Implementing a Milers Morning Program in Schools

Written by Susanne Creer, Physical Education Specialist at Terra Linda Elementary School

Milers is a voluntary morning before school walk/jog program that we did in Nevada at my children’s elementary school. This can be implemented by a teacher or the parent volunteers. When I was co-chair of this program I was a parent not a PE teacher. Another school near us also had a milers program and was run by the PE teacher with help from parents. The way we did it 10 years ago was a lot more work with paper cards and volunteers punching cards foreach lap but I have discovered a much easier way to do this program that doesn’t require nearly as much support using the technology of the EZ scan app https://ezmileageclub.com/. It is very inexpensive. This program could also be used by teachers during the day for brain breaks, students who want to run/walk laps at lunch or recess, or special events.

The students earn rewards for each 10 miles they walk or jog or whatever mile or lap increment you set up. A bigger goal could be earning a 100 miles or laps and a special reward set up for that such as a special t-shirt, medal, or trophy. The purpose of this program is to get kids moving before school and to help instill a love for physical activity and lifetime wellness. The benefits are obvious cardiovascular improvement but it also helps with social and emotional learning, mental health, goal setting, and determination. The most compelling and powerful benefit of all is that regular physical activity has been shown through many scientific studies to provide enormous cognitive benefits increasing brain function and academic achievement especially in children https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5934999/.

What also makes this morning program special is that parents, grandparents, other caretakers, and school staff can also participate. This helps to build relationships between parents and students and school staff.

How do you get a program started?

1. Choose a time that a PE teacher or parents/pta can supervise. At my school we are looking at 8:15 - 8:45 am with school starting at 9:00. Because I am new to the school we are waiting until the Spring to start our program but ideally in Utah you would want to get this program started as soon as possible in the school year.

2. Set up a course to run laps in the grass area of your school or wherever you can mark off cones for laps. Use a meter wheel to determine your mile distance which may consist of several laps to equal one mile.

3. Use the EZ scan app https://ezmileageclub.com/ with scan cards for each student participating. We are going to get lanyards with the badge slot to put the cards in so students can wear them while they run and use them year after year. The EZ scan app can be set up on an ipad sitting on a table where the students scan their card with each lap they complete. One parent or teacher ideally would be there to make sure they complete the lap but it would not be required.

4. The EZ scan will track the mileage/laps completed by up to 1500 participants so a teacher/parent can keep track of students who meet each level. 10 miles, 20 miles etc. We did ribbons in Nevada and would give it to their school teacher to present in class. It could also be a paper award or some other designated prize. Parents/PTA can help with this if they are willing to.

5. We also would have a wall in the school where each student will have a paper shoe that they color at the beginning of the year and has their name on it. As they complete each10 miles they will move down the track which will be on a wall for recognition. This is fun for the kids to see their progress.

6. When students meet a big goal that your school determines is the pinnacle you can have a special shirt made. At our school in Nevada we had students design the 100 mile t-shirt and then the kids voted on their favorite design. Each year this was a new t-shirt. Only the kids who complete 100 miles were able to get one. We also had lots of parents there to ring bells, cheer and have posters when they completed the big goal. We have also done trophies for 100 miles. The bigger award we liked to make a big deal about at school award assemblies but also on the field when it happens. Parents would be there and other teachers etc. to celebrate with them.

7. Use music outside while the kids run/walk. It creates a fun atmosphere. You can do it all the time or just on Fridays to make it more special.

8. We have done a large banner outside on the fence for Milers that had all of the sponsors for our program on the banner including parents as well as businesses that we used for prizes and other supplies. The banner itself was also donated by a business.

9. Reminder that this program could also be done during lunch recess or brain breaks or special events.

10. In Utah the mileage could possible be taken indoors into the gym before school. If that is not an option then students could do it in the first couple months of school and the last couple months of school if weather does not agree with being outside. I'm new to Utah, so we will see how that goes. Also the goals can be adjusted if there is less time to walk/jog outdoors to maybe 50 miles being the big goal.

Program Pictures