Increasing Classroom Teachers' Implementation and Sustained Use of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Breaks as a Strategy to Improve Academic Outcomes

Purpose: The project team developed and tested a training and support package to boost teachers' implementation and sustained use of physical activity breaks in elementary school classrooms as one way to improve students' academic performance. Brief breaks in instruction for classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) are hypothesized to improve students' attention and increase time on task, which in turn should improve learning and performance. Traditional methods of providing opportunities for physical activity in schools such as physical education classes are important but insufficient for providing daily movement opportunities, leading to the recommendation that schools promote CBPA on a daily basis. CBPA is promising for increasing students' levels of physical activity and improving time on task, but many teachers do not implement these strategies.