At Bethany Charter School in Oregon, creativity is a cornerstone of learning. The small K-8 charter school serves 160 students and combines blended grade levels like 5-6 and 7-8.
Mallory Wilson, who teaches math and literacy in the morning and PE in the afternoons, has always embraced outside-the-box approaches. With limited equipment and space, Mallory is no stranger to finding unique ways to empower students in physical education. She has taught fencing with pool noodles, earned her archery certification, and even incorporated fishing into her lessons.
But when her older students started to lose interest in some of the more traditional sports-based PE classes, Mallory knew it was time for a change.
“While I’ve tried introducing new units, it’s always a challenge to meet everyone’s interests,” she said.
She aimed to incorporate more lifetime fitness options but needed an approach that fit her limited space and equipment. With no weight room, a gym smaller than a volleyball court, and minimal equipment, she turned to PLT4M, a digital fitness platform.
By doing so, Mallory hoped to spark excitement, introduce students to various lifetime fitness activities, and transform the PE experience for her 5-6 and 7-8 classes.
Bethany Charter Shopping Week Sparks New Energy
To kick things off, Mallory introduced a “Shopping Week.” Using their 1-to-1 Chromebooks and music stands as makeshift desks, students explored PLT4M’s wide range of equipment-free programs. Mallory explains how the variety sparked immediate interest,
“Student involvement increased, and behavior problems decreased,” Mallory shared. “Many students who were previously disengaged were now excited to participate.”
While there were countless programs to choose from, Mallory noticed many of the boys gravitated toward the bodyweight boxing program, and many of the girls jumped into dance fitness.
But those weren’t the only programs students explored during Shopping Week. Some tried guided meditation and breathing exercises, while others dove into nutrition education focused on healthy habits and choices.
By letting students choose, Mallory tapped into a new level of personal motivation,
“They weren’t just doing PE,” Mallory said. “They were participating in something that interested and mattered to them.”
Bonus: Sample lesson from the PLT4M Dance Fitness program.
Expanding from Shopping Week to Structured Student Choice
After a successful Shopping Week, students were tasked with picking a program and sticking with it in the weeks that followed. Mallory saw the student-choice model connecting with students on a deeper level,
“With PLT4M, students now have choices that match their personal interests, and I no longer see those disengaged behaviors.”
Beyond active participation, Mallory noted even more benefits from the transition to student choice,
“In fact, many students are excited to see what others are working on, which creates a positive and collaborative atmosphere in class.”
While the positive impact of the new PE approach is evident in the classroom, the ripple effects extend far beyond it. Students now choose to work out together outside of class, stay active at home, and find opportunities to move throughout the day.
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Beyond PE – School-Wide Benefits of the Program
While PE students benefit from the new approach, PLT4M’s flexibility has allowed for even more impact throughout the school. As the school’s track coach, Mallory uses PLT4M to build training programs for different groups like sprinters, jumpers, and throwers.
And when Oregon’s rainy season hits, she doesn’t miss a beat, “We still practice, even if it’s inside. Kids log in, warm up, and get to work,” she said. Whether it’s conditioning workouts or targeted event drills, the platform helps keep athletes engaged year-round.
“It has been such a nice addition for our after-school program and is proving to be a valuable and flexible tool with different groups of students throughout the day.”
Looking Ahead: Building a Culture of Choice
Although the first year of introducing student choice through PLT4M has been a success, Mallory is sticking with her spirit of evolving and adapting. With her sights set on next year, she’s already planning how to build on this momentum.
Mallory plans to kick things off with an “Intro to Fitness” unit where all students learn the fundamentals together. Then, students will branch off into personalized paths based on their individual interests.
“I want to scaffold their learning,” she said. “Once they have the basics, they can choose what fits them best.”
In addition, with PLT4M, Mallory can continue tracking progress and providing feedback to students, hoping to inspire them as they move into the upper grade levels at the school.
“Many of these students have me for 8–9 years, so I want to ensure that those final few years are making a difference as they become young adults,” Mallory said. “Learning to be independent in their fitness choices is such a great life skill, and I’m excited to keep fostering that with our 5–8 graders.”
Mallory has created an even more engaging and empowering PE experience by embracing student choice. Students are more active in class and take ownership of their fitness beyond the school day.
Bethany Charter School and Mallory Wilson prove that small schools can lead the way in innovative physical education with creativity, flexibility, and the right tools, even with limited space and equipment. Their commitment to personalized, student-driven learning sets a powerful example for others to follow.
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