GIRLS ON TRACK

Running for Self-Esteem

CounselorsKimeya Courts-Chapman, M. S., LPC-Internkcourtschapman@dpisd.org832-668-7515

Denise Batchelor, M. Ed. dbatchelor@dpisd.org

Deer Park Junior High

Deer Park, Texas Deer Park ISD

850 Students 6th – 8th Grade

74% White 23% Hispanic 2% Black 1% Asian 23% Economically Disadvantaged 13% (113 students) Special Education

GIRLS ON THE RUN Girls on the Run began for 3rd-5th grade

girls When girls wanted to continue in middle

school, Girls on Track was added for 6th-8th grade girls

GIRL ON THE RUN HISTORY Video

HISTORY

Started 1996 Founder is Molly Barker, a triathlete,

former high school teacher, track coach, and college counselor

Molly used running to overcome anorexia and alcohol addiction

Molly created the Girls on the Run curriculum to help girls break out of the “Girl Box,” which tells them the way they look is more important then who they are on the inside

THE PROGRAM: A short training for the

coach(es) required Groups of 6-15 girls 24 Lesson Curriculum 10 or 12 week session Twice weekly sessions Fall session from August to

December Spring session from January

to May Cumulating event is a 5K

run with Running Buddies

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT GOTR? Video

CURRICULUM PART 1

Gain an understanding of themselves

Identify strengths and abilities

Set goals Explore importance of

being physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy

Examine what makes them unique

CURRICULUM PART 2 Get along with others Learn active listening and assertion

skills Think positively Recognize importance of standing up for

oneself Examine importance of good decision-

making skills

CURRICULUM PART 3 Analyze the messages girls get from the

media Explore their own stereotyping Explore their responsibility to the community Be empowered to change their environment

in a positive manner Create and implement a community project

WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT GOTR? Video

 STRUCTURE OF SESSION Getting on Board: Circle discussion

time Warm-Up Activity: Focuses on the

topic Processing: Question and answer time

following the warm-up, done while stretching

Workout: Running workouts that incorporate a game or team goal

Processing: Q and A and stretching Wrap Up: Energy Awards and other

positive comments

ENERGY AWARDS Cheers to praise others and recognize

positive behavior Announcement for each winner Small prize Examples: The Surfer, Superstar, The

Lawnmower, The Firecracker, WOW, Pencil Sharpener, Fan-tastic, Shopping Cart

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GOT AN ENERGY AWARD?

SAMPLE LESSON:MEDIA AWARENESSIntroductory Discussion: What is Media? What impact does media have on you,

your friends, your community? Has anyone seen or heard anything on

the media that has made them angry or uncomfortable?

SAMPLE LESSON:MEDIA AWARENESSWarm-up: Discuss how sex and domination of

females is used to sell products and entertain.

Explain the 5 ways media portrays women unequal to men

1. Body Parts2. Off-Balance3. Clowning4. Superiority5. Control

SAMPLE LESSON: BODY PARTS Treats women’s bodies as separate parts

(eyes, legs, breasts) Suggests woman’s body is not

connected to her feelings

SAMPLE LESSON: OFF-BALANCE Women standing in off-balance or

awkward positions Pose suggests submissiveness, sexual

willingness, and weakness

SAMPLE LESSON: CLOWNING Women shown as playful and childish Suggests women can not be taken

seriously

SAMPLE LESSON: SUPERIORITY Women positioned behind or beneath

men or sized smaller than men Suggests men have control over women

SAMPLE LESSON: CONTROL Women shown with a man where it

looks like man could hurt her Suggests women must be dominated

and kept under control

SAMPLE LESSON: WORKOUT Divide into groups of five Give each runner a card with

one of the 5 media tactics Show a picture from a

magazine illustrating one of the tactics

Girl with correct media tactic runs to you and back to group

Points for first correct answer

SAMPLE LESSON: WORKOUT Girls answer a question after each lap

she runs1. List two things you can do to make a

difference if you are angered by an advertisement.

2. Write three of the tactics used by the media to portray women as sexual objects.

3. Word unscramble.4. Word find.5. Fill in blank.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE LESSON? Video

RESULTS AT DPJH

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Girls on Track Results

Before

After

RESULTS AT DPJH

Scared about weight

Think a lot about weight

Sticks to dreams

Important to listen

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BeforeAfter

HOW DID GIRLS ON TRACK CHANGE YOU? Video

RESULTS OF A 2006 STUDY Improved self-esteem Improved body size

satisfaction No statistically significant

increase in team sport participation

No statistically significant increase in number of days being physically active

No statistically significant increase in positive attitudes about physical activity

COST $125 per student Cost is negotiable if

student is unable to pay

$20 for race registration

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE RACE? Video

NAIL CLUB Community service project for Girls on

Track No set membership Girls only Once a month trips to paint nails of local

nursing home residents

RESOURCESDeBate, R.D. (2006). Girls on the Run:

Formative evaluation report.

www.girlsontherun.org

Girls on the Run Coaches Training Manual

Girls on Track Curriculum