Health and Fitness Education

Poor health can easily harm a child’s education, but is often overlooked as a cause of drain on a child’s energy, attention span, and brain function. 


From this program and future research, Reading And Beyond plans to build its capacity to respond more effectively to community health concerns by addressing the identified needs, and become a leader in challenging unhealthy behaviors among the children and families in our community.


In 2008, Reading And Beyond’s Health and Fitness Program worked with parents and children who are enrolled in our tutoring/literacy intervention program.  Parents attend health and nutrition classes once a week to learn new ways in which health impacts their child’s education.


SPARK


That same year, SPARK Physical Education curriculum was added to the enrichment hour of our After School Program.  SPARKs is a nationally recognized fitness program for elementary age students. 


SPARKs’ philosophy is  “Include ALL youth, ALL youth ACTIVE, and ALL youth learning to enjoy movement.”


SPARKs elementary physical education has been selected as the intervention program in many important research studies and cited in the Surgeon General’s Report as a “school-based solution to our nation’s health care crisis.”


Click here to see photos of SPARK in action