Habitual Physical Activity of Classroom Teachers: Does It Relate to Their Conduct of Physical Education Classes?.

This study used systematic, direct observation of classes over 2 years to investigate whether physical education (PE) teachers' habitual physical activity related to their conduct of PE classes. Participants were 18 fourth and fifth grade classroom teachers employed in a California school district where classroom teachers typically were responsible for teaching their own PE. They had participated in staff development and received a PE curriculum, and they were encouraged to be physically active for their own health. Over the 4 semesters, teachers completed a self-report instrument that examined how many times they did bouts of strenuous, moderate, and mild physical activity/exercise for 15 minutes or more during their free time the previous week. During the same 4 semesters, researchers observed the teachers' PE classes systematically using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time instrument. Data analysis indicated that teachers with greater habitual physical activity promoted fitness more than their less active counterparts. They were much more actively engaged in providing instruction, which indicates a higher quality of instruction. The more active teachers tended to provide more opportunities for their students to participate in moderately vigorous physical activity and vigorous activity bouts. (Contains 15 references.) (SM) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Habitual physical activity of classroom teachers: Does it relate to their conduct of physical education classes? Kathryn LaMaster Thom McKenzie Simon Marshall James Sallis San Diego State University