Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks

Objectives: To determine the subjective responses of teachers and students to classroom exercise breaks, and how responses varied by duration. Methods: This mixed-methods experimental study included focus groups with teachers (N = 8) and 4th- and 5th-grade students (N = 96). Students participated in...

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Main Authors: Howie, Erin, Newman-Norlund, R., Pate, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: PNG Publications 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10518
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author Howie, Erin
Newman-Norlund, R.
Pate, R.
author_facet Howie, Erin
Newman-Norlund, R.
Pate, R.
author_sort Howie, Erin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Objectives: To determine the subjective responses of teachers and students to classroom exercise breaks, and how responses varied by duration. Methods: This mixed-methods experimental study included focus groups with teachers (N = 8) and 4th- and 5th-grade students (N = 96). Students participated in 5-, 10-, and 20-minute exercise breaks and 10minutes of sedentary activity. In an additional exploratory analysis, videotapes of each condition were coded and compared for positive affect. Results: Students and teachers discussed multiple benefits, but teachers discussed barriers to implementing regular breaks of 5-minutes or more. Students exhibited higher positive affect during each exercise condition. Conclusions: Classroom exercise breaks are an enjoyable way to increase physical activity, but additional support may be needed to encourage teachers to implement breaks of 5 minutes or longer.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-105182017-09-13T16:03:14Z Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks Howie, Erin Newman-Norlund, R. Pate, R. school children exercise physical activity Objectives: To determine the subjective responses of teachers and students to classroom exercise breaks, and how responses varied by duration. Methods: This mixed-methods experimental study included focus groups with teachers (N = 8) and 4th- and 5th-grade students (N = 96). Students participated in 5-, 10-, and 20-minute exercise breaks and 10minutes of sedentary activity. In an additional exploratory analysis, videotapes of each condition were coded and compared for positive affect. Results: Students and teachers discussed multiple benefits, but teachers discussed barriers to implementing regular breaks of 5-minutes or more. Students exhibited higher positive affect during each exercise condition. Conclusions: Classroom exercise breaks are an enjoyable way to increase physical activity, but additional support may be needed to encourage teachers to implement breaks of 5 minutes or longer. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10518 10.5993/AJHB.38.5.5 PNG Publications restricted
spellingShingle school
children
exercise
physical activity
Howie, Erin
Newman-Norlund, R.
Pate, R.
Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title_full Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title_fullStr Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title_full_unstemmed Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title_short Smiles count but minutes matter: Responses to classroom exercise breaks
title_sort smiles count but minutes matter: responses to classroom exercise breaks
topic school
children
exercise
physical activity
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/10518