In physical education, we often focus on what students are doing—running, jumping, throwing, cooperating. But some of the most powerful learning happens when students pause to think about how and why they are moving, feeling, and interacting. That’s where reflection comes in. I’ve been using a simple strategy with my students this school year called “4 for Thought.” It’s a set of …
Continue reading 4 for Thought: Using Reflection to Deepen Learning in Physical Education
Every few years, a new activity captures the interests of our students. Pickleball was hot for a minute, Spikeball was visible in every park and beach. Cup Stacking blew up for a while, and for a short period, each of these activities had their moment. If your community is anything like mine, it would appear …
You can always spot a teacher at a conference. It's in the vibrant personalities and the unapologetically loud voices echoing through the lobby. It's the armloads of "really important stuff" including laptops, oversized water bottles, a stash of snacks that could last a week, and handfuls of "fabulous freebies." It's the heavy backpacks and the …
Continue reading A View from the Lobby: The Unseen Pulse of Pedagogy
Life moves fast. Between work, school, responsibilities, and the endless to-do lists, it's easy to get caught up in the serious side of life. But what if I told you that play - yes, play - is one of the most powerful tools for building resilience, improving mental and physical wellbeing, and fostering deep connections …
Do you remember the coach who only seemed to focus on the “star” athlete, making their contributions the only ones that truly counted? These coaches often, unintentionally, minimized the impact of everyone else on the team. But then, do you remember the coaches who saw every athlete—no matter their differences? The ones who invested in …
Continue reading Built to Belong: Why Every Student’s Difference Matters in Physical Education
Ever since I watched Dale Sidebottom keynote at the PE Institute in North Carolina I've wanted to weave in some dice-based activities with my classes. I found this great deal online for 100 dice, but they sat in a drawer unaccompanied by an activity, until now. We return from break on a shortened schedule, and …
Continue reading Dicebreaker. The Connection-First Icebreaker
In a recent #Slowchathealth post, Andy Milne, shared a story about a “classroom moment” where his students took control of the learning environment and taught each other. The topic was menstruation and how to be supportive. A young man asked what more could boys do to be supportive, and this is what happened: “As I …
Continue reading Creating Environments for “Classroom Moments”
When I first wrote about using Hexagonal Thinking to help students explore the 10 Dimensions of Wellness, I shared how powerful it was to see them physically (or digitally) connecting concepts together. The beauty of the hexagon activity lies in the way students can literally move ideas around, discovering new links and debating which connections …
Continue reading Wellness Dominoes: the Ripple Effects of Wellness
Imagine you get to be the person that helps someone affirm their calling into a particular profession. Imagine that profession has impacts on each and every one of the 50 million students in today's K-12 Schools. Yes, Health Education and Physical Education Teacher Education Faculty have the best jobs in the world, but we are …
I can’t imagine what it must be like. To be a teacher in a school in 2025. As I watch the news each day I am beyond puzzled about the decisions, orders and mandates that are unfolding in our government on a regular basis. Never have we had to be so vigilant when it comes …
Outside of the Health Education classroom, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been relegated to the realm of "extras" – a separate curriculum, a few isolated lessons squeezed into an already packed schedule. This perception is not only inaccurate but actively hinders its transformative potential. I’m here to say what many fellow health educators might be …
I’m horrible at remembering names, which is problematic because each year I have nearly 250 new ones to learn. Yale’s Poorvu Center claims that students feel more satisfied, more accountable, more likely to seek help and more comfortable when teachers know their names. I needed to find a way to compensate for my weakness - …
Continue reading Say My Name. Say My Name: Introducing The Teacher Multi-Tool
I once adored holistic rubrics, but when my students expressed their dislike for them, it led to a transformation in my approach. Now, I am committed to single-point rubrics, and there's no turning back. They are efficient, inclusive, and genuinely centered on the students. Many insightful educators, such as those at the Cult of Pedagogy, …
Creativity is the spark that drives innovation, progress, and personal expression. But without longevity, that spark can burn out before it has a chance to ignite anything lasting. Striking a balance between pushing for creativity and sustaining your presence is essential in any field, but in the world of Health and Physical Education, it is …
I have taught middle school PE and Health Education in four countries, across three continents. Everywhere I have been, I’ve witnessed students navigating the challenges of adolescents, while learning to make sense of the world around them. The longer I teach, the more I see the role of PE and Health Education as an opportunity …
Continue reading Five Questions I Asked My Middle School Students This Year
Regular blog readers will know I am a big fan of the benefits of sleep. Not only have I blogged extensively about the topic and advocate for the benefits of sleep with my students through lessons that often lead to the creation of sleep-related advocacy podcasts, but I am also a fan of sleep myself. …
The Purchase This is what the clerk at the counter said as I was checking out with a fresh roll - okay a 6-pack - of .94-inch x 60-yard blue painter’s tape. My response was, “It’s not about what it is, but what my students and I can do with it.” If you are at …
Continue reading But It’s Just a Roll of Blue Painter’s Tape
This is my second year contributing to this blog, and I truly enjoy reading every post. They’ve been such a valuable part of my journey—helping me grow, reflect, and evolve as an educator. Without a doubt, the thing that has elevated my teaching the most is watching other teachers in action. Nine years ago, I …
I hadn’t seen this young man since the day he left our school in 5th grade. I knew he was on my son’s wrestling team. He is a sophomore wrestling varsity. Luckily for me, he just happened to get wrestler of the week so I got to see his picture with his name under it …
Continue reading 5 Years Later: You Won’t Believe What My Student Said!
There is an adage that says experience is the best teacher that you can have when you live the experience. I would agree that nothing replaces that. However, to some extent, I also know that in every field, whether it is medicine, engineering, or in my case, education, returning to the basics is paramount. People …
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