I wasn’t at the SHAPE America Convention in 2015 when the 50 Million Strong initiative was announced. I didn’t get the emotional convention hall moment that the other physical education teachers received. In my mind, I envisioned it was like a political convention where a group of like-minded people cheer on a passionate speaker introducing a new life-changing idea. Instead, I heard about it after the event. A friend of mine conveyed the sentiment to me and while I wanted to feel the energy, my first impressions contained adjectives like unattainable, improbable, idealistic, and vague. It wasn’t that I didn’t share the vision that SHAPE leaders were aspiring to, it was that I didn’t see how the change could happen. I thought to myself, so many great teachers are working hard every day, how is this slogan going to make a difference.
None the less, while I still wasn’t really certain what my role was in the initiative, I decided to use the slogan to promote my 1st Annual Family Fitness Night. At the beginning of the night, I did my best to explain the SHAPE America program and our personal program of creating 380 Southdown Strong. The night was considered a success. Students, parents and the administration were happy but I was ecstatic. I had seen the light!
For the last 27 years, I have been happy to walk the walk and talk the talk with my students within my four walls. I have never been one to preach to the masses about what goes on in my classroom. I am embarrassed to say that there are times I am reluctant to talk about my profession at all because of the negative stereotype that is perpetuated by the media, and sadly, by some of our colleagues.
SHAPE America and the 50 Million Strong initiative has given me a conversation starter! This simple slogan has made it okay for me to talk with pride about what happens in the gymnasium. It has also made me realize that educating my K-4th graders will not be enough to create 50 Million Strong. I will need to begin changing the way our community views physical education’s role in the educational system.
It will take a village to get “all of the nation’s children physically active, enthusiastic and committed to making healthy lifestyle choices.” (http://50million.shapeamerica.org/about-us/) It will take all of our passionate Health and PE teachers going beyond their classrooms and out of their comfort zones to educate the adults of our 50 million student’s to achieve 50 Million Strong. We have to realize that our student’s lives don’t take place in the periods of a school day. Physical Education and Health should not begin and end when the bell rings. We need to be the leaders in our schools for change. We need to create opportunities for students to understand what a healthy choice is and give them opportunities to experience the benefits of healthy choices in all of their daily settings.
Here’s my action plan:
Share the 50 Million Strong commitment with colleagues:
Read the Kinesthetic Classroom
Unattainable becomes attainable
Improbable becomes likely
Idealistic becomes realistic
I would love to hear how others plan to achieve 50 million. Please share your action plan with me @lynnhefele #50millionStrong.
None the less, while I still wasn’t really certain what my role was in the initiative, I decided to use the slogan to promote my 1st Annual Family Fitness Night. At the beginning of the night, I did my best to explain the SHAPE America program and our personal program of creating 380 Southdown Strong. The night was considered a success. Students, parents and the administration were happy but I was ecstatic. I had seen the light!
For the last 27 years, I have been happy to walk the walk and talk the talk with my students within my four walls. I have never been one to preach to the masses about what goes on in my classroom. I am embarrassed to say that there are times I am reluctant to talk about my profession at all because of the negative stereotype that is perpetuated by the media, and sadly, by some of our colleagues.
SHAPE America and the 50 Million Strong initiative has given me a conversation starter! This simple slogan has made it okay for me to talk with pride about what happens in the gymnasium. It has also made me realize that educating my K-4th graders will not be enough to create 50 Million Strong. I will need to begin changing the way our community views physical education’s role in the educational system.
It will take a village to get “all of the nation’s children physically active, enthusiastic and committed to making healthy lifestyle choices.” (http://50million.shapeamerica.org/about-us/) It will take all of our passionate Health and PE teachers going beyond their classrooms and out of their comfort zones to educate the adults of our 50 million student’s to achieve 50 Million Strong. We have to realize that our student’s lives don’t take place in the periods of a school day. Physical Education and Health should not begin and end when the bell rings. We need to be the leaders in our schools for change. We need to create opportunities for students to understand what a healthy choice is and give them opportunities to experience the benefits of healthy choices in all of their daily settings.
Here’s my action plan:
Share the 50 Million Strong commitment with colleagues:
- PE Educators
- Principal
- Teachers
- Superintendent
- Board Members
- Family Fitness Night
- Jump Rope for Heart
- Family Walks
- Halftime Shows
- Fuel Up to Play 60
- Mile Clubs- Mileage Club
- Activity equipment bags for recess
- Find indoor recess activity alternatives
Read the Kinesthetic Classroom
- Apply for grants for Kinesthetic Classroom furniture
- Provide PD’s for classroom teachers on brain boosts
- Share a Tip on Shape America
- Conference Presentations at Zone, State, District and National Conventions
- #hashtags for parent groups on Twitter
Unattainable becomes attainable
Improbable becomes likely
Idealistic becomes realistic
I would love to hear how others plan to achieve 50 million. Please share your action plan with me @lynnhefele #50millionStrong.
