The Best Parts of My Week! 12/14/15--12/18/15

Hi everyone,

      I'm not sure that the word "exciting" quite captures the feeling in the air at school this week!  We are counting down to winter break but it has been so warm in the Northeast it seems a bit more like late Spring!  

.....First I have to mention something that happened last week.  I keep a pad of paper in the gym ready to go so that I can write down the little moments and events that make up the "Best Parts".  Sometimes these moments happen outside of the gym and while I try to remember everything, I sometimes forget to write about one of them.  Event though this moment happened last week it is too good to let go so here it is!  I was leaving on Friday afternoon as students were going to their buses.  I usually stay late but this day I had an appointment to get to right after school.  I have a rolling backpack that I use for all of my school needs and I was walking down the hall with it to get to my car.  Two of my kindergarten students were saying good-bye and they asked me if I was going on vacation!  I did not make the connection at first because I thought they were asking because I was leaving at the same time that they were leaving and then I got it....they thought my backpack was a suitcase!

.....On to this week!

.....We have several holiday events at this time of year during which we recognize holidays of many different faiths and cultures.  While it has had a few different names during the years, the Pageant for Peace, as it is called now, is one of those events.  The Pageant for Peace is an event which calls to mind many holidays and allows students and families to help others by bringing in donations of food to those in need.  After the donations are brought in and assembled on tables, we sing songs of holidays and peace.  It is always an event which brings tears to my eyes as I appreciate my profession, my friends, my family, and all of the wonderful opportunities in my life......

.....The Pageant for Peace is held in our gymnasium and after the event parent volunteers work really hard to box up the donations quickly so that we can resume PE classes in the gym.  As the parents were finishing up my colleague and I started to set up the volleyball nets and equipment for our next class.  The parents were so excited and asked if they could play for a few minutes!  They had a great time volleying the ball back and forth and as we talked I asked if they would be interested in a "Bring your parents to PE" day.  They were all for it!  I am hoping to plan something in the spring!

.....My students in grades 3-5 are learning about Volleyball and practicing skills and activities using nets and a variety of balls.  We had several nets and activities set up as a double third grade class arrived for PE.  One of the students was so excited she looked at me and silently mouthed and gestured "thank you!"

.....Through my connections on Twitter I have had the good fortune to see the amazing work that Pete Charrette does for Physical Education.  He created the Superheroes of PE and I have them posted on my goal chart when they pertain to the lessons we are teaching.  This week I had "Agent Agility" posted because I wanted students to understand that agility is necessary in volleyball.  I overheard one of the students encouraging his partner as he said:   "Be Agent Agility!"  I guess they were listening to my instructions!

.....I met with a former student this week who is working on his Eagle Scout project by giving back to our PE program.  Every time we meet about this project I am so impressed!

.....I use a goal chart to set goals for the classes, post vocabulary words, and add some character education messages to my lessons.  In an attempt to collaborate and support the first grade curriculum I had two words posted on the chart this week that first graders are learning.  The words were germs and diseases.  Since this is a time of year when colds and flu are prevalent I thought it would be a good time for these words.  I asked a first grade class if they could read the words and if they knew what they meant.  I was amazed when one of my first grade students told me that "germs are microscopic things that make you sick."  He actually used the word microscopic........first grade!!!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week"!  Visit my website:  North Park Physical Education to find out more about our Physical Education program.  

Follow me on Twitter!  @mrobPE

The Best Parts of My Week - 12/7/15--12/11/15

Hi everyone,
   If you spend any time at all in an elementary school around the holidays you know how excited the students (and staff) are!  When all of the holiday events are added to the mix the result can be both amazing and exhausting!  My head was spinning at any given point this week but there were so many "Best Parts" to keep me grounded and positive!

.....My primary students are learning about striking skills and about how to use those skills in various sports and games.  Kindergarten students are using balloons and when I brought out the bag of balloons (in a clear garbage bag) one of my students said: "you have the most beautiful things....."
It made me remember that sometimes the simplest thing can bring the most joy......

......Speaking of simple.....I gave a small compliment to a student who was using a jump rope during our personal fitness choice warm-up.  I told her how well she had learned to do the Criss-Cross jump rope trick.  She immediately had a huge smile on her face and continued to practice.  I hope I made her day......

.....One of my third grade students could not wait to tell me about his weekend and his accomplishment at a tournament.  He was so excited and I was so happy that he wanted to share the news with me!

.....I love technology and I am fortunate to have iPad minis for student and class use.  I decided to add a "Coach My Video" app and in some classes this week I filmed students while they were working on volleyball skills of the set and the forearm pass.  It was so cool to be able to help students get better at a skill by pointing out what they were doing well and what they could do to improve.   They loved seeing themselves and when I asked for feedback about whether or not this helped them get better they definitely agreed!  Wow.....has PE changed in the last 32 years!

.....I have been working on a behavior issue in some of my classes involving sliding.  Sometimes students slide into a spot when lining up or getting equipment and students know that it can be dangerous but some forget and still do it.  In order to stop this practice I told students that if they were sliding I would "put a time-out in my pocket for later", which meant that I would get to choose when the time-out would be in effect.  When a third grade class arrived this week one of the students went over to our "Stop and think about it" center and sat down.  When I asked him what he was doing he said: "I slid last class and I owe you a time-out."  I was so impressed at his honesty and the sliding has stopped!

.....I had some great conversations this week with students who were waiting to be picked up.  We talked about everything from PE to how the day went and we also discussed some events that were scheduled later in the week.  It was nice to just chat!

.....Our PTA is wonderful and they sponsor a Holiday Fair during which students can shop for the holidays for gifts for their family members.  Students love this day and are excited beyond belief because they know that the holidays are not far away.  This year there was quite a delay and so instead of PE for a few classes I needed to supervise them during the shopping.  While I do not want students to miss PE, this delay was unavoidable so instead I enjoyed their excitement!  They were so proud of their purchases and many showed me their treasures.  They were so excited to give rather than receive....

.....One of my second grade students explained to me why a balloon would move when a foam racket merely passed by it without touching it.  He explained that it must be the wind that makes it move!  He and his partner had some fun experimenting!

.....Our school is a Healthy Highway school and our classes earn miles for healthy choices.  I announced that Friday was "Double Miles" day and I had fun awarding twice the miles.  One student asked how I knew it was "Double Miles" day.  I answered that it "just came to me" and smiled.  He seemed happy with the answer and happy that his class was earning miles times two!

.....Our Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador group planned a "Let's Dance Fitness Friday!" for their first project of the year.  We met on Tuesday to preview dances available on the internet (We are fortunate because most of our classrooms have smart boards.) and we created a list for teachers to choose from.  Some of the ambassadors helped with making a announcement and we had so much fun dancing!  I was able to get to many classes while they were dancing and observed first hand the fun that students and teachers were having.  I danced during PE, in the Library, in third grade and fifth grade classrooms, and I received pictures of students dancing in many other grades as well!  I am always grateful for the support that we receive from all of the adults in our building!  These events can not happen without the support of my principal, classroom teachers, special area teachers and many others.   We had a great time and our Student Ambassadors were great leaders of this activity!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week"!  Visit my website:  North Park Physical Education to find out more about our Physical Education program.  

Follow me on Twitter!  @mrobPE

The Best Parts of My Week! - 11/30/15--12/4/15

Hi everyone,
      When I look back at this week one word comes to mind - pride.  I am so proud of my students and what they strive to accomplish each day and I am so proud of the hard working professionals that I call my friends and colleagues!  

.....Several times this week I witnessed the kindness of my students.  We are traveling down "Kindness Way" as part of our Healthy Highway program.  We are encouraging our students to find ways - big and small - that they can show kindness.  Many of my students showed kindness by including others in their groups, making sure that their friends were safe, and sharing turns and equipment by putting others first!

.....We continued to climb on our traverse rock wall this week and the excitement in the air was amazing!  I am so thankful for this beautiful rock wall and my students showed their gratitude as well!  I asked students to be safe and observant and one student noticed a hand hold that needed tightening.  He was observant and helpful!  When another hold needed tightening another student said:  "I love allen wrenches!"  He commented about how allen wrenches are so useful!  

.....Our PE Password last week was Hamstrings.  I was demonstrating a stretch to improve the flexibility of our Hamstrings and I asked students to count along with me.  One of my students asked if we could count in French because that is the native language of one of our new students!  I was so proud of this student's empathy and kindness.  We indeed counted in French and our new friend smiled all the way!  During our stretching time in another class a student asked why stretching one leg felt different than the other.  It was such a thoughtful question and when I answered the question he appreciated my response.  It was such a teachable moment!  

.....One of our fourth grade classes earned a reward and as a result they were allowed to bring their favorite stuffed animal to school for the day.  They brought their animal friends to PE and put them on the side so that they could watch our class.  One of the students suggested that I get Fitness Frankie so that he could have his picture taken with the group!  It was so cute!  

.....In the middle of the week I had the honor of attending and presiding over my first meeting as the president of the Southeastern Zone of NYS AHPERD.  Being president of the zone was something I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to do.  The SEZ is the most amazing group of professionals that I have ever had the good fortune to know and I am so proud and honored to have the opportunity to lead and be a part of this incredible team.........

.....During a third grade class my students were working hard to climb our rock wall and many were tired at the end of class.  Not all of the students had the same opinion however because one of my students commented about not being tired after climbing the rock wall.  She said:  "My muscles are never tired.  I am literally a ball of energy!"

.....During one of my classes this week a good friend who is a teaching assistant in our school stopped by when she noticed that students were climbing the rock wall.  I invited her to climb because I know that she loves to move and would enjoy the opportunity.  The students were so excited to have her be a part of our class and many volunteered to be her spotter to keep her safe!  It was so much fun to have other adults enjoy the activities in our PE program!

.....At the end of the week I was so proud of a fourth grade class as they finished our unit on cooperative activities.  They were so mature as they approached the lesson, included others, showed kindness, appreciated the equipment and opportunity, played fair and safe, and learned so much along the way!  In many ways it was a moment in time that I wanted to freeze because it was everything I hoped a lesson could be and more......

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week"!  Visit my website:  North Park Physical Education to find out more about our Physical Education program.  

Follow me on Twitter!  @mrobPE