MATCH School Program
MATCH, Motivating Adolescents with Technology to Choose Health, is a teacher-developed interdisciplinary approach to student wellness combining physical activity, nutrition, and technology education. A "body systems" approach is used as a framework for the curriculum. MATCH lessons are delivered over a 16-week period and are designed to parallel the 7th Grade North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Essential Standards. The program also meets Common Core curricular standards and builds 21st Century Learning principles. Lessons are designed to improve performance on End of Grade Reading, Math, Writing, and Computer Skills Tests and provide wellness benefits.
Mr. Tim Hardison, a former middle-school science teacher, developed MATCH and now serves as program director for MATCH through the PHWRTC. Mr. Hardison works closely with Dr. Suzanne Lazorick, a PHWRTC pediatrician and obesity researcher, to implement and evaluate the program. Current funding for the program is provided by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. To learn more, visit the MATCH website or contact Tim Hardison.
MATCH Receives Funding for Expansion
School children in six eastern North Carolina counties will benefit from a health education program led by East Carolina University experts and funded by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
With a grant of $408,6932, the Winston-Salem based charitable organization has funded expansion of Motivating Adolescents with Technology to Choose Health (MATCH), a program that teachers healthful lifestyles to middle school students.
MATCH will expand from six to 12 counties with an approach to student wellness that combines physical activity, nutrition education and technology. It was developed in Martin County by then-seventh-grade teacher Tim Hardison who now directs the program at ECU.
To learn more about MATCH, read the news release or visit the MATCH website at www.matchwellness.org.
