ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 15, 1996 TAG: 9601150072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER
It sounds like a child's delight: watching television while doing homework.
That's what Cheryl Nicely, a physical education teacher at Roanoke's Fallon Park Elementary School, advises her pupils to do to improve their level of fitness.
While children are viewing their favorite program, they should do sit-ups and other exercises to improve strength and flexibility, she says.
"I tell them they can do it without having to interrupt their television time," Nicely said.
It's part of the city's effort to increase the percentage of students who pass the state's mandated fitness tests: Teachers are encouraging children to do physical education homework.
Fourth- and fifth-graders have only three 30-minute physical education classes a week. Children in the first three grades have only one or two classes a week, depending on the school.
"It's hard for them to make big gains in only one hour and a half or less a week," Nicely said. "That's why I try to get them to do exercises while they're watching television."
Calvin Waldron, a physical education teacher at Garden City Elementary School, uses homework logs for his pupils so they can keep a record of their assignments. He establishes such goals as 15 push-ups for a child and asks them to work on it daily.
Parents are a key to improving children's physical fitness, Nicely said. Unless they become involved and encourage their children, the failure rate on the tests is likely to remain high, she said.
LENGTH: Short : 38 linesby CNB