Morning Movement and Mentoring: A Thai-Informed Blueprint for Boosting Attendance, Wellbeing, and Learning
Before dawn settles over Amherst Regional Middle School, the gym is already pulsing with basketballs and upbeat music. Students gather for “Morning Movement and Mentoring,” a pioneering program that pairs early exercise with academic support and mentoring. What began as a simple way to entice teens to class has evolved into a comprehensive, youth-centered model that improves attendance, engagement, and overall development.
This approach resonates beyond Amherst, offering lessons for Thai educators and policymakers. As Thailand faces absenteeism, disengagement, and motivation gaps, the Amherst model demonstrates how physical activity, mentorship, and targeted academic help can be woven into the school day. Emerging research supports the link between exercise, mental alertness, mood, and learning, and Amherst’s experience shows how community partnerships and a student-centered approach can make a difference at the local level.