The Running & Reading Club Program

The Start2Finish Running & Reading Club is FREE and accessible to children in grades 1-6. The program addresses the need for enhanced literacy and physical activity among children experiencing poverty/deprivation in the communities it services. S2F currently has Running & Reading Club programs successfully operating in-person from coast to coast in 75+ communities across Canada with even more digitally!

As one of Canada's only available, evidence-based programs that focuses on the "whole child," it offers a unique, life-changing experience producing outcomes in 4 areas of well-being: Physical, Mental, Social-Emotional, and School/Academic.

The R&R Club uses physical activity to empower children to build a lasting cycle of health and success. The program is based on research that shows exercise positively impacts children's cognitive and social skills and reduces the "stressors" they face (especially those caused by challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic).

Our Positive Education curriculum, Thrive! helps children improve executive functioning skills (focus, working memory, self-control, etc.) and social-emotional agencies (resilience, motivation, mindfulness, positivity, relationship management, self-regulation, belonging, etc.), empowering them to be successful in school and life.

What are the program goals?

• Increased physical activity

• Higher reading levels

• Development of social/emotional agencies

• Increased Graduation Rates

What are the program measurements?

The Running & Reading Club is an evidence-based after-school program. Results are measured through pre-and post-program fitness testing by our S2F Scientific Advisory Group (SAG), as well as through participant surveys and journals, volunteer and teacher reports, and a questionnaire developed by SAG member Dr. John Cairney, that measures the impact of physical activity on social and character skill development.

A study found that our program has a high return on investment. Children selected to participate in the Running & Reading Club are among those in the direst need of enhanced literacy support; however, a comparison of academic grades during the 2012-2013 school year showed that 87 percent of students stayed at letter grade, or improved 1 to 2 full grade levels in literacy.

Start2Finish developed a partnership with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO), based out of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute that found an overall increase in fitness when participating in our programs.

Overall percentage gains in fitness are as follows:

Aerobic Capacity: 28%

Abdominal Core Strength: 25%

Upper Body Strength: 31%

Start2Finish has also made an investment in communities, positive changes in behaviour and social dynamics are evident. Students in our program have high levels of engagement and self-efficacy. These markers continue to follow them throughout their academic careers.

What is the Positive Education curriculum?

Positive education is defined as education for both traditional skills and happiness. In Canada, according to UNICEF, children are experiencing high grades but reporting low levels of life satisfaction. There is substantial evidence that positive education is a solution that teaches students skills for happiness. These skills are Social Emotional Learning (SEL) including decision-making, coping skills, problem-solving skills, relaxation and creative brainstorming.

Our positive education curriculum, Thrive!, was created in response to our work with students. We wanted to create a curriculum that specifically spoke to children in communities of complexity. During our pilot Virtual Running & Reading Club, we saw that the curriculum was not only helping our students survive but thrive in extraordinary circumstances.

Thrive! was developed by our in-house certified Positive Educator drawing on the tenets of wellbeing science including Positive Psychology, Positive Education, Neuroscience and Integrative Health.

What is the movement curriculum?

For the movement portion of the program, we use The Daily 20. It is designed to students meet the federal/provincial governments' daily physical activity (DPA) guidelines. It is an easy-to-use, culturally responsive online video program that provides 20 minutes of daily physical activity (broken up into 5-minute "doses"). This program is integrated with both our in-person and virtual programs.

Are your curriculums available outside of the program?

Yes! Both curriculums are available to use by educators outside our programs.