麻豆传媒

Julie Bell aims to improve the well-being of children through physical activity opportunities in early childhood education. As a doctoral student in the University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 Sport and Exercise Science Ph.D. 鈥� Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership Concentration, she approaches the subject of movement in 3-to-5-year-olds from the perspectives of a former classroom teacher, physical education teacher and mother of two young children.

鈥淐reating a foundation of healthy practices in young children puts them on a path for success physically, mentally, socially and even academically,鈥� Bell said.

Prior to joining the doctoral program, Bell taught at international schools for 13 years in Myanmar, Venezuela and China. While abroad, she earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership at 麻豆传媒. The hybrid program 鈥� online with two weeks on campus in the summers 鈥� allowed her to make strong connections with Jennifer Krause and Brian Dauenhauer, professors in the College of Natural and Health Sciences鈥� Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition and Dietetics.

Bell鈥檚 desire to be in an environment surrounded by professionals who share her passion and are at the forefront of the field in school-based physical activity promotion led her back to 麻豆传媒 for her doctoral program.

While most K-12 schools offer physical education classes, preschool students seldom get the opportunity. However this year for the first time, national physical education standards include pre-K, highlighting the importance of movement for this age group. To help promote physical activity in early childhood, Bell delivered a presentation on this topic to physical education and health teachers at the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) convention in Aurora, Colorado, in October.

鈥淭he focus of the session was to discuss the new standards, age-appropriate physical education activities for preschool students and strategies to share with classroom teachers on integrating movement in the classroom. The research I am conducting helps validate the practices I shared with these teachers,鈥� she said.

Bell has employed many of these practices in her previous roles. For example, in Shanghai, after Bell transitioned from classroom teacher to physical education, she collaborated with a kindergarten teacher to reinforce lessons on natural disasters by creating stations in a gymnastics room to mimic tornadoes, earthquakes and other events. This approach to kinesthetic learning can enrich students鈥� understanding of academic content.

At the halfway point in her doctoral program, Bell feels confident she鈥檚 on the right path. In an early discussion with Krause, who is her doctoral advisor, she reflected on her passion for early childhood and physical activity to help determine the best line of research.

鈥淗er questions helped me consider the many areas I felt passionate about and narrow down my focus. I appreciated that her guidance and support led me toward my own path,鈥� Bell said.

Bell and Krause continue to meet weekly.

鈥淧hysical activity in early childhood is an area that has been understudied. Julie鈥檚 work has the potential to impact the field and improve not just health outcomes by providing more physical activity for children, but other behaviors like self-regulation, attention, time on task and possibly even academic achievement,鈥� Krause said.

She said Bell is obtaining many skills through the program, such as data collection strategies, systematic review, research and professional development.

鈥淛ulie has done an excellent job teaching a class on health and physical education for elementary teachers, which is required for elementary education majors,鈥� Krause said. 鈥淲hile her primary interest is early childhood, she is gaining a wealth of knowledge in different areas. I鈥檓 excited for where she goes after this. She鈥檚 going to do great things.鈥�

While the doctoral program prepares graduates to go into physical education teacher education and physical activity leadership roles, Bell is considering other options as well.

鈥淚 still feel passionate about teaching overseas, and I鈥檓 interested in working directly with schools to take that advocacy piece to the next level,鈥� Bell said.