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  2. Heather Harrison

Heather Harrison

Heart Rate Monitors

Innovation, Inspiration, and Impact.

“Good health is the foundation of good education.” Heather Harrison, Physical Education teacher at Discovery Intermediate School is helping her students connect how their fitness level can affect their time in their other classes. She said, “Kids will perform academically if they feel better, they will have less stress the more active they are.”

In her grant proposal Heather said, “I feel the benefit of my students being introduced to the concept of Heart Rate and Target Training Zones through the use of the heart rate monitors will be to motivate my students to work harder and strive to stay in their training zones during class.”

Heather noticed that students by 5th and 6th grade already wear advanced technology, she is hoping to help them understand how to use its full potential. With the help of the Goddard Education Foundation she was able to buy 8 wrist worn monitors and 4 hand held monitors. Students take turns checking their heart rate, then they can adjust their activity level accordingly.

Chloe Smith, a 5th grader at Discovery shook my hand, introduced herself, then said, “When you run more you get all sweaty, but you also get better grades. I like to check my heart rate and then beat my own score.”

There is a learning curve for students and teacher alike, Heather is excited to be able to implement the monitors full-time in her teaching at the beginning of the year next fall.