When school districts cut PE, teachers turn to exergames

When budget cuts made it necessary to cut programs, Redmond School District cut many of the subjects that were considered “extras” like music, art and PE. Luckily at Tom McCall Elementary teachers realized the importance regular physical activity breaks for their students and took time and effort to re-think what they could do to make physical activity happen. Michelle Zistel and Heather Renz turned to video games. These two teachers are using the ExerLearning computer program as the core of their PE classes. The students not only get exercise from dancing on the pads to Dance Dance Revolution, but they also learn about music and get to play leadership roles within their own classrooms, as they often get to teach others how to use the program.