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Teaching a lesson doesn’t have to mean standing in front of a class of children sitting still.
That was the message at a session organised for teachers by the Wellington College Teaching Alliance.
Active Classrooms, run by PE consultant Kevin Barton, focussed on how lots of children struggle with sitting still and learning for even relatively short periods, a problem exacerbated by the lockdowns of the covid pandemic.
He taught the group of eight teachers, from schools including The Piggott, The Forest, Kennel Lane, Reading Girls, and Sandhurst, about the importance of incorporating physical activity into all classrooms and the science behind it.
“There is rigorous empirical evidence to show that movement can increase concentration and learning capacity as well as improving coordination, socialisation, engagement and group cohesion.”
Lindsay Gowland, WCTA co-ordinator, said: “Movement can really add value, both in terms of behaviour management and learning outcomes.
“There is rigorous empirical evidence to show that movement can increase concentration and learning capacity as well as improving coordination, socialisation, engagement and group cohesion.
“This was a good practical session showing that an active classroom doesn’t have to be a chaotic classroom.
“The group took away lots of ideas which they can easily incorporate into their classroom practice.
The event was held at Uplands School, in Sandhurst.
