My Life
I am the proud mother of a 19-year old daughter who is attending Benedictine University and hopes to become a physical therapist. I enjoy spending time outdoors when the weather is nice so I love that I have the summers off! I enjoy riding my bike and swimming and have participated in a fair amount of sprint and olympic distance triathlons. During the summer I teach swim lessons at a local park district and travel as much as possible.
In 2009 I started Youth Fitness Consultants and began teaching physical education independently at various preschools in Chicago and the suburbs. I founded the Youth Fitness Foundation in 2012 and directed my first 5K race to raise money for Rett syndrome.
I graduated from DePaul University in 2009. Since that time I have been fortunate to teach all grade levels from pre-school through college level. I have a strong background in fitness and I support a fitness based style of physical education. Currently, I am pursuing a M.S. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) from Emporia State University. I consider myself to be a life learner and am not afraid to fail forward or too proud to ask for help when needed.
My Certifications
My certifications include:
- K-12 P.E. & Health Education (ISBE)
- WSI (Water Safety Instructor)
- CPR/AED
- ACE Personal Trainer
- AFAA Group Exercise Instructor
- ISSA Youth Fitness Trainer
My Philosophy
Physical education means many things to many people. Some perceive physical education to be recess or free-time play. Other individuals mistakenly consider physical education to be the same as athletics or competitive sports. My philosophy of physical education is that it is part of the total educational program that contributes to the growth and development of all children through movement. No other area of the curriculum is designed to help children learn motor and lifetime activity skills. This makes PE a necessary component of the school curriculum.
If students, particularly the unskilled, don’t receive quality instruction in physical education, there is little opportunity for them to learn those skills as adults. For example, there are all types of opportunities for skilled youngsters to participate in little league, gymnastics clubs, swim teams, soccer and other sport clubs. However, for the unskilled youngster, physical education may be the only place that offers an option to learn new skills.
We live in a world where this generation of children may not outlive their parents. The percentage of youth who are overweight has more than tripled in the past 30 years. A positive experience in physical education classes can help encourage youngsters to be active as adults. Studies show that adolescent weight is a good predictor of adult obesity. My goal is to create a curriculum for your children that will encourage active behavior; to help them understand the importance of proper weight management and how to live a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy food, exercising every day and getting plenty of rest.
Our bodies are a gift and I want to help children learn how to take care of their bodies and improve their quality of life, not only today, but for the rest of their lives. It is my goal to plant the seed of positive lifestyle behaviors so the children will benefit from a lifetime of health and wellness. When children develop sound movement skills early, they improve their self-esteem and are more likely to practice healthful activities as adults. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at lwolford@cicd99.edu.