From the very beginning of the school year students learn that Mr. Wright and Mrs. Spelic are the PE teachers. Kids are assigned to one teacher in September but also get to know both teachers when we share a facility or enjoy a special event with combined classes. In fact, in some grade levels students may even have the benefit of spending one day of the cycle with the "other" teacher.
Shared planning and lots of conversations about great activities, new ideas and helpful solutions insure that students learn that teamwork is something their teachers do and not just talk about. Students complete stretching and strengthening in every class and by now the routines are so well set that they can get on with these tasks extremely well. They almost look like professional sports teams. 😀👍
Today, students had time to practice a variety of different skills, using lots of different equipment. Students worked with a partner to continue improving their teamwork skills as well.
Today students got to play a great game that improves their accuracy when throwing and also helps improve their team working skills, throwing golf. Students throw bean bags into hula hoops and work their way up the gym to try and score near the basket. The problem is that if they miss the hula hoop, they have to go back to the start!?
Today groups got to use the video delay app on the school iPads to analyze their own team performance. The great thing about this app is that the students can perform, then turn around and watch their performance back instantaneously because of the delayed video. This really works wonders for feedback. You can see the video playing behind the students in the photos below. I wish we had this when I was at school.
Now that our routines are familiar, PK and KG students are exploring movement using different types of equipment. Ropes, rings and wall ladders provide opportunities to climb and swing. Small obstacle courses give students repeated chances to try various jumping patterns over hurdles, through floor ladders and even onto a soft mat. Watching students try and try again seems to confirm that challenge and fun go together.
Teachers and coaches always talk about finding and maintaining space. Today, 5th grade started to look at that problem whilst playing games of speedball. The teams started very close to their teammates (see 1st picture), often standing directly behind a defender but by the end of the class the principles of moving into space and "V" cutting had begun to take seed (see 3rd picture where student are wide and about to move)! Let's see how they progress over the next week or so.
We see improvements and eureka moments in PE on a daily basis. Here is a 2nd grader (who only learnt to do a headstand last week) pushing up from a headstand to a handstand twice. Great balance and core strength! |
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September 2017
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