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In Texas, middle school exercise program focuses on fitness

By the Dallas Morning News, adapted by Newsela staff

12.09.16
Tyler Siefken, center, 13, does lunges during 7th grade
PE class at Cockrill Middle School in McKinney, Texas.
Photo: Ting Shen/The Dallas Morning News/TNS

MCKINNEY, Texas Go toward the thuds of

the sandbell slams, and youll find the gym at
Cockrill Middle School.
Inside, students lift the weighted bags over
their heads, throwing them onto the wooden
floor. Booms like thunder echo through the
building.
Nearby, others in gym shorts and sneakers jump rope. Some squat like theyre sitting in a chair.
And a few wince as they reach their arms over their heads for situps.

New Course Focuses On Strength, Conditioning

This isnt boot camp or CrossFit. Its called Functional Fitness. It's a set of new Texas Education
Agency-approved strength and conditioning exercise courses from Austin-based GenerationFit.
Functional Fitness is changing physical education (PE) classes.
If you know anything about middle school PE, it can be about whos athletic and whos not
athletic, said Melanie Magee, who leads instruction and curriculum for McKinney Independent
School District (ISD). Curriculum refers to sets of courses or lessons. This is all about not
having that be the focus. Its about your body. Yourself. How do you build that lifelong habit of
keeping yourself fit?
McKinney ISD is one of 12 districts in the state and the only one in North Texas currently
offering the program. That statewide number is expected to almost double next year.
Other Districts Are Asking About The Program
Other local districts have called to ask about the program, said Karin Klemm, health and
physical education coordinator for McKinney ISD. She began researching Functional Fitness a
couple of years ago and spearheaded bringing it to McKinney.
The McKinney ISD incorporates the program into physical education classes two to three times
per week at all its middle and high schools. Because of interest in Functional Fitness, the district
next year plans to offer a higher-level course at high schools.

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And that stands out since physical education students typically arent jocks. They dont get their
needed physical education credit by scoring touchdowns or making baskets, though some do
play sports or dance outside of school.
Its important to have this as something that allows them to build their physical fitness if youre
not an athlete, Klemm said.

Students Were Training For PE Credit

About five years ago, Round Rock ISD started the program under the direction of Laurie
Gotcher. She is co-owner of GenerationFit and also owns two CrossFit gyms. Gotcher, who said
she was once overweight, began developing the curriculum after noticing students training at
her gym for physical education credit.
I learned the kids were hungry for real fitness measurable, accountable fitness, Gotcher
said in a phone interview. And they loved what I was doing in my gyms.
In Functional Fitness, kids dont play basketball, soccer or tag. These sports are still part of their
weekly physical education but there is more attention to fitness.
We work out. We smell. We sweat, Gotcher said.

Students Choose The Level Of Difficulty

Think jump-rope, push-ups, walking lunges and burpees. Burpees are a type of squat-thrust
exercise. Various levels and modifications for each exercise let students choose the level of
difficulty.
Its more of a workout, and the workout is pretty fun, seventh-grade student Haven Chae said.
You know that youre getting stronger.
Students cool down in yoga positions like downward dog. They journal their workout times and
levels in notebooks to chronicle their progress, comparing them with their benchmarks
measured throughout the year.
That means the focus is on them now. Its not on how they toss a bean bag to get it in the little
hole or make the shot, Klemm said. Its not about athletics. Its about how can I improve
myself.