As human beings it is easy to get tunnel vision and only see the world through our own lens. We take in information, compare it to what we already know, and then create meaning out of it. The problem when teaching is that our experiences and abilities are not the same as our students and …
I became a Health and Physical Educator to help make a difference for everyone I come into contact with. There are times when you do not think you are making a positive impact on your students; however that is far from the case. You get to serve so many roles with your students, from teacher, …
According to an article from Edutopia; Brain Breaks are “planned learning activity shifts that mobilize different networks of the brain.” (Willis 2016) A while back I was scrolling through social media posts and saw a response from Andy Milne. He suggested that brain breaks should be called brain boosts. This perspective helped me see a …
“Hey, Coach! If you were going to punish us, how would you do it?” “Huh?” I glance up as one of my sophomores, new to the team, looks over the workout plan for the week. “Why would I punish you?” “You know, if we mess up.” (Full blown ‘I dare you grin’ here). “It’s not …
1. Understanding Intersectionality in Health Education Intersectionality is a critical framework in health education that examines how various social identities (e.g., race, gender, class, sexuality) intersect to influence individual experiences of health and healthcare. By recognizing these overlapping identities, educators and policymakers can better address the nuanced needs of diverse populations. 2. The Role of …
Continue reading Intersectionality in Health Education: Leading with Love and Equity
There are many ways to ensure equitable experiences for all students in physical education. One effective approach is to remove or modify activities and games that involve eliminating students from play. Games that require students to sit out after not meeting a certain criteria, such as being tagged or dropping a ball, can induce feelings …
One of the first times I observed a PE class, the teacher explained to me that PE can be organized chaos or just chaos! That thought has crossed my mind several times throughout the course of my teaching career. Here are a few things that have helped me engage students in physical activity in a …
Continue reading Tips and Tricks for Classroom Management in PE
When I first started teaching, I remember being shocked and reactive to the outward behavior displayed by students. This could be pointed to several different reasons, but the result was still the same - I expected all students to behave the way I would or the way I assumed someone should behave/react. Little did I …
Do you ever wonder if what you’re doing in the classroom is working? Is it actually having an impact on health behavior? In an attempt to ensure I was making a difference, I did some research into what actually works. That’s when I found out about the Social Norms Approach. When employed, this approach has …
Exit tickets have proven to be a vital tool to create meaningful PE. They enable student voice and for students to have a greater connection with PE as they are helping to shape the direction the learning will take. What is an exit ticket? Exit tickets are given to students to give their feedback or …
Mayday! Mayday! My Lesson is Crashing! Whether you are a first year teacher, or an experienced educator, at one point or more than one point a lesson may not go quite as you planned. You may have the most thought out, engaging lesson that you believe will rock the world of your students and when …
Living in a day in which meaningfulness in Physical Education (PE) is becoming an ever-increasing presence in educational discourse, I want to discuss the importance of providing students with the context behind what they are covering within lessons. Put simply, this is the ‘Why are we doing what we are doing, Sir?’. Essentially, I believe …
Sassy questions like this one from middle schoolers during a lesson are like adding hot sauce to almost any food. They add flavor to a lesson. They are student centered teachable moments and one of my favorite parts of teaching. The context is usually a chess move to get more information than they need, an …
Middle school throws a curveball at everyone. But a well-designed physical education (PE) program can be a game-changer, fostering not just fitness but also social connection, a love for movement, and a sense of ownership. Here's how to create a winning experience for your students: Building a Team: Relationships are the foundation. Learn your students' …
Continue reading Middle School PE: Unleashing the Fun and Building Champions
Scavenger hunts are an exciting and interactive way to engage your students while reinforcing recently covered class content. In this blog post, I will guide you through the steps I use to create a captivating scavenger hunt using Google Forms and QR codes. This engaging activity makes learning fun and helps students solidify their knowledge. …
Continue reading Creating a Scavenger Hunt with Google Forms and QR Codes
There are so many great ideas out there that it's impossible to action each one of them immediately, and as such, hiding away at the back of my brain is a vast collection of pedagogical curiosities waiting to be rediscovered. Like the clutter on my desk, I know where each item is and know I'll …
Continue reading From Pedagogical Curiosity to Classroom Reality: How I Embraced Hexagonal Thinking
As educators, we constantly seek ways to make learning engaging and impactful. One tool I plan on using to enhance the learning experience in my physical education classes is "back pocket questions." These are concise, thought-provoking prompts designed to spark reflection and discussion, readily available to use during class. Much like a trusted resource in …
Continue reading Back Pocket Questions: Your Secret Weapon for a More Meaningful PE Class
Last Friday, my physical education class overran...and my students didn't notice! This HAS happened before, but it's typically a rare occurrence and one that I hope to achieve more often. I think the reason for the lesson going well has something to do with the new lens through which I'm seeing a subject that I …
Continue reading Teaching Physical Education with Purpose: Embracing the Meaningful PE Approach
School initiatives come and go as communities seek to address the needs of their students both now and in the future. Recently, my school launched an initiative that, along with implementing restorative practices, will foster a sense of school community and ensure that all students are supported. The initiative will help our students become better …
This week's blog post comes from Kate Macmorn, the Communications Director for the American Medical Resource Institute (AMRI) where they’ve trained over a million healthcare professionals to study for, earn and maintain life support certifications that allow them to better respond to cardiac emergencies. Have you ever been in a situation where someone suddenly collapsed …
Continue reading CPR Training: Why You and Your Teenage Students Need It
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