Find your calling Do it well Do it for a long time
Here are some things I have found helpful in my teaching career. I hope there is something in here that you can use. My goal is to add to the different sections throughout the year. In the PE Videos link there are many clips of the activities that our students play in our class. Feel free to contact me with comments, ideas or suggestions.
Thanks for checking out the site.
-Noel
nstrand@bisd303.org
Thanks for checking out the site.
-Noel
nstrand@bisd303.org
MOTIVATION
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If I had to pick one person who embodies my PE philosophy it would be Scott Kretchmar. This link is may be the best that I've heard that explains all that PE could be.
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/voxcast/episodes/2017-06-04T20_11_28-07_00
This is another excellent talk with Dr. Kretchmar. Both the Run for Your Life Podcast and the Global Physed Voxcast provide excellent interviews with people in the PE world that challenge and encourage teachers.
http://21clradio.com/pursuit-happiness-movement-run-life-52/
MANAGEMENT
Ben Landers has many useful ideas to incorporate into your gym. I use his Conflict Corner and Student Self Assessment on a daily basis.
Student Self Assessment - Using Ben's student self assessment as a model, I made a couple variations that are in the file below. They were created using the Comic Life 3 app using an iPad. As the students leave the gym they touch the hand that they believe they earned for the class period. Ben's blog linked above explains how it works. It is a really great system that helps the students to take responsibility for their own behavior and actions. I print these off using the 11' by17' printer setting, mount them on some construction paper and laminate so they last the entire year.
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Conflict Corner -If there was a Noble Peace Prize given for PE, Ben would win it. He created the Conflict Corner. If you're on Twitter you'll see people singing its praise often. There is a video on his site and linked below where he explains and t role plays how the corner works with his co-worker Marcus Nellems. I show the video to my students at the beginning of the year and they learn how to settle their issues without an adult needing to get involved. Like he mentions in his video, we are trying to give our students the wings to fly. I used the 11' by 17' printer function and put these posters below in my corner. These were created by Ben Pirillo and Kevin Tiller. If you click on the posters below, it will take you to their sites where you could download these posters for your own use.
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Behavior Improvement Plan - If you've worked in a gym more than a week you'll understand that classroom management is the most important skill a teacher can have. It also requires numerous strategies that may change year to year and even minute to minute. I came across a quote that read, "If you tell a child 1000 times and they still don't understand, it is not the child who is the slow learner." After I had two 2nd graders rolling on the floor each trying to grab the ball to put away I created this form using the Comic Life 3 app. I made the questions based on advice of what need to occur for change to happen in behavior. Our school has a Compassion, Attitude, Respect, Effort and Self-management goal/motto. I have included it in the download since it should fit your goals even if you are using something different at your school. I have two clipboards with these sheets on a chair in my office. If a student has any issues they go to fill out the form while I continue to teach. It has saved a ton of time and puts the ownership of behavior on the child. It's weakness is it only works with students who can read.
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Character Posters - I suspect that you already have many posters to reinforce good citizenship and character already posted in your gym. After a few weeks the posters tend to blend into the background and the students look past them, so it is a good idea to rotate them out a few times a year. The attachment below is one I put up for about a month when we hit the mid-year lull and need to reinforce some positive behavior traits. You could easily create your own version to fit your situation. If you decide to use these I would recommend that you use color, attach to construction paper as extra support and a backing frame and print using 11"x 17" paper. Using the bigger paper makes the main word visible from anywhere in the gym.
| character_traits.docx |
RESOURCES
The FUN PE GUY is my go to resource and can't recommend him highly enough. I own fifteen of his books and I use activities picked up from his summer classes on a weekly, if not daily, basis. On his Facebook page there are some videos from the summer class.
PE Universe could give any teacher enough activities to make it through an entire school year. I love the videos on the site that speak for themselves.
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I am not a fan of social media and what goes along with it but I am a huge fan of Twitter. I recently discovered the benefits of Twitter and was instantly was hooked. It is easy for PE teachers to be on an island. Using Twitter you will find so many activities, lessons and ideas that you can immediately put into place at your own school. Each week I discover something new to incorporate into my teaching. A picture is worth 1,000 words but a video is worth 20,000. Many people post quick videos of activities and games they use and you can save to your favorites and have access to them as long as you need.
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OPEN On-line Physical Education Network is a new addition to the PE community and is a great resource. It is essentially a free curriculum guide created by and for PE teachers. It started in 2015 and has grown tremendously each month. It is similar to the open source software model that is often used in the tech community. As more PE professionals contribute improvement and growth will continue on the site and in the profession.
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Plickers - This may be the best assessment app ever for PE. It has the benefit of being quick and easy to use without pen and paper. Essentially, they are clickers without the need to purchase a clicker for every student. You need a computer, iPad/phone/device, a whiteboard/projector, the downloaded app and Plicker cards which you may print for free or buy a laminated set. You create PE questions and the students show their responses by holding their card toward you while you scan their answer with your device. Viewing these two videos were what convinced me to try them for the first time. I wish I had discovered them a lot sooner.
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Weebly- This is creator that I use for this site. I believe their current slogan is "surprisingly easy". The majority of tech networks that school districts use are clunky, complicated and far behind rest of the digital world. Having sites that are limited by bandwidth, or needing to compress video files to a distorted blur, hurts advocating for PE . Often the only people who truly see and understand the incredible things that are happening in our gyms are the teachers inside the four walls. You are likely the only advocate for you PE program and if you don't showcase your program, our profession suffers. Putting your programs best foot forward is a way you can remind parents, administration, school boards and the public that PE is the most import subject for all students. Weebly allows even the technology challenged to easily create a nice site and makes its management very simple. There are four different price ranges, including free. I use the Weebly Pro version, roughly $100 per year, since it allows for HD videos.
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EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
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Station Cart Hockey Sticks Box Hockey
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PVC Goals Block Rocker Mic System
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Insta-Bench Border Patrol Mats Cone Hack
iPad
I use an iPad all day, every day. It's one of those things you wonder how you survived without once you have your first purchase. I play music, run apps, created GIFs, edit the videos on the PE games portion of this site. I would recommend that you get the latest and greatest with as much storage as you can get. Video and pictures take up quite a bit of storage and once you start doing stuff on a daily basis you will be glad having extra storage to access. When the new Pro version comes out that will be my next purchase. The Pro lets you run two apps at a time. When you have a timer going and visual cue going at the same time it would be a great teaching tool.
I use an iPad all day, every day. It's one of those things you wonder how you survived without once you have your first purchase. I play music, run apps, created GIFs, edit the videos on the PE games portion of this site. I would recommend that you get the latest and greatest with as much storage as you can get. Video and pictures take up quite a bit of storage and once you start doing stuff on a daily basis you will be glad having extra storage to access. When the new Pro version comes out that will be my next purchase. The Pro lets you run two apps at a time. When you have a timer going and visual cue going at the same time it would be a great teaching tool.
PROJECTOR
A few times a year other PE teachers see the projector in my videos and send questions my way. This is probably the favorite teaching tool I have in my gym and I often wonder how I taught without one. The attachment below shows some of the details of the projector I use. It was was installed when we built a new school four years ago. This item totally changed the way I deliver lessons and would recommend all PE teachers. I hope the attachment will help spark ideas for your own setting.
A few times a year other PE teachers see the projector in my videos and send questions my way. This is probably the favorite teaching tool I have in my gym and I often wonder how I taught without one. The attachment below shows some of the details of the projector I use. It was was installed when we built a new school four years ago. This item totally changed the way I deliver lessons and would recommend all PE teachers. I hope the attachment will help spark ideas for your own setting.
| projector.pdf |
VIDEO CAMERA
There is a saying popularized on the internet, "No pics, it didn't happen". I'm a big proponent of posting the activities that occur in your gym as often as possible. With the kinesthetic, hands-on learning that occurs in the gym, parents can not truly understand what is happening based on the word of their child. A video tells the story well. I don't have a specific recommendation of the type you should choose. There are numerous great cameras that are inexpensive and user friendly. If you go to the video section on my page you can see videos made with a 5 mega-pixels camera, my iPad and my newest 24 mega-pixel high definition camera. I've observed many great PE teaching lessons that end up dying off when that teacher retires, when the activity could have been easily passed on and preserved with a two minute video.
There is a saying popularized on the internet, "No pics, it didn't happen". I'm a big proponent of posting the activities that occur in your gym as often as possible. With the kinesthetic, hands-on learning that occurs in the gym, parents can not truly understand what is happening based on the word of their child. A video tells the story well. I don't have a specific recommendation of the type you should choose. There are numerous great cameras that are inexpensive and user friendly. If you go to the video section on my page you can see videos made with a 5 mega-pixels camera, my iPad and my newest 24 mega-pixel high definition camera. I've observed many great PE teaching lessons that end up dying off when that teacher retires, when the activity could have been easily passed on and preserved with a two minute video.
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GYM REMODEL
In 2013, our community supported building a new school. I went from a small outdated and border line unsafe learning environment to an updated, bright, state of the art gym. On this video I have some recommendations for anyone who may be going through the same process at their own school. At the end of the day, the architects are going to build what they are going to build. If you can get on your school advisory committee for a rebuild, it will go a long way in ensuring a gym that works for your Physical Education program and your community. My biggest piece of advice is that, for better or for worse, a large portion of the community and visitors who come into your school are going to judge the entire project by how the gym looks and functions. Make sure it is the shining example that you want your school to represent. In 2016 our community supported the rebuild of a second school just three years removed from our rebuild. A significant portion of support came from seeing how much more we have done and are able to do with our new building. |
MUSIC
Music plays a huge role in PE, especially setting the tone for the class. Like most PE teachers, I try and have on music as much as possible. I even bought a Block Rocker so I can now take my music outside. Most of the time I play music from my iPod. I often purchase a backing tracks or the karaoke version of a song that has questionable lyrics for school (or life). Since I have to listen to the music all day, most of it comes from my own library. However, the two awesome apps below are what I use for the remainder.
Fit Radio
This app has numerous DJ's who create their own playlists. The great thing is the tempo of the lists are all quick, which fits well when trying to get kids moving. There is a free version but the reality is, for PE, you will need to pay. The paid version lets you fast forward through songs. There is a year to year or a one time lifetime subscription.
This app has numerous DJ's who create their own playlists. The great thing is the tempo of the lists are all quick, which fits well when trying to get kids moving. There is a free version but the reality is, for PE, you will need to pay. The paid version lets you fast forward through songs. There is a year to year or a one time lifetime subscription.
Musi
This app allows you to play any song on YouTube. I play a game called Fresher. I made a play list with songs from Devo, Kool and the Gang and a techno song called Fresh to match the game. If you are teaching a dance and need find the music, it is likely found on YouTube. The app is free but you do need to be connected to Wi-fi or you'll quickly burn through your data.
This app allows you to play any song on YouTube. I play a game called Fresher. I made a play list with songs from Devo, Kool and the Gang and a techno song called Fresh to match the game. If you are teaching a dance and need find the music, it is likely found on YouTube. The app is free but you do need to be connected to Wi-fi or you'll quickly burn through your data.
APPS
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Tabata! HD Daily 4-Minute Workouts Spin Da Wheel PicPlayPost
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Fit Radio Team Shake 7 Minute Workout
- HACKS
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APP COMBINATIONS
I use my iPad for everything in the gym. The issue is becomes that there are a lot of apps that will fill part of a need but not the whole. Below are some app that I combine to fit the PE need.
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GIFs AND CAMERA LOOPS
Technology has changed how how I deliver instruction. Recently, GIFs have been all the rage in PE circles. They are a great tool and save a ton of time and energy while attempting to teach movement skills. When the students can see a video of the skill they can move at their own pace and refer back to projector screen. My preferred app for making GIFs is Video to GIF - GIF Maker, which you can find a little details about in the picture above.
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If I need a really clear image of a skil, I prefer using the PicPlayPost app over GIFs. All you need to do is film and then place on a loop within the app so it is super easy to create, the ones below take 5 minutes to create. The advantage is that saving in your camera produces a crystal clear image with zero distortion. Even loading the one's made below will experience some loss of quality. The drawback is the data/storage. If you're like me and save everything on your iPad about half of your storage is devoted to your camera roll. I have started to store and play the ones I use more often in Google drive to save storage. If I really want the perfect image I keep those with easy access on my iPad or make the loop about 1 minute long and hit the replay button or make the loop I need in the morning before my first class.
FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS COUNTDOWN VIDEOS
*I plagiarized/borrowed this idea from Kevin Tiller. You can find his versions on his web site and his YouTube channel. In general, I use them as a warm-up but will sometimes use them as a refocusing activity after an extra active PE session. You need a projector and a decent sound system to make it worthwhile. My recommendation is that if you try it out and if you like how they work that you that make up your own versions with yourself leading. In general, it takes about two hours to film, edit and add music to your project. I used Movie Maker that was installed on my school computer. It is a little time commitment, however, you know what skills will work best for your students and your gym setting. You can create to fit your own situation. If you use each of your videos for the majority your classes and up to twice a year, it is worth the investment. Plus, you can make edits when you find something that doesn't work for you.
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Basketball 5th/6th Bouncy Ball/Balloon Scarves
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Success Ball Gator Ball
MUSCLE UNIT
Here is a portion of what I use while teaching muscles with my 4th grade students.
Here is a portion of what I use while teaching muscles with my 4th grade students.
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Muscle Think-n-Run Muscle Jeopardy Muscle Memory
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Fitness Warm Up
Double-tap to edit.
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Give Thanks Warm-Up- I found this activity on PE Central, created by Lisa Dess. I use the week of Thanksgiving but it works the rest of the year, as well. I printed it, trimmed it and laminated to make it reusable. The students partner up to complete the workout.
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Task Sheet with Video
Task sheets are great in that students can move through at their own pace and don't get caught up in comparing themselves with the rest of the class (I'm not a fan of fitness testing norms or the new big push of standards based PE- especially when considering how students sitting next to each other are at vastly different developmental stages). One day after demonstrating each exercise on our workout sheet for the warm-up, I was asked in every single class, "What is a burpee/skier/grapevine?" I knew there had to be a better way. I created the matching videos for the task sheets by combining two of my favorite PE apps.
The PicPlayPost app is the one that divides all the frames in the videos below. I paid $3 to remove their standard watermark and replace it with my own. In the Field Day section below, you can see videos made with my own watermark and various numbers of video frames. With PicPlayPost, the most videos you can play at a time is six but most of my task sheets had between 10-15 exercises. My work around was to use the DMD vClone app. You use your iPad/phone to create a video with "clones" and then save it to your camera roll. After you have all your shots, you just add those into your PicPlayPost design and you're golden. I've also used the app Vont - Text on Videos and you can see how that will look in some of the videos below. The DMD vClone app is $1. However, they have DMD Fun Pack which has DMD Clone (pictures only) DMD Topic, which lets you talk over and highlight portions of photo and vClone. I would recommend getting all three. The possibilities when combining all of these app while teaching PE are numerous, especially if you consider how you could create videos teaching throwing, catching, dribbling, jumping rope and all the other movement skills we are trying to pass along.
I project the video during our workout and if questions come up on how to do a certain exercise I point them to the demonstration on the screen. Using the videos allows a lot more creativity in the workout over jumping jacks, push-ups and the other basics. You may recognize many of the exercises I used from the T25 workout series. I print off the exercise sheets below on matching paper to stay somewhat organized. I laminate them to make them last. Students partner up, get a sheet and are free to go through the workout in any order. About half way through the school year, I try it with the first grade classes. However, I need to make sure to partner the non-readers with a child who can read.
The PicPlayPost app is the one that divides all the frames in the videos below. I paid $3 to remove their standard watermark and replace it with my own. In the Field Day section below, you can see videos made with my own watermark and various numbers of video frames. With PicPlayPost, the most videos you can play at a time is six but most of my task sheets had between 10-15 exercises. My work around was to use the DMD vClone app. You use your iPad/phone to create a video with "clones" and then save it to your camera roll. After you have all your shots, you just add those into your PicPlayPost design and you're golden. I've also used the app Vont - Text on Videos and you can see how that will look in some of the videos below. The DMD vClone app is $1. However, they have DMD Fun Pack which has DMD Clone (pictures only) DMD Topic, which lets you talk over and highlight portions of photo and vClone. I would recommend getting all three. The possibilities when combining all of these app while teaching PE are numerous, especially if you consider how you could create videos teaching throwing, catching, dribbling, jumping rope and all the other movement skills we are trying to pass along.
I project the video during our workout and if questions come up on how to do a certain exercise I point them to the demonstration on the screen. Using the videos allows a lot more creativity in the workout over jumping jacks, push-ups and the other basics. You may recognize many of the exercises I used from the T25 workout series. I print off the exercise sheets below on matching paper to stay somewhat organized. I laminate them to make them last. Students partner up, get a sheet and are free to go through the workout in any order. About half way through the school year, I try it with the first grade classes. However, I need to make sure to partner the non-readers with a child who can read.
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Red Blue White
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This is one way to use the DMD Clone app with the DMD Topic. You could do the same as I did with the task sheet videos above and have multiple shots on the same slide.
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Dance
One of my biggest weaknesses while teaching PE is in the Rhythm and Dance. I am the blind leading the sighted when teaching any sort of dance to my students, but it also helps give me a little more empathy for many of my students who struggle in particular skills. The tension I feel whenever I do dance is what some of them experience when trying new activities out in my gym. Something that has helped me incorporate some more dance into my program was using a projector. It has allowed me to access YouTube videos as well as Wii dances. I am fairly coordinated, but whenever the whole body music is involved my two left feet come out. For me and many students, adding in a ball takes away that fear. If you have a decent projector you could use these videos to introduce some dances painlessly...or even better make some of your own and send them my way!
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Bounce Cha-cha Slide
Field Day
I've observed numerous Field Day versions throughout the years and I have settled on a station style with a class rotation. I prefer using this style for a variety of reasons; it is simple to run for parent volunteers, not overly competitive and is fairly easy to set up. We run our Field Day on the last day of school. The challenge for a PE teacher is your already packed last week of school has one more addition. However, the benefits of the last day are numerous.
- Teachers love having it during this day and it sends the students off on a high note.
- You can use your gym and any indoor spaces as a station area, which spreads things out.
- I work in the Northwest where we are always in danger of rain, even in June. If we get rained out on the last day, I don't have to do a second session of extra planning, stress and work for make up session.
The most important thing for my Field Day is to get parent volunteers to run the stations. I used to have the classroom teachers recruit parents through their class newsletters. Three years ago I discovered Sign Up Genius, which changed my life! We send out a school wide email asking for volunteers. The volunteers sign up though the Sign Up Genius site. The site is free for the limited time that I need it. It shows the number of volunteers needed and how many are currently signed up, notifies me every time someone signs up, gives the email address of the volunteers, allows the administrator of the sign up to send group emails to everyone on my list and sends an automated reminder to everyone a couple of days before the event. I highly recommend the site.
http://www.signupgenius.com/
Finding activities that work work for all students is another big key, as well as choosing activities that are easy to set up. The videos below are the ones that I have used in recent years. You want activities that you can set up by yourself. My mistake this year was not recruiting teachers to help set up the Ga-ga pits. You will be setting up early in the morning so you want the ability to get everything out on your own.
The last day of school is a half day so finding times that fit is a must. We run two field days back to back. One is K-1 and the next is 2nd-4th. The stations are basically 8 1/2 minutes for the K-1 group and 8 minutes for the older group. Half of the activities we have done in PE during the school year and the others are ones that can be taught by the parent volunteers quickly. I also try and show the classes quick videos and an explanation of the activities on the last day.
Communication with your volunteers is the final step to make everything work. Using the Sign Up Genius, I refer them to this site so they can see a video of what they will be running. I also put a folder with the instructions for the day, instructions for their activity and how to clean up at the end of the day by their event. After years of walking around to each activity in the morning and dropping of the instructions under a cone at each station, I finally realized I could buy some file folders at the Dollar Store and save a whole lot of time.
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Scooter Triathlon - This modeled off of the version from PE Universe. I believe the creator deleted her video since I can not currently find it on the site. We are able to use our commons that really helps spread out the activity. We sometimes have the volunteers space out the runners by giving them a signal to start the run but it isn't totally necessary.
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The Maze - This is another activity I found on PE Universe. I place it after the Scooter Triathlon so the students have a little break after going all out.
www.peuniverse.com/Videos/detail.cfm?post_id=354 |
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Partner Squirts - It seems like every elementary Field Day needs the requisite water activity. You want to make sure you have a water source nearby and enough bottles to make it through the day as some of the guns break down. We have 35 bottles ready with extras without nozzles that can switched out as the bottles empty.
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Cat-n-mouse - I learned this activity from The Fun PE Guy. It is a quick tag game that allows everyone a chance to be a tagger in eight minutes. It is an easy set up, I usually stripe the lines a day before the event so set up for the actual day is nothing and I can focus on other events.
www.peuniverse.com/Videos/detail.cfm?post_id=1524 |
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Guide Dog - Student try to direct the one who is blindfolded to a wiffleball using the sound of their voice.
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Ga-ga - We play this popular game as a no elimination style. When a player is knocked out they rotate to a new pit and join when the coast is clear. This is the biggest time consumer in setting up for the day so you need extra hands plan for extra time for set up or consider using an area you can set up tables the night before.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=psLK3HmrbWU |
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Think and Run - This is another activity I discovered from The Fun PE Guy. It is a pretty quick set up and you can play with limited space. Essentially the students are trying to match up treasure. The have one starter piece and are trying to find the six matches by running out and turning over one cup.
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Roller Racers - I am fortunate that I am able to borrow the Roller Racers from two other elementary schools in my district. Alone, they are an extremely pricey investment that most elementary schools would not be able to afford on our limited budgets. However, if you can beg and borrow this is a fun event for young students.
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In the equipment section on this page there is a video of the Block Rocker. Music playing is a fun bonus to any day. On the videos from the field day you can sometimes hear music playing in the background and in other areas nothing at all. I have only one Block Rocker so the music really can fill the entire field. I may break down and get a second one for future use. The Rockers are reasonably priced and the can connect together to double your sound output.
I would also recommend that you purchase the app Tabata Timer Pro from the app store. It is an excellent app that allows you to create timers and play music through your phone, iPod or iPad. There are numerous ways to set the timer. What I do is had the timer set for the 8 minutes of the station and set a playlist of music to play. The timer would blow a whistle and the music would stop as the students had 30 seconds to rotate to their next station activity. I is really helpful to use this timer instead of being tied to observing your watch and then sounding your horn because there are so many things that can distract you when you are in charge of running your Field Day.
BOOKS
Win Forever, by Pete Carroll
Written by a fellow Physical Education major, this book provides practical advice for the reader. I've posted his quote in my office that has shaped my teaching philosophy and refer to it often, "What if my job as a coach isn't so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is to really prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become and that they are truly capable of higher level performance?"
Written by a fellow Physical Education major, this book provides practical advice for the reader. I've posted his quote in my office that has shaped my teaching philosophy and refer to it often, "What if my job as a coach isn't so much to force or coerce performance as it is to create situations where players develop confidence to set their talents free and pursue their potential to its full extent? What if my job as a coach is to really prove to these kids how good they already are, how good they could possibly become and that they are truly capable of higher level performance?"
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John Ratey
We know that exercise benefits the body, this book shows the science behind the benefits upon the brain. A PE program in Naperville, Illinois has shown that students benefit academically by scheduling difficult classes, like math and reading, after PE class which readies the brain for learning. This PE program is based upon cardio vascular fitness and small sided activities which maximizes activity levels and involvement for all and is where the PE professional should be aiming even if the goal isn't solely academic.
We know that exercise benefits the body, this book shows the science behind the benefits upon the brain. A PE program in Naperville, Illinois has shown that students benefit academically by scheduling difficult classes, like math and reading, after PE class which readies the brain for learning. This PE program is based upon cardio vascular fitness and small sided activities which maximizes activity levels and involvement for all and is where the PE professional should be aiming even if the goal isn't solely academic.
Your Food Is Fooling You, by David A. Kessler, MD
A young readers edition of The End of Overeating. With quick and concise explanations the reader learns how the combination of fat, salt and sugar in processed foods sold in stores and restaurants quickly turns into overeating. With the end result of more product sold, more overeating and the consumer being less happy.
A young readers edition of The End of Overeating. With quick and concise explanations the reader learns how the combination of fat, salt and sugar in processed foods sold in stores and restaurants quickly turns into overeating. With the end result of more product sold, more overeating and the consumer being less happy.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
In PE, we often place students outside of their comfort zones through team games, cooperative learning and dance. This book shows the mindset and the experiences our introverted students go through. It shows the strengths they possess and celebrates what they bring in to the table, without looking at them as someone to be fixed or brought out of their shell.
In PE, we often place students outside of their comfort zones through team games, cooperative learning and dance. This book shows the mindset and the experiences our introverted students go through. It shows the strengths they possess and celebrates what they bring in to the table, without looking at them as someone to be fixed or brought out of their shell.
Go Wild, by John Ratey and Richard Manning
A health book that advocates getting farther away from the effects of our modern life and closer to our designed biology. One quote that unintentionally speaks to the huge push in physical education in regards to technology from Manning, "I have since come to categorize neurofeedback or medication or tricks like heart monitors and treadmills as essentially the same: they are not solutions. I am not opposed to using them, but they must be used in the right, limited way, the way a builder might use scaffolding as a necessary support to allow the foundation to be built, but then remove it once the project is on more solid ground."
A health book that advocates getting farther away from the effects of our modern life and closer to our designed biology. One quote that unintentionally speaks to the huge push in physical education in regards to technology from Manning, "I have since come to categorize neurofeedback or medication or tricks like heart monitors and treadmills as essentially the same: they are not solutions. I am not opposed to using them, but they must be used in the right, limited way, the way a builder might use scaffolding as a necessary support to allow the foundation to be built, but then remove it once the project is on more solid ground."
Teach Like A Pirate, by Dave Burgess
A quick and inspiring read which uses the mnemonic device PIRATE; Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transformation and Enthusiasm to shape ones teaching. I love this excerpt, "Why have many schools reduced the time and emphasis they place on art, music and physical education? The answer is beyond simple: those areas aren't measured on the all-important tests. You know where those areas are measured...in life! Art, music and a healthy lifestyle help us develop a richer, deeper, and more balanced perspective. never before have we needed more of an emphasis on the the development of creativity, but schools have gone the exact opposite direction in an effort to make the best test-taking automatons possible. Our economy no longer rewards people for blindly following rules and becoming a cog in the machine. We need risk-takers, outside-the-box thinkers, and entrepreneurs; our school systems do the next generation of leaders a disservice by discouraging these very skills and attitudes. Instead of helping and encouraging them to find and develop their unique strengths, they're told to shut up, sit-down, put the cell phones away, memorize these facts and fill in the bubbles. This isn't fantasy football! Education shouldn't be about raising statistics. It should be about raising and fulfilling human potential."
A quick and inspiring read which uses the mnemonic device PIRATE; Passion, Immersion, Rapport, Ask and Analyze, Transformation and Enthusiasm to shape ones teaching. I love this excerpt, "Why have many schools reduced the time and emphasis they place on art, music and physical education? The answer is beyond simple: those areas aren't measured on the all-important tests. You know where those areas are measured...in life! Art, music and a healthy lifestyle help us develop a richer, deeper, and more balanced perspective. never before have we needed more of an emphasis on the the development of creativity, but schools have gone the exact opposite direction in an effort to make the best test-taking automatons possible. Our economy no longer rewards people for blindly following rules and becoming a cog in the machine. We need risk-takers, outside-the-box thinkers, and entrepreneurs; our school systems do the next generation of leaders a disservice by discouraging these very skills and attitudes. Instead of helping and encouraging them to find and develop their unique strengths, they're told to shut up, sit-down, put the cell phones away, memorize these facts and fill in the bubbles. This isn't fantasy football! Education shouldn't be about raising statistics. It should be about raising and fulfilling human potential."
Game Changer, by Ken Reed
Part biography and part philosophy of of Phil Lawler who may have had the biggest impact on Physical Education in the last quarter century. His efforts have helped shaped many of the changes in PE still continue to improve even after his passing. A great passage from the book...The challenge is that the majority of educators, school board members, and parents are still unaware of the research regarding exercise's positive effect upon the brain. Additionally, many of those who are awarded the research are ignoring the findings, or they don't know what to do with the new information. Others are simply reluctant to change "the way we've done things over here." "It's a shame this movement isn't advancing faster, " said Lawler. "Given the overwhelming evidence for the value of exercise in the education process, we could file a malpractice against educators - administrators, school board members, and teachers- for not offering fitness based PE on a more regular basis, as well as more movement initiatives in the classroom. The problem is, too few educators are aware of the research. Awareness and understanding levels must increase dramatically."
Part biography and part philosophy of of Phil Lawler who may have had the biggest impact on Physical Education in the last quarter century. His efforts have helped shaped many of the changes in PE still continue to improve even after his passing. A great passage from the book...The challenge is that the majority of educators, school board members, and parents are still unaware of the research regarding exercise's positive effect upon the brain. Additionally, many of those who are awarded the research are ignoring the findings, or they don't know what to do with the new information. Others are simply reluctant to change "the way we've done things over here." "It's a shame this movement isn't advancing faster, " said Lawler. "Given the overwhelming evidence for the value of exercise in the education process, we could file a malpractice against educators - administrators, school board members, and teachers- for not offering fitness based PE on a more regular basis, as well as more movement initiatives in the classroom. The problem is, too few educators are aware of the research. Awareness and understanding levels must increase dramatically."
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink
The author explores the idea that, once an individual's basic needs are met, a higher level of motivation occurs and is needed. The superior motivation is centered on the need for the individual to have autonomy, mastery and purpose in life decisions, work and play. He wrote of motivation occurring both intrinsically and extrinsically and showed the superiority of intrinsic motivation. Although I consider the last 10-15 years in Physical Education as a time of greatest growth and improvement within the profession, my concern is that we are running toward the extrinsic motivation model for students in every aspect of PE. In our attempt to validate PE, many have reverted to getting students to jump through the hoops of testing fitness, skills and academics. Despite good intentions, we may unintentionally be turning off students to a lifetime of fitness enjoyment. I loved this book.
The author explores the idea that, once an individual's basic needs are met, a higher level of motivation occurs and is needed. The superior motivation is centered on the need for the individual to have autonomy, mastery and purpose in life decisions, work and play. He wrote of motivation occurring both intrinsically and extrinsically and showed the superiority of intrinsic motivation. Although I consider the last 10-15 years in Physical Education as a time of greatest growth and improvement within the profession, my concern is that we are running toward the extrinsic motivation model for students in every aspect of PE. In our attempt to validate PE, many have reverted to getting students to jump through the hoops of testing fitness, skills and academics. Despite good intentions, we may unintentionally be turning off students to a lifetime of fitness enjoyment. I loved this book.
Born to Run, by Chrisopher McDougall
This is a story of an Ultra-Marathon race that took place between some of the greatest running athletes from the U.S. and a tribe that maintains a running life style by being far removed from modern society. There was a lot of takeaway for PE... from societal norms that expect the body to quickly break down from age to competing with pure joy. A fun read.
This is a story of an Ultra-Marathon race that took place between some of the greatest running athletes from the U.S. and a tribe that maintains a running life style by being far removed from modern society. There was a lot of takeaway for PE... from societal norms that expect the body to quickly break down from age to competing with pure joy. A fun read.
The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas Campbell III
Written about the largest and comprehensive nutrition study which compares the effects of a modern western diet vs a plant based, whole foods diet. The evidence is overwhelming that the high amount of animal protein in our diet has a negative effect on the body.. A great quote from the book, "There's only one thing that we have to do in life, and that is to die. I have often met people who use this fact to justify their ambivalence toward health information. But I take a different view. I have never pursued health hoping for immortality. Good health is about being able to fully enjoy the time we do have. It is about being as functional as possible throughout our entire lives and avoiding crippling, painful and lengthy battles with disease. There are many better ways to die, and to live."
Written about the largest and comprehensive nutrition study which compares the effects of a modern western diet vs a plant based, whole foods diet. The evidence is overwhelming that the high amount of animal protein in our diet has a negative effect on the body.. A great quote from the book, "There's only one thing that we have to do in life, and that is to die. I have often met people who use this fact to justify their ambivalence toward health information. But I take a different view. I have never pursued health hoping for immortality. Good health is about being able to fully enjoy the time we do have. It is about being as functional as possible throughout our entire lives and avoiding crippling, painful and lengthy battles with disease. There are many better ways to die, and to live."
Brain Rules, by John Medina
I've read the author say else where that all kids should wear uniforms at school and it should be PE gear. The book makes a great case for exercise improving brain function. My takeaway quote from the book, "For little ones, discovery brings joy. Like an addictive drug, exploration creates the need for more discovery so joy can be experienced. it is a straight up reward system that, if allowed to flourish, will continue into the school years. As children get older they find that learning not only brings them joy, but it also brings them mastery. Expertise in specific subjects breeds confidence to take intellectual risks.
I've read the author say else where that all kids should wear uniforms at school and it should be PE gear. The book makes a great case for exercise improving brain function. My takeaway quote from the book, "For little ones, discovery brings joy. Like an addictive drug, exploration creates the need for more discovery so joy can be experienced. it is a straight up reward system that, if allowed to flourish, will continue into the school years. As children get older they find that learning not only brings them joy, but it also brings them mastery. Expertise in specific subjects breeds confidence to take intellectual risks.
Workouts
There was an interesting position paper by SHAPE (formerly NASPE) recommending PE teachers modeling behaviors for their students through their own fitness levels. It definitely puts the spotlight on the reasons Physical Educators should do all we can to remain fit and active, not only for our own health but for our students.
www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy/positionstatements/sports/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=4604
Below are my current workout regimens that have helped me along the way and are realistic programs for almost anyone.
www.shapeamerica.org/advocacy/positionstatements/sports/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=4604
Below are my current workout regimens that have helped me along the way and are realistic programs for almost anyone.
T25 - I enjoy programs that are laid out so you just follow along each day with the end goal in mind. I love the simplicity of this program. Other than an occasional mat, nothing else is needed. All body weight exercises (although if you purchase the bonus workouts you will need a resistance band or free weights). Each workout is 25 minutes long, six days a weeks, with one day of a double workout and one day of an easier stretching workout.
30 Day Plank Challenge - I try and repeat this every few months. The first time through it is shocking how quickly and dramatically your core improves. On the first day you start with a 20 second plank and end the month you are holding it for 5 minutes.
Push Ups - I was inspired/convicted by Bob Pangrazi in his speech about fitness testing. You can view two of those talks in the motivation section at the top of this page. He is someone who lives what he preaches. He is in his early 70's and still does push-ups daily. This makes his arguments against fitness testing in children even more compelling. Push-ups may be the crowning achievement for body weight exercises. I now try to incorporate push up into my daily routine.
PE Facts, Stats and Info
This slideshow is more for myself than anyone else. There is so much great information and advice that comes through Twitter, the web or books.. This is a quick way to organize some of those thoughts so I don't lose it as quickly as I see it.