Jump Rope For Heart Performance Team

Last week our school, Raven Stream Elementary, had the privilege of hosting a jump rope performance team from Brooklyn Park. This team works in correlation with the American Heart Association and Jump Rope For Heart. The team consisted of 13 young 5th and 6th grade students and one teacher/coach. As impressed as I was at their jump roping ability, I was even more impressed at their respect, behavior and courage. We heard lots of pleases and thank yous and they seemed very honored to perform for us. Their courage to perform in front of almost 700 people was obvious. Nothing really seemed to faze them. But possibly my favorite experience was when they asked if they could join our first grade class before their performance. Of course, we would never deny someone the opportunity to move and get exercise. So we said yes and then we told our 1st graders that they were willing to help them to learn how to long rope. From that point on, these 5th and 6th graders seemed to turn into adult teachers in a matter of seconds. My colleague and I sat back and witness kids of different ages, from different schools, with different cultural backgrounds play, communicate and work together like they have known each other forever. I was so proud of my students and the performance team for just being fun loving, cooperative and innocent kids. It really was a great teaching and learning experience!

 

Let's Move! Active Schools

We are so happy to announce that we have joined the Let's Move! Active School program. Our school has created a team of 8 professionals to discuss and share ideas about how to improve our activity levels at school. My teaching partner and I got the motivation and information to start this program by attending the MNAHPERD state conference. Collaborating with other professionals, that share similar passion, is a great way to rejuvenate your teaching. I can't wait to see where Let's Move! Active Schools takes our school and our physical education program.

Amazing Parent Letter

This is a powerful letter from a parent of a victim of Sandy Hook Elementary. She took the time write this gracious letter to teachers everywhere. We all know what it takes to be a teacher. It takes courage, preparation, hard work, and a willingness to believe. We must believe in what we are teaching, we must believe in our school and most importantly we must believe in our students. Take the time to get to know your students, believe in them, and like the mother said "love them all". My sympathy goes out to this mother and all the other students, staff, and parents of the victims of Sandy Hook.
Click the link below to read the letter.
http://mychannel957.com/mother-of-sandy-hook-victim-write-powerful-letter-to-teachers/

Same Story

Here another great story that explains the importance of activity in schools. We often think of only Physical Education, but this issue is something that needs to be addressed by the whole school community.http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/08/kids-physical-activity/1971063/

Exercise Right Before A Test?

One of my great colleagues (thanks Dana) shared this interesting article with me. It discusses the amazing effect exercising right before a test can have on test scores. The article is talks about specifically the ACT and SAT, but why would it matter what test it is. For example, it should also help students at the elementary level with MCA or NWEA tests as well. I wish our school would experiment with this topic. To check out the article click the link below.
http://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/exercise+before+tests

"New Normal" Is Not Justification

Do you ever read something and want to talk specifically to the person quoted in the article or story? That would be me reading this story and many other stories that discuss cutting physical education. In this article titled "Worries mount over lack of physical education in schools", there is comment by a school district's spokesman that is frustrating and lacks justification. When discussing the physical education cuts in their district, a spokesman says "We would love to have the money to fund our PE specialists and the many other positions which have been lost over the past five years, but we are also faced with living in the new normal." Wait a minute, "new normal"?  What exactly does that mean? So would people losing their houses to foreclosure be a "new normal"? If that's the case, maybe I should cut out the rational spending from my family's plan of money management. Or maybe I should quit my job, because the "new normal" is to be unemployed. Childhood obesity is running rampant in our society and his justification of cutting a program that has an opportunity to make a difference is it's the "new normal". Things like "new normals" and past practices do not make things right. One of my biggest pet peeves in education is when someone responds with the old "because that's how we've always done it" comment. That must make it the right thing then (that's sarcasm). If I were in this district, I would be very disappointed with that ridiculous comment. If you are interested in the story, here's the link:  http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/01/04/134803/worries-mount-over-lack-of-physical.html

West Virginia Physical Activity Plan

I just recently heard about West Virginia's Physical Activity Plan.  Their mission is to create a healthier state, reduce health care costs, promote economic development, and enhance their peoples' quality of life.  I didn't read the whole 44 page plan, but I did read the education section on pages 15-17.  I thought this was an amazing looking plan that addresses a wide range of valid ideas.  I specifically enjoyed the ideas of holding physical education teachers accountable, mandating daily physical education, marketing campaign, and getting family and community involvement.  Check out the plan and share your opinions.
West Virgina Physical Activity web page http://www.wvphysicalactivity.org/?pid=0
PDF of Activity Plan http://www.wvphysicalactivity.org/documents/WV%20Physical%20Activity%20Plan_Final.pdf

P.E. Article in Seattle Times

I recently read an article in the Seattle Times that some of their members of Congress are ready to fight against schools that are cutting physical education.  This is an interesting topic on many levels.  I think it's great that some members are willing to stand up for the importance of physical education and also recognize the short and long term effects of cutting these programs.  However, I also understand that some people do not believe this is something the government should get involved in.  The most alarming part of the article was reading the comments that people wrote about this particular article.  Some of the comments seemed uneducated, stereotypical, and flat out ignorant.  I felt it was my obligation to respond to some of them and give the physical education side of it.  The link to the article is below and I am "PE Teacher" in the comment section.
 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017162406_physicaled05.html

Grading Dilemma or Attitude Dilemma?

During a recent meeting with fellow physical education teachers, we had a discussion about grading.  The interesting thing about our discussion is that we had about three or four different grading philosophies that were shared and there were only six of us there. One thing we discussed is: what/how are we grading?  Is our grading participation based, performance based, discipline based, or even a combination.   Then we discussed what those specific styles look like for each of us.  I do not think there is necessarily a right or wrong philosophy.  However, I do think that the reason for some of the philosophies could be questioned.  As difficult as it is to develop an effective grading plan, one of the main factors should not be what is the least amount of work.  I understand it is difficult to grade and assess six hundred students, but that is a part of the job.  Physical education teachers often complain that their subject demands more respect and credibility.  If that is the consensus, then we need to advocate for ourselves in a positive way.  That is done first and foremost, by developing a quality physical education program and being a quality physical education teacher.  Going through the motions while teaching and sharing beliefs like "that's too much work" is not going to demand anything but negativity.  We need to eliminate these negative factors, if we want to change the perceptions of our profession.  It is and always should be about the kids, not what's best or easiest for the teachers.    

Research on Advocating for Physical Education

For my masters program I have chosen to research ways of advocating for physical education.  The research has given me so many great ideas to help improve my program and the ways in which I advocate for it.  If you get a chance to check it out, it would be very helpful.  Let me know if anything does not flow or make sense.
My Advocating for Physical Education Paper

The Obesity Epidemic

I found this site that is a great resource for childhood obesity.  It has some awesome articles and advise for parents, teachers, and children.  The site is http://childhoodobesitynews.com/
Within the site I saw an interesting billboard.  They ask the question whether it is shaming or a wake-up call.

My personal view is its reality.  If we don't like to see it or look at it, then we should help get our children in better shape rather than enable unhealthy choices like poor eating habits, limited exercise (cutting physical education time and programs), and increase screen time (tv, computers, etc.).  I'm curious how this add or billboard makes others feel?

Leadership in Action

The video is a great example of how a movement can take place.  Whether you are a leader (lone nut), first follower, second follower, or just a part of the movement, each person plays an important role.

Perception?

In the past few weeks I have given a survey to some of my students, colleagues, and parents.  In the survey, I asked a variety questions about physical education.  One thing that I wanted to find out was the perceptions that others have about physical education.  Generally, a person's perception is linked to their own personal experience.  For example, if a parent had a quality physical education program and teacher during their school days they generally will have a positive perception of physical education as an adult.  Contrary to that, if they were intimidated or belittled in physical education class their perception would probably reflect those negative feelings.  The interesting data from my surveys indicate that 35% of my parents and colleagues said their physical education class could have been better or was the worst.  Meanwhile, in my student survey I did not have one student check that they did not like physical education.  I wonder what the results would look like at the middle and high school levels?  If they do change, why/how is that happening?  My hope is that they continue to enjoy the programs at the middle and high school level so that their perceptions remain positive as they reach adulthood and become our future parents.

Balancing a Physical Education Class

I have a challenge balancing my fifty minute physical education class.  The difficult part for me is the lack of time.  I'll use these last couple of days as an example.  We start our class with 10-15 minutes dedicated to our fitness focus.  We then get the students together to explain their stations for their flag football unit.  In order to thoroughly explain those stations, and educate the students it takes at least 12-15 minutes.  Then the students must be divided in groups and get out to the fields that we play on.  Besides these tasks, there are always minutes that are lost during transitions.  By the time the students get out to their stations, they have about 6-10 minutes to actually work at the stations.  Of course the second day of stations is better, because we do not have to thoroughly explain the stations again.  Each segment of the class is essential and justified, I just wish each segment wasn't so rushed.