The Impact of Daily Physical Activity on English Language Learning Students' Off-Task Behaviors

Behavior management is becoming overwhelming in today's educational system. Many teachers are struggling to keep their students engaged in their classrooms. The goal of this study was to show educators that incorporating vigorous exercise on a daily basis for a short amount of time (fifteen minutes) has the potential to reduce common off-task behaviors, such as students laying heads down, talking off-task, and being out of their seat. Quantitative data was collected by comparing before and after number of off-task behaviors for each week of the study. Qualitative data was collected through a survey that the students completed. During my study, I found my students' off-task behaviors did not decrease significantly with the implementation of vigorous physical activity. The quantitative data actually showed an increase in the total number of off-task behaviors. Qualitative data resulted in students rating their behavior as improved after implementation of physical exercise. Further research in this area is needed because off-task behavior in a classroom reduces time spent with instruction and learning. Educators today need to discover new techniques that will engage students throughout the school day. Enabling students to work towards being a more focused learner will only improve their overall school experience