Let's Not Just Say It This Year! Let’s Do It! School-Wide!

written by Ashleigh Evaniew, Brent Bradford, and Clive Hickson, University of Alberta

Well, it's that time of the year again. A New Year is upon us! We have, undoubtedly, all heard the following statement over and over again only to forget about it as time goes by.

"This is the year I am really going to follow my New Year’s Resolution!"

Over the years we have all heard ourselves and others state New Year's Resolutions boldly and proudly only to discover that, after a few weeks or months, we never took the proper steps to sustain them! For example, have you ever heard New Year Resolutions like these?

• I am going to get fit!
• I am going to eat better!
• I am going lose weight!
• I am going to walk more this year!
• I am going to get a fitness gymnasium membership!
• I am going to take up bike riding!

The Issue: We all have good intentions, and would benefit from achieving such goals. Yet, year after year, most of us lose the passion and determination we so strongly held at the beginning of the New Year. Why?

Although most New Year's Resolutions diminish over time, it would not be difficult to argue that many resolutions are not sustainable due to a lack of commitment. Therefore, since a lack of commitment is the major deterrent to following a resolution, let's focus on two levels that can be given attention to in our schools (i.e., school staff, students).

Level of Commitment by School Staff: For students to sustain a resolution throughout the year, it is essential that school staff provide necessary tools for students to maintain a level of commitment for success. For example, staff members could demonstrate to students that they are following a fitness resolution too.

Level of Commitment by the Students: Once school staff provide strategies for student success, it is imperative that students believe the resolution is achievable and rewarding, and that they must be accountable for its completion.

This year, how can we follow our New Year's Resolutions? Here's a thought for this year:

Since physical education teachers help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to live active, healthy lifestyles, helping them to create New Year's Resolutions that are achievable and rewarding, and holding everyone accountable may prove to be an effective teaching strategy. Such resolutions may help students enhance their levels of physical activity and healthy choices.

Let’s go school-wide this year!

The Idea: Let's create school-wide New Year's Resolutions (Goals) that are achievable and rewarding, and that hold everyone accountable, while enhancing the levels of physical activity and healthy choices for everyone!

The New Year's Goal: One reason that proper steps are not taken to follow a resolution may simply have to do with wording. Would it be so bad to change the name of New Year's 'Resolution' to New Year's 'Goal?' The word 'resolution' sounds as if there's a problem that needs to be resolved; whereas, a 'goal' frames our intention in a more manageable way. Goals are meant to be followed and achieved. We all know that there are proper steps to follow when trying to reach a goal. In addition, goals are motivating and can be very rewarding. Therefore, this year let's set out school-wide New Year's 'Goals' that are achievable and rewarding, and that hold everyone accountable.

Achievable, Rewarding, and Accountable Goals

Achievable: It is important that school staff and students are able to achieve a New Year's Goal that is set. For example, the goal should be one that the school staff and students have the skills, equipment, and time to work towards. Achievable goals should be specific and realistic; that way they stand more chance of being met.

Specific goals will help students reach a level of success more than goals with broad statements. For example, stating a goal to 'eat 5 servings of vegetables a day,' as opposed to 'eat better,' will be a more effective goal to achieve.

The same can be said for realistic goals. Realistic goals limit opportunities for failure, and maximize chances for success. For example, using the lunch hour to exercise with colleagues and students is a realistic goal that is achievable, rather than setting a time in the evening after everyone has left for their homes and families.

Rewarding: When reached, a New Year's Goal should be celebrated! For example, there could be a "Fun Day" at the local pool. When students (and adults) can see the goal within sight, there is a greater chance of the goal being reached.

Accountable: School staff and students should be held accountable for the accomplishment of the school-wide New Year's Goal. Accountability can be increased when goals are measurable. For example, school bulletin boards can indicate progress and commitment toward the goal.

Having a goal that is easily documented and measured can help keep us on track and monitor our progress. Here are a few ways to make our New Year's Goal measurable.

• Time (For two weeks, I will...)
• Activity (I will run instead of drive…)
• Amount (I will drink 3 glasses of water…)

Having a measurable goal allows both school staff and students to track progress, which will promote success throughout the journey - not just at the end!

Active, Healthy Goals: Here are several examples of school-wide New Year's Goals that will assist in the enhancement of physical activity levels and healthy choices:

• Jump rope for 10 minutes each day.
• Participate twice a week in school-wide fitness clubs.
• Dance for 5 full songs.
• Walk, run, or wheel for 20 minutes each day with a friend.

The Support toward Goal Attainment: As teachers of physical education, we need to continue playing an instrumental role in our students' acquisition of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of active, healthy lifestyles. Therefore, it is crucial for us to help our students work towards the accomplishment of New Year's Goals. Some students may not have other supports! For example, perhaps some students do not have the proper equipment to participate in different physical activities (e.g., a jump rope).

How Can We Support our Students to accomplish their Goals?

• P.E. Homework
• Dance (lunch hour) Group
• Jump Rope (after school) Group
• Inclusive, Non-Competitive Intramural Programs

Reaching the New Year’s Goals: In order to reward school staff and students for their focus on reaching the New Year's Goals, a culminating activity is a great way to showcase the accomplishment as a school-wide success. For example, a New Year's Goal 'Showcase Party' can be a terrific way to show students that their hard work toward reaching their goals is being rewarded!

New Year's Goal Showcase Party: At a Showcase Party, our school gymnasium and/or playing fields can be turned into exciting, colorful, and physically active environments. Students, staff members, and other school community members (e.g., parents/guardians, local dignitaries, local professional athletes) can be part of decorating and participating in the showcase party. The showcase party can include healthy snacks, large group games, tug-of-wars, and small group activities.

Of course, there are other great ways to provide students with a culminating activity as a reward for reaching their New Year's Goals:

• Swim Day at the local pool
• New Recess Equipment Day
• A Physical Activity Day at the local park
• Field trip to a local professional game (e.g., baseball)

The Conclusion: Although we are not trying to re-create something that has been going on for generations (i.e., New Year's Resolutions), we are trying to discover better, more effective ways to teach ourselves and our students to choose goals that are achievable, realistic, and provide accountability that promotes reaching those goals. New Year's Resolutions are easily forgotten; however, if we set out school-wide New Year's Goals this year, it may become evident that school staff and students are better equipped to reach them.

It is up to us, as teachers of physical education, to help create school-wide New Year's Goals that both we and our students are capable of achieving together!

The Final Idea: As teachers of physical education, let's strive to transfer the skill of goal-setting beyond January and beyond the New Year's Goal. While using the same guidelines taught above, why not do goal-setting every month? What a terrific way to not only start the 'New Year' - our students will become excited to start each 'New Month!'

Let's not just say it this year! Let’s do it! School-wide!

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