Testimonials

Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM have been implemented at the state, district, higher education, and elementary and secondary physical education levels.

The following testimonials are from individuals who have been involved in integrating the Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM programs at these various levels, and demonstrate the value of the programs, and the programs' reach throughout all curricular levels.

State

New York State AHPERD has officially endorsed Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM together as the best choice for our state students' complete fitness education and fitness testing needs.

NYS AHPERD is so convinced that Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM combined represents the best choice available, that the state organization contracted with AAHPERD to train 24 trainers who in turn conducted 20 workshops across New York for a total of over 700 physical education teachers in the 2000-01 academic year! 

Teachers across our state have been impressed with the materials, books, computer software and the high quality training that they receive in the Physical Best workshops. However, the most important point is this…Physical Best will help professional physical educators make a long term difference in the what your STUDENTS learn about health related fitness! What could be better than that? NYS AHPERD urges you to give Physical Best and FITNESSGRAM a try.

 

District

Baltimore County Public Schools' Physical Education program moved from a sport based program to a health related fitness program in 1994. Our first health related curriculum guide outlined a program Pre-K through 12, which provided structure and direction to our schools for the assessment of the health-related fitness levels of the Baltimore County Public Schools' students.

We believed that by utilizing fitness assessments and the conceptual knowledge, students would be able to employ critical and creative thinking skills and strategies in designing their own personal fitness plans. They would be empowered to become independent lifelong learners. 

In 1995 we tested several fitness programs and in 1998 we selected FITNESSGRAM as the countywide test program. FITNESSGRAM gave us the tools to track student progress, help students set personal goals, provide students with incentives, improve self esteem, demonstrate the importance of health related fitness, evaluate our programs, provide a safe researched based program, and communicate to parents about their students fitness needs.

Our system has found the Physical Best Program to be an outstanding resource for incorporating fitness into a physical education program PreK-12. The training program and materials are resources we are using to assist us with meeting our National, State and Local standards. We are providing at least one Physical Best Fitness Specialist Workshop per year for the teachers at our 167 schools, and at least six different fitness seminars per year utilizing the Physical Best program materials, including books, test manuals, pacer CD and the FITNESSGRAM & ACTIVITYGRAM CD assessment programs. Our school system and communities are dedicated to the healthy development of their children.

Higher Education

I am using the Physical Best Specialist certification within my methods of teaching elementary physical education for many reasons. It is the latest curriculum on teaching health and wellness through games, and I believe in the entire philosophy of teaching health and wellness through games and activities - what better curriculum to introduce to my students than Physical Best? There is none better! Also, I believe in the FITNESSGRAM assessment, which comes directly from Cooper Institute. They have the latest research and information on health fitness assessment, and regularly upgrade the FITNESSGRAM program and software. 

The entire program is very practical and useable in the public schools. I believe that if I can train my future educators to use this curriculum, then children will be taught health and wellness in an active way within the physical education program. This will make the difference in our children's beliefs in health fitness and healthy lifestyles for maintaining health and wellness in the future.

This is the ultimate goal of all physical educators. I have used the program when I taught public schools and I know it works. I have also been retrained and upgraded on all the new and innovative activities. I will continue to believe in and use this great program to educate future physical educators. Physical Best is the best!

Elementary

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him HOW to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"

This Chinese Proverb sums up why we love using AAHPERD's Physical Best Program in our elementary physical education program district-wide. Physical Best is a foundation from which to build your health-related fitness education program for ALL students. The program teaches students how to become fit and active for a lifetime and can easily be incorporated into any existing program.

The Physical Best program includes a wide variety of practical and age appropriate activities that assist us in teaching health-related fitness components and concepts to our students. Students learn fitness knowledge and skills by participating in fun, yet challenging activities. Our district began using the Physical Best program almost a decade ago. We have integrated many of the lessons in to our warm-up and fitness development activities with great success. "Variety is the spice of life" when it comes to developing and teaching a quality fitness education program students will love.

Physical Best provides us with that variety, and our students with the understanding the importance of daily physical activity for healthy living. Give Physical Best a try! You and your students will love it!

Secondary

Physical Best provides an exciting collection of success-oriented skill building activities to help high school physical educators 'turn kids on to activity' and prepare them for a lifetime of fitness and healthy choices.

After attending several introductory sessions and the Specialist Certification Workshop, I implemented the concepts and activities into my "Introduction To Fitness" class for freshman. By making use of the goal setting concepts, personal logs/record sheets, and organizing classes using the four components of health-related fitness, students gained knowledge, skills, and confidence in their abilities to develop and maintain basic levels of personal fitness. 

In short, Physical Best provides tested organizational and teaching techniques, concepts and activities necessary to implement an effective student-centered physical education program designed for maximum participation and student success within a variety of instructional settings.