there's no scrutiny or pressure — and no one ever gets picked
ast. Score!

[Iris]

1. you know what would be fun? P.E. and recess

This is ridiculous.

[eridani]

2. You can't read during PE and recess n/t

[Iris]

3. why should you have to?

These are children, not young executives.

[eridani]

4. My point was that running around playing doesn't mix with reading

Maybe the solution is too adult-oriented. After all, we are the ones having trouble making time for everything, and therefore combine reading and exercising.