Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/22/12--10/26/12

Hi everyone,
    WOW!  What a week!  I hope you enjoy reading about the Best Parts of My Week as much as I enjoyed experiencing them!

.....My primary students are participating in a cooperative activities unit and this week began with a lesson called "Scooter Spaceships".  This lesson reinforces the concepts of playing fair, playing safe, and working together.  I told the students that I had some special "space music" to play while they were taking a trip to space.  The looks on their faces when I played the theme to Star Wars was priceless!  Most knew the song and I was surprised!

.....Students in the upper grades are assigned duties as the "materials manager" when log cards and other materials are needed.  Most students like to be the "materials manager" but there are times when students do not clamor to do the job.  One day this week a student decided that when the current materials manager did not finish the job correctly, she would step in of her own accord and finish the necessary tasks.  I was proud of her!

.....I love it when adults and students hear what is going on in the gymnasium and stop by to visit!  This week one of our monitors heard the music and excitement and just had to stop and see all of the fun that we were having!

.....Fitness Frankie has been assigned a role as Healthy Highway ambassador this year and is not visiting classrooms since Healthy Hannah and Physical Eddie are taking on that responsibility.  One of my fourth graders asked me "Where is Fitness Frankie?"  He was in my office so I brought him out and everyone was excited to see him!

.....I have mentioned before that we have a tremendous number of new students this year.  It has been exciting meeting so many new friends!  This week it occurred to me that "what's old is new" and so much of the "new" is exciting to so many new friends!

.....At the end of the week I had a wonderful opportunity to go on a field trip with the 5th grade classes to the Walkway Over the Hudson.  Students wore pedometers and logged steps, classroom teachers taught students about the history of this Walkway, and we finished the trip with a healthy snack of apples!  It was an amazing day and I felt terrific when the students expressed excitement when they knew that I was going too!  I had a chance to chat and walk with the students and be a part of a collaborative effort that included history, math, physical fitness, and healthy nutrition!  I brought Fitness Frankie, Healthy Hannah, and Physical Eddie (of course), and each class was asked to care for one of the bears during the trip.  The students were so happy to have them along and took great care of them on the trip!  Pictures of this trip will be on my PE website soon!


I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"  To find out more about the PE program at North Park, visit my website:  http://classrooms.hydeparkschools.org/webpages/MRobelee/


See you next week!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/15/12--10/19/12

Hi everyone,
     I had a great week!  How about you?  I hope you enjoy reading about the "Best Parts of My Week"!

.....At the beginning of the week I decided to bring Fitness Frankie to one of our Healthy Highway meetings.  I know that he is "just a bear" but there is something about him that is irresistible!  Everyone at the meeting agreed!  I still had him in my hands as I walked down the hallway as the students were arriving.  The students were all smiles as they patted his head and said hello!  It has been fun introducing him to our new friends!

.....My upper elementary students played a game called "Frogger" this week.  The focus is on playing safe, playing fair, and being honest.  One of my students came up to me during the game and said:  "Somebody got me but I don't know who it was".  She was asking for advice as to what to do in this situation.  She cared enough to play fair and be honest!  I was proud of her!

.....We are working hard on our cooperative unit and I am always impressed by the students approach to the lessons and their willingness to share when it comes time to de-brief.  Cooperative education is so powerful, and while it is sometimes difficult, I am always reminded to "trust the process".  I have seen such tremendous growth in my students in recent years and I enjoyed a fifth grade group this week playing moon ball, working together, creating a plan for improvement, and enjoying their success!

.....At the end of the week a student who is new to our school this year began PE class by saying that "it is so much fun to be in a new school because you get to learn so many new games!"  It was great to hear that she is enjoying the new experience of North Park!

.....Our week ends with Fitness Friday and while my schedule is pretty busy, I try to invite different classes to a special Fitness Friday activity when I can.  This week I invited two first grade classes to a Fitness Friday activity at the end of the day.  It was so much fun!  The students and teachers were so involved!  This collaboration of students and teachers alike create such a positive experience for all!  We exercised, we danced, and we all earned a mile along the Healthy Highway!


I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"  To find out more about the PE program at North Park, visit my website:  http://classrooms.hydeparkschools.org/webpages/MRobelee/

See you next week!



Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/8/12-10/12/12

Hi everyone,
     A short week never fails to supply many "Best Parts of My Week"!

.....Physical Eddie is spending a few weeks in a fifth grade class while Healthy Hannah is being taken care of by a K-1 class.  No matter the age, students are always thrilled when one of our mascot bears arrive at a classroom to be taken care of!  It's heartwarming to see such enthusiasm and care taking by so many!

.....My upper elementary students use pedometers each PE day and now that we have practiced using them, students are able to accumulate many steps during our PE class.  One day this week we were playing a cooperative game called "Scrunchie Tag".  This is a very active game and students are required to skip to move.  At the end of the class a fourth grade student was getting ready to fill out his log card and said "YES!"  He was very pleased with this step count and so was I!

.....As I mentioned above, students in grades three through five were playing "Scrunchie Tag" this week.   This is a cooperative activity that asks students to "donate" scrunchies to those who have none. It is a terrific game and really shows the value of cooperation to students.  One of my third grade students remarked:  "This is a good game to learn how to be kind!"  I was so happy that she really understood the purpose of the game!

.....My primary students are also learning about cooperation.  This unit is always especially important to me because I think that it is vital for students to learn how to work together.  It is a lifetime skill that can not be underestimated or under valued.  We were playing a game called "How low can you go".  In a way, it is like a cooperative version of Musical Chairs using hoops.  Students must work together to include all students when the music stops, even when hoops are taken away.  The object is to fit the entire class safely in the lowest number of hoops possible.  During this activity, students invite others to join their hoop when needed so everyone is included.  I never tire of seeing the looks on the faces of the students who are invited as well as those who are working hard to include everyone!

.....At the end of the week I received an e-mail from a teacher at a different school in our district.  We have started a Pen-Pal project between her class and "Soccer Sal" - their classroom bear, and Fitness Frankie!  The e-mail contained the second letter from Soccer Sal and her class to Fitness Frankie.  This project is taking on a life of it's own and is so much fun!  It's great to collaborate with colleagues beyond the boundaries of the school!   More to come as the year moves forward!


I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"  To find out more about the PE program at North Park, visit my website:  http://classrooms.hydeparkschools.org/webpages/MRobelee/

See you next week!



Monday, October 8, 2012

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/1/12--10-5/12

Hi everyone,
     As the Fall season has arrived, the leaves are changing, and we are busy busy at North Park!


.....I received an e-mail this week that shared the news that our Family Fitness Night held last June as a result of a Fuel Up to Play 60 Grant was featured in the October Fuel Up to Play 60 Newsletter!  Check it out:  http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/newsletter/October2012/?audience=snp

.....One of our parents told me this week that her son's eating habits have improved since he became a student in our school!  She said that as a result of our Wellness Wednesdays and Healthy Highway program, he not only asks for healthy snacks, he eats them!

.....I began a cooperative activities unit this week and one of the first lessons that I do with my primary students is "Puzzle Buddies".  Students move with one piece of a two-piece puzzle and on a signal, find their "Puzzle Buddy".  Students are then asked to find out something new about their buddy.  It is always great to watch the surprise on the faces of the students when they realize who their "Puzzle Buddy" is!

.....Students in the upper elementary grades begin a cooperative unit by completing the "Cooperative Puzzle Project".  During this lesson, students are divided into six groups and each group works together to find puzzle pieces for their unique puzzle.  When completed, each puzzle portrays a different concept with words and a picture.  These concepts are:  Show Respect, Cooperate, Play Fair, Play Hard, Play Safe, and Courage.  When students have completed the puzzle, they discussed as a group what they think the puzzle means.  Each group shared their thoughts with the class and every group was right on target! As simple as this activity is, it starts us off on the right foot!

.....Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade have recently been introduced to the use of heart rate monitors.  Students are so excited to use them!  What a great opportunity to teach students the value of exercise and fitness!  I have commented many times on the fact that we have some wonderful equipment and amazing opportunities to teach our students, but there are times when those opportunities make me smile even more!

.....Each month I create a Fitness Calendar that students and families are invited to complete.  One side contains simple exercises and healthy suggestions, while the other side is blank for students to complete with their own exercises and healthy choices.  Students who complete the calendar are designated as "Fitness Fanatics" and earn a mile for their class as their car moves down our Healthy Highway roads.    So far 96 calendars have been turned in!  It's a record!  It has been so well received that I am going to need another chart to keep track of all of our "Fitness Fanatics"!

.....At the end of the week, we were completing a dismissal drill when one student passed by and said:  "I am eating healthy snacks!"  I love it when students are proud to share their healthy choices with me!  It ended my week on a great note!


I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"  To find out more about the PE program at North Park, visit my website:  http://classrooms.hydeparkschools.org/webpages/MRobelee/

See you next week!