Runnign to Achieve

“‘Running to Achieve’ program Combines Fitness, Literacy”

http://dialog.ua.edu/2010/10/running-to-achieve-program-combines-fitness-literacy/

Summary: Christina Vanzandt, a third grade teacher, started a program called Running to Achieve for students in her area. She noticed that there was a high level of obesity and a low level of reading, so this program aids to both at the same time. The students stay after school and train to run in a 5K marathon and read and write about fitness and running.

This is a really cool way to integrate two much needed aspects together and have there be a reason behind it. When children have a goal to meet, they are more likely to try and purse it and work hard. By giving them the goal of running the 5K and doing well, makes them want to train and find out different ways to improve so they can do well in the race. A way that I could integrate math with another aspect would be sporting activities. There are many different sports that have mathematical application to them. For example, pool is all about angles and where the pool stick should hit the ball and where the ball should hit the other ball. The students could read many different articles relating to pool and how to become better at it. Another sport they could study could be the kicker in football and figuring out what angle to kick the ball, or baseball and calculating how fast the pitcher is throwing. There are multiple different games that relate to mathematics and probability. They could learn strategies and improve in almost any game. I think that if there is a reason for why you are learning things and if you enjoy what you are doing, then you will be more inclined to want to learn more. I find this true for myself a lot of the time with working out. In high school I was a work out fanatic because I was training to become better at basketball. But now that I am not in basketball anymore, it is more difficult to work out because I have no reason to except to be healthy or fit. My workouts are not as intense and I don’t have anyone pushing me to go my hardest. This article was an easy read because it was interesting what she did and I would have enjoyed participating in that program if I was younger.