Kids Read and Ride Bikes Tip

Kids Read and Ride Tip

From Scott Ertl (sertl@wsfcs.k12.nc.us), program coordinator at Marvin Ward Elementary School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina:

“Our school started a new ‘Kids Read and Ride’ program this year for students to ride exercise bikes while reading fun magazines and books. We received 41 donated exercise bikes from members of our community, and we've filled a previously empty classroom with 30 bikes. Teachers bring their classes in to ride for 15-minute periods of time. Every student has their own bike to ride while reading. The remaining bikes are parked in the corner of individual classrooms for teachers to use as an incentive for students, when they complete their work or when they simply need to release some extra energy. We've noticed an increase with student excitement about reading and are hoping that the extra activity will lower our childhood obesity rates as well. We are hoping to inspire more schools to start similar programs through our web site, Kids Read and Ride. We would like to inspire students to become active and have a break from sitting at their desks. Share our website with schools you feel might be interested and please keep us informed so we can add information on our website about other schools that are starting Read and Ride programs.”

Source: http://www.nea.org/tools/Works4Me.html Ideas and tips by teachers, for teachers-January, 2010 Newsletter