By

Kevin Martin,   Donald H Sheffield El

Play:

Let's Dance!

Topics:

Physical Activity Participation,  Student Leadership

Our school does school announcements in the gym on Fridays where student achievements are celebrated, school song is sung, and any daily reminders are given. One Friday the Kindergarten teachers asked to stay after announcements to dance with their kids as a reward for good behavior. That is when the idea for Friday Funk You Up began. I challenged my PE Teirs group to begin promoting the program with emails and flyers we hung up throughout the school. Soon more and more classes were staying, dancing, sweating, and starting their day in a fun and positive way. Now it is rare that a class will miss a Friday Funk You Up session.

How did students and adults work together as a team?

My Kindergarten teacher came up with the idea, but it was my Tiers students that took the idea and promoted it into a reality.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

We continually are challenged by how do we keep it fun and fresh. We encourage all teachers and students to submit song requests to the specials teachers, who then find the music to add to the playlist.

What improvements have you seen at your school?

We have noticed less tardies and absences on Fridays and higher test scores. Positive, happy, awake students produce great work!!