firstARETE sm | American Sports Institute

firstARETE sm

Background

The American Sports Institute has developed and implemented a grades 7-12, one-hour, daily academic course that uses a sport culture, physical activity and wellness-based, body-brain integrated learning methodology and curriculum that has produced outstanding results. Presented to 4,000 students in 59 secondary schools in five states—California, Oregon, Illinois, North Carolina, and South Carolina—Promoting Achievement in School through Sport (PASS) has been evaluated by researchers at a division of the U.S. Department of Education. On page 5 of their report, which you can access here (pdf),the researchers concluded: “PASS is a model for total school reform … that addresses the needs of the whole learner—intellectual needs, motivational needs, and other needs such as students’ physical and social needs.”

Click the image to download a pdf about the firstARETE program.

Having learned about the success of the PASS program, Evan Smith, former principal of K-8 Coulterville-Greeley School, located at the northern gate to Yosemite Valley in Mariposa County, California, asked the American Sports Institute if the same principles, practices, and sport culture, physical activity and wellness-based, body-brain integrated learning methodology of PASS could be applied to the elementary-school level and be fully integrated into the entire curriculum throughout the entire day of every school day at his under-performing public school. In response, the American Sports Institute developed and implemented at Coulterville-Greeley School the PASS/Arete Pilot Project. All teachers and staff at Coulterville-Greeley School were trained in the pilot project’s learning methodology and curriculum, which included aerobic physical activity for all students AND their teachers at the very beginning of every school day. As a result of implementing the PASS/Arete Pilot Project, according to Smith, the students improved their physical health, mental health, social-emotional behavior, self-discipline, self-esteem, and leadership skills (00:56). And, over a six-year period, Coulterville-Greely School improved its state test scores a resounding 212 points (01:02), earning the honor of being designated a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education. However, despite these results at Coulterville-Greeley, when Smith recommended to other principals in his district that they implement the pilot project in their schools, they declined. Smith couldn’t understand why (01:34).

For more about the PASS/Arete Pilot Project at Coulterville-Greeley School, click here.

Given the success of the PASS/Arete Pilot Project at Coulterville-Greeley School, educators asked if the program and its learning methodology could be implemented for a shorter amount of time than throughout the entire school day. In response, the American Sports Institute has produced and now makes available to elementary schools a professional development training program in how to implement a condensed, adapted version of the pilot project called firstARETE.

Student Outcomes

By participating in the firstARETE activities, students realize gains in:

Academic Performance
Cognition, including Learning and Memory
Cardiovascular Health
Sustained Concentration
Responsibility
Self-Esteem
Self-Discipline
Empathy and Respect for Others
Personal Presence and Leadership
Acting Individually and as an Integral Part of a Group
Respect for Surroundings

Curriculum Design

The student skills, attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors addressed in firstARETE are realized through a specifically designed set of curricular activities that, on a daily basis, challenge, engage, and motivate students to do their best individually and as a team. These physical, cognitive, and social-emotional activities are easily incorporated into the school day, and contribute to the students’ success and fulfillment throughout the day.
40 min.	Aerobic Activity that enhances cardiovascular health, cognition for learning and memory, and social-emotional behavior, providing students the capacity to perform at their best academically and personally. The aerobic activity is performed by all students AND their teachers.
1 min.	Clap-In provides a ceremony enabling the students to begin class as a single unit, creating class cohesion and mutual respect between the students and teacher.
5-10 min.	Concentration Practice to develop focus, discipline, relaxation, and alertness in order to physically and mentally prepare the students for learning.
7 min.	Light Physical Warm-Up Activities to oxygenate the blood and develop focus, discipline, relaxation, and alertness in order to physically and mentally prepare the students for learning.
4 min.	Student of the Day to enhance self-esteem and create class cohesiveness and mutual respect in order to improve overall behavior, including empathy and tolerance.
5 min.	Journal Writing to enable students to reflect on their experiences in the firstARETE program and their personal lives in order to gain insights into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
1 min.	Clap-Out, lead by the Student of the Day, provides a ceremony enabling the students to end the school day as a single unit, creating class cohesion, respect for other students, and personal presence and leadership.
Open	Integrated Physical and Academic Activities that both the teacher and students create that provide challenge, engagement, and relevance for the students, leading to a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

Professional Development Training

firstARETE teachers are trained in a two-phase process. Phase 1 requires 28 hours of training, and Phase 2 requires eight hours of follow-up training.
Phase 1	Teachers receive in-depth, hands-on training, including the firstARETE Curriculum Guide that contains comprehensive lesson plans.
Phase 2	1) Two observation and evaluation on-site visits with each teacher trained; and 2) a half-day follow-up training to deal with issues and concerns, and to refine procedures, activities, and techniques.
After Phase 2, the American Sports Institute provides ongoing support.

Cost

$1,620 per teacher

For More Information

Contact the American Sports Institute at 415-383-5750, or info@americansportsinstitute.org.

Donate

Click here to mail a donation to the American Sports Institute in support of the firstARETE program. Thank You.