Who is responsible????

When is it appropriate to hold a child responsible for being on time and having everything they need for a class, and when is it the responsibility of the parent?

Kids teach me too

Even though I have been teaching for years, and playing sports forever ( seems like ) the kids in my classes remind me that I don't know everything. Remember to stop and listen sometimes, kids have great ideas!!!!!

Like most teachers I can get into a set routine for how I teach something. It is both humbling and refreshing to see things anew from the point of view of a child. I thank God every day that I get to work ( play ) with kids!

Never grow old in your mind..........

Using Technology in P.E.

There are so many amazing technological advances out there right now, but how do we use them in a typical P.E. class? Most schools can't afford to have the very latest stuff in the numbers required for an average class: what now?

There are low cost options like pedometers, but with options like Wii Fit and Dance Revolution, who is going to be happy with a pedometer? Kids live in a world of Ipods and computers; how can we make this work for us in P.E. class?

There are some cool apps for Ipods that will help track your workouts, but good luck getting 25 of those! Any ideas?????

Who needs teaching?????

As a Physical Education teacher I have actually had parents tell me my class is just "another recess". Yet every day I see students who display a stunning lack of basic coordination and balance. Not to mention the lack of endurance and strength and flexibility that is the norm rather than the exception.

Kids don't know what they need to know about keeping their bodies healthy unless someone teaches them! And not all kids are "natural" athletes. If you think kids can "figure it out" for themselves, just try teaching a cartwheel or a backwards roll to 2nd graders. The need for step by step instructions and demonstrations becomes immediately apparent.

Why limit a student's ability to use their body to its fullest potential by not helping them to completely understand its capacity?

Exercise and cold weather

When is it too cold to go outside to exercise? That depends on what you are going to be doing, and for how long. If you have the appropriate clothing and are not going to out any longer than 30 minutes you can exercise safely outside in weather as cold as the 20's. Layering is a must. Getting warm and dry as soon as you finish is critical.

Kids need to be supervised so that any signs of frostbite or hypothermia can be spotted immediately. Proper hydration is often forgotten in the cold weather, but is still important. Your body still loses water when you exercise, even in the cold.

Remember to have a "buddy" or someone who knows where you are going and when you should be back. Then if you run into trouble someone can get you help.

Fresh air and exercise can be fun in the cold, just be sensible. Sometimes a day at the gym is the best choice........

Do it right - or just do it?

I learned something interesting while teaching a unit on basketball the other day. We had learned the basic dribbling, passing and shooting skills that I wanted to cover. The kids were divided into two groups: one that wanted to play a game of basketball, and one that just wanted to take those skills and play around. ( not be competitive )

After getting both groups started on their activities, I watched carefully to see if one group would move around more than the other or have more fun. Surprisingly the answer was NO. Both groups were very active and were having lots of fun. Everyone was actively involved in the group, and I saw all the skills being used.

Some of the kids who did not really want to play basketball ended up saying that they liked it a little bit now. By allowing them to use the skills in a game that they came up with, I got them to be just as active as the other group, AND to look at the activity in a new light.

It does NOT have to be the "real" thing! Just get out there and DO something.......

Fitness testing

We test kids in other classes so we know where they are in their development. The same should be done in P.E. classes. How else for the teacher, student and parents to know where the child is in their physical development? I do not advocate using the results in the grading process, or in any public way. But knowing how a child stacks up to their age norms when it comes endurance, strength and flexibility can empower parents and students to make changes that can improve the child's physical fitness.