Northside Independent School District - San Antonio, TX

Elementary Physical Education

Motor Lab Project

Northside ISD is implementing a Motor Lab Project at approximately forty elementary schools in the fall of 2009. The project is based on the Timberwilde Motor Lab that was developed by Jill Johnstone and Molly Ramon, physical education teachers at Timberwilde Elementary School. During the 2007-2008 school year at Timberwilde, the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD) and the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) were used to identify kindergarten students with delays in motor development and reading readiness. Approximately twenty-five students participated in a perceptual-motor development lab four times a week throughout the school year. Results from this study in 2007-2008 showed that students who participated in the motor lab made greater improvements in motor development and reading levels than the control group. Dr. Robbi Beyer, Associate Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio acted as the primary investigator for the study.

In an effort to replicate the Timberwilde Motor Lab, interested physical education teachers have participated in a pre-implementation phase during the spring of this year. Teachers have been trained and shown proficiency in using the TGMD, as well as the motor lab curriculum. Two days of additional training in motor development is required for the teachers during the summer.

Principals of participating schools have been asked to provide time within the daily schedule for the trained teachers to work with the selected kindergarten students outside of the required PE schedule. This is typically a thirty minute enrichment period at the beginning of the school day. The Motor Lab will be implemented four times per week during the school year. At the end of the 2009-2010 year, students will be assessed in motor development and reading levels to measure anticipated improvements. Dr. Robbi Beyer will continue to work with the physical education department on this project.