|
 Vickie
Fielder's unique use of Dance Dance
Revolution is presented this month by
pelinks4u editorial assistant
David Morton. Vickie
started a morning DDR program that allows
all children, and even some parents,
at Beachland Elementary a chance to
get moving.
Vickie Fielder:
"My goal as a PE teacher is
to teach my students the skills, the
knowledge, the appreciation, and the
confidence they need to live physically
active lives. I strive to inspire students
with the desire to live happy and healthy
lives."
Vickie received her BS in Physical
Education in 1980 from the University
of Ohio in Athens. She has worked
for Indian
County School District for 23 years,
and has worked at Beachland Elementary
for the past 14 years. Vickie has been
awarded Teacher of the Year in 2003
and again this year. Not only is she
an outstanding teacher, but she is also
a mentor and a friend to her students.
This is partly why she recently received
an Indian River County School Board
Golden Apple Award for her outstanding
dedication to her students. Vickie has
received this acknowledgment not only
because she is a great teacher, but
also because she works hard at providing
the kids with fitness-related activities
outside of regular school hours.
Vickie organizes activities such as
Family
Fitness Nights. This is a night
when children and their parents can
come and be active together. Other activities
Vickie has initiated include Silly Shark
Olympic Day (which is a mini Olympics
for the kids at her school), and a before
school exercise/track program. She has
also run the school spirit squad for
the past eight years.
In addition to organizing programs
for the children in her school and district,
Vickie belongs to a number of groups
around her area that promote physical
fitness and education. One of these
is the Education
Foundation Wisdom Walk for teachers
and community members that raises money
for education and the promotion of fitness.
Vickie is also part of the core team
for the Positive
Behavior System; this team is working
hard to find methods that promote good
behavior. Some ideas include awarding
additional recess and PE time for students
with good behavior or improved behavior.
Vickie is also on the District
Wellness Committee working to make
school meals healthier.
Vickie utilizes numerous programs designed
to awaken the joy of physical activity
in her students. One of these is the
'Plastic Foot Program' in which children
earn a plastic foot for each mile they
complete during recess. She also created
an exercise video that teachers can
use throughout the day to get kids up
and moving. Of all these programs, the
most unique and child oriented one Vickie
uses is Dance
Dance Revolution.
DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION
video
 The
following is a quote from Charlene Tardi
who works in the district office and
helped get the grant for Dance Dance
Revolution.
"The Carol
M. White grant has enabled our district
to redesign our P. E. program with a
focus on helping students incorporate
physical activity into their daily lives.
However, it is teachers such as Vickie,
who have embraced the use of technology
like the DDR that has truly made the
difference in the quality of our program.
I believe that innovative activities,
such as the use of the DDR, have reinvigorated
physical education, allowing us to more
effectively combat the obesity epidemic
resulting in healthier students."
It all began when Vickie was at a workshop
one night, and they were featuring this
new video game craze called Dance
Dance Revolution, or DDR. Instantly,
knowing her students as well as she
does, Vickie fell in love with the Dance
Dance Revolution idea. She realized
it was a chance to excite the students
with a fitness activity they could relate
to. If you visit any arcade center you
will see the Dance
Dance Revolution in its large version,
with handle bars, a 38-inch screen,
and two platforms for people to dance
on and score points. The DDR equipment
Beachland Elementary received was an
adjusted version that the producer Konami
has created for household use. Beachland
Elementary received the equipment for
DDR three years ago.
 Vickie
started by using DDR as an activity
for PE classes, to help break out of
the rut of using the same activities
year after year. However, the great
interest shown by so many students about
this new way of exercising provided
Vickie with an idea; incorporate DDR
into a morning program for students.
Vickie soon found out this was not as
easy to implement as it may sound. The
initial trouble arose when almost every
student wanted to be involved in the
morning program - hat sounds great,
but not if your school doesn't have
a gymnasium. Beachland Elementary uses
a multipurpose room for PE classes,
and would have to use the same room
for the DDR morning program.
The multipurpose room they were using
could only hold about 30 children. So,
instead of giving up or stressing out,
Vickie designed the morning program
into a 9-week rotating system. This
would bring new kids in for each 9-week
session and provide all students a chance
to participate. The program is 2-3 days
a week, depending on what else is going
on around the school, and runs from
8:15-8:45. The program is not for any
specific age or grade, so students aged
5-11 may be involved at any one time.
The program is completely volunteer-based.
Children show up at any time between
8:15-8:45 AM, are welcomed by the volunteers,
and then are able to get moving quickly.
 At
first glance this program may appear
to only be a "before school"
way of playing a video game, However,
the DDR program is much more than that.
At the beginning of each 9-week program
Vickie reviews safety, expectations,
and what the dance steps are. This helps
everyone in the program know what is
expected in terms of being responsible
and cooperative. Vickie also instructs
students on using heart rate monitors
so they can receive positive feedback
about their improved fitness levels.
With 30 students it might seem impossible
for everyone to get a chance to play.
Vickie has solved that dilemma by having
2 scoring mats hooked up to the flat
screen television, and 30 practice mats
hooked up to a projector. Students waiting
their turn to use the scoring mats can
stay active and not get restless by
dancing on the practice mats. The music
is hooked up to a computer system and
played on speakers loud enough so all
participating students can hear. The
type of music changes based on what
age group is using the scoring mats.
Vickie allows the students to change
and choose the songs, which helps them
feel useful and raises their self esteem.
Students say it feels good when they
put on a song and 30 of their fellow
students are laughing, smiling, and
dancing together. The music is ever
changing, varying from hip-hop to classic
rock. Vickie is always looking for new
CDs to purchase so that the kids never
grow tired of it.
 Another
great part of the Dance Dance Revolution
program is that occasionally the children's
parents and faculty members join in,
proving it is a fun and healthy activity
for all ages. In addition to Beachland
Elementary's morning program, all schools
in Indian County School District have
the DDR equipment and use it in K-12
PE classes. Vickie highly recommends
the DDR for all schools in the country,
mostly because it is less about playing
a game, and more about getting the students
motivated and excited about physical
fitness. So, while Vickie believes DDR
is an incredible program, the best result
is having 20-30 students coming before
school to exercise. Students in the
program claim they have more energy
for their day, and that DDR helps them
start the day on a positive note. Teachers
have noticed improved concentration,
honesty, and leadership skills in the
kids participating in the morning program.
 Every
morning program concludes with a warm
down period. This teaches the students
the importance of stretching, in addition
to being active, as a necessary part
of caring for their bodies. Due to the
student's excitement about the program,
many parents have contacted Vickie asking
how they can purchase DDR as a birthday
or Christmas gift for their child. Because
DDR is enjoyed by so many, the school
sets up DDR on parent-teacher nights
for parents to play with their kids.
Vickie says parent's reactions have
been incredible. They are thrilled their
children are getting fit and having
fun while doing it.
Some individual responses from students
in the morning program are:
Sierra: "Fun exercises and I really
work up a sweat."
Mary Elizabeth: "Fun, but challenging."
Destiny: "Fun to play!"
Antonio: "I love to dance."
Marquisa: "It is fun following
the arrows...”
Keyshawn: "It is cool!'
Tiana: "I love learning new cool
dance moves."
The conclusion of Vickie and her morning
program participants is: "It is
just a fun way to exercise."
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