Week 11

This past week, I was able to introduce students to a new unit of Volleyball and I also introduced the early elementary students to a new unit on manipulative skills. In introducing the Volleyball unit to the upper grade students I wanted to introduce the opening lesson with a different approach that is supported by the IPTS standard 6, instructional delivery. I love using a variety of strategies that encourage student’s development, problem solving skills, and also level of interest in a lesson. When introducing the volleyball lesson we started with a game called “what sport am I.” This small introduction of the game also, informed students on the history of the game as well as the rules. I started with broad statements, than ended with statements that were more obvious to the sport being introduced. The students really seemed to like this “guessing game” they had to be quiet to hear what the sport was in order to be the first person to be called on to answer what we would be doing for the next couple of weeks. 

This week I was very excited to put up a new bulletin board.  Since I have been getting great health topics I have been able to use the bulletin board as a way to cover more requests at a time that come through my questions, comments, concerns box. I am happy that I have the bulletin board in the gym because I have been able to create a means of non-verbal communication between my students, staff, and teachers that walk into the gym and read my always-changing bulletin boards. Meeting the IPTS standard 7, I have been able to support interaction in the classroom as well as outside of my classes. I have been able to use my knowledge of my health background to create effective bulletins that encourages inquiry from others. Since the gym is also used as a lunchroom, I have been getting a lot of positive feedback from other teachers. Since the general education teachers have commented on my bulletin boards, comment box, and posters, they now know that I have been integrating another unit into my physical education class. I hope from my efforts in promoting multiple learning opportunities in P.E encourages other teachers to also do a little bit more in their classes too.

Also this week, I was very excited and felt privileged that the schools social worker asked me to be a part of a health grant that the school had recently been given. The grant is specifically for schools that do not have health education, and give students and teachers the opportunity to implement health education for a month. For the month of April, myself, a group of teachers, and students that have gone to work shops as a part of the grant to teach and aid health education in the classrooms will be going around daily to the homerooms to give a 30-40 minute lesson on nutrition. The homeroom that shows the most improvement on health eating and exercise will be given a filed trip to Oz Park as an incentive to their hard work. I am looking forward to this opportunity to continue to grow as a health teacher as well as advocate the importance of health education in schools. 

For the upcoming week, I am looking forward continuing my new units. Also, the girls on the run after school program has really been a great opportunity to get to know my students better, and it has truly been a lot of fun. My goal that I had for this past week was to be more direct in giving my cooperating teacher praise when he recommended me to do something for a lesson. I do not know if he has noticed, but I have been trying to create a relationship that is collaborative on what is best for student learning, as well as what I can still learn from another professional in P.E.