Ardent Education

The Future of Learning in the Fox Valley

“Exercise before learning increases the brain’s ability to learn and retain information.”

Dr. John Ratey, Harvard Medical School

Starting Fall of 2023: October through OASD Winter Break

Ardent Fitness and Education will be launching a groundbreaking program in fitness and tutoring for kids in the Fox Valley this Fall (2023). Our program will build off of the principles established by Dr. John Ratey of Harvard Medical School and the BrandX training program developed by Jeff and Mikki Martin.

Did you know that physical activity before tutoring can actually boost learning outcomes? According to Dr. John Ratey in his book “Spark,” exercise stimulates the brain’s production of a protein called BDNF, which helps to promote the growth of new brain cells and connections. This can improve attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility, all of which are essential for effect learning.

But it is not just about the science – there are real stories that illustrate the benefits of physical activity before tutoring. Take, for example, the story of Sarah. Sarah was struggling with reading and had been working with a tutor for several months with little progress. One day, before their session, Sarah and her tutor decided to take a brisk walk around the block. When they returned, Sarah felt more energized and focused, and was able to make significant progress in her understanding of reading concepts. The tutor noticed a clear difference in Sarah’s engagement and enthusiasm.

Stories like Sarah’s show us that physical activity before tutoring can be a powerful tool for improving learning outcomes. This is the basis of Ardent’s Tutoring Program and how we will help your child, not just in his or her worst subject but also in their physical literacy.

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Youth Training Director: Lexi Rule, CCEP, PYCC

Lexi is the Head Coach at Ardent Fitness and Education. She has a degree in Kinesiology from UW-Oshkosh and is a certified exercise physiologist. Lexi holds multiple training certifications to include the BrandX Certified Youth Coach certification.

Education Director: Susan Phillips, MS, CF-K

Susan is an educator with over a decade’s worth of experience teaching and literacy coaching experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from UW-Milwaukee and a Masters in Literacy from UW-Oshkosh. Susan began her education career working for a national level tutoring service before moving to Oshkosh in 2013. Susan also holds a CrossFit Kids training certificate among other licensures. She is currently a literacy coach in the Oshkosh School District.

Ardent Fitness and Tutoring Class Progression

Your child will show up between 4pm and 410pm for the initial part of his or her session. They will be greeted by Coach Lexi and walked through a warmup and then move into physical literacy where they will learn foundational movement techniques in a fun and fast paced environment. The goal is to get your child moving and their heart rate up through fun and interactive activities. After 20 minutes your child will transition into the back room where they will be greeted by tutors.

For the tutoring session your child will bring homework or work from a subject they need assistance in. Our certified teachers will help your child with their needs over the next twenty minutes. The tutoring session will utilize your child’s previous fitness session as a multiplier to help them navigate either homework or making progress in a certain subject. The end goal is for your child to leave physically and mentally stronger from each session.