English

Abstract

Across the nation schools are adopting health and wellness policies, specifically physical activity (PA) initiatives that aid healthy long-term lifestyles. Interest has been generated about the inclusion of physical activity classes to complement existing physical education classes. Furthermore, discussion has evolved as to if additional instructional resources are needed for physical educators to be adequately equipped to instruct physical activity classes. In this study, we evaluated the instruction and classroom management of physical education teachers instructing a physical activity class over 10 weeks. The purpose of this study was to identify specific instructional constructs that limit movement time. Implementation barriers were identified and used to create techniques to enhance professional education practice and transition a physical education teacher successfully into instructing a physical activity class. With the development of the program Mission Possible: Physical Activity Every Day and the new Physical Activity Leader (PAL) initiative developed by SHAPE America (formally known as AAHPERD) through a partnership with Let’s Move! Active Schools, strategies provided in this article will help children obtain the goal of reaching 60 min of physical activity a day.