The Best Parts of My Week - 9/19/16--9/23/16

Hi everyone,

     School is in full swing and my notebook page was full this week!  There are many “Best Parts” to share!

……On Monday morning my principal and I were in the hallway talking and a student stopped by to introduce us to a new student.  After they walked away they moved toward the gymnasium.  The student giving the tour (a fourth grader) opened the door and said:  ”This is the PE room”.  How cool is that?  The word “gym” is not even in his vocabulary!

…..My students in grades 3-5 are learning how to use pedometers and this week I was going over an essential question that I wanted students to think about.  The question on our goal chart was:  “How can a pedometer help me to stay fit?”  After introducing that question I asked:  ”How many students think I exercise?”  I was so happy to see every hand up in the air!  They are correct, of course, and it nice that they know that it is important for adults to exercise too!

…..My second grade students were completing a warm-up this week that included wall sits for 30 seconds.  I was demonstrating how to do this when one of my students said”  ”You have muscles in your legs!”  I commented that I am glad that he noticed that it takes muscles to do exercise and I explained that I exercise to make my muscles strong too!

…..One of the pedometer activities that my students complete is an activity that uses Gel Boards.  Students take turns being a recorder and a runner during an activity during which students try to get as many steps as possible in a short period of time while doing two separate moves during different parts of the song.  I encourage the students who are the recorders to write positive messages on the boards while their partners are moving because the activity is challenging and students get tired quickly.  Then they are asked to record pedometer steps on the board as well when the task is completed.  At the end of the class I ask students how it felt when their partner wrote nice encouraging messages on the board.  My students wrote some amazing messages and had some incredibly insightful answers.  Students said that the messages made them feel good and also helped them complete the task but one student said that when someone says something nice to you it can make a bad day better…….I challenged them to continue to be positive all year long!  I even had one student write a message to me when they handed in their board.  They wrote:  “You rock!” and “I love Mrs. Robelee!”  These messages were definitely some of the best parts of my week!

…..Another introductory pedometer activity included using spinning tops, deck rings, and hula hoops.  Students used this equipment like timers.  They would spin the equipment and exercise as long as the equipment was spinning.   The idea was to get as many steps as possible during a spin.  I did not tell students which exercises to do because I wanted them to discover which exercises would increase their step counts the most.  I was impressed at the variety of exercises that students chose.  They did the obvious exercises like jumping jacks and running in place, but then they branched out to “wacky jacks”, scissor jumps, skier’s jumps, crab kicks, and even made up an exercise that we decided to call scissor claps!

…..During a warm-up this week students were jumping rope and a fifth grader called me over to see that he finally mastered the double under!  I wish I had a picture of his face!  It was the face of pure joy and pride!

…..My duty at school includes supervising the students who are picked up at the end of the day instead of riding a bus.  One student was complaining that his family member had not arrived yet and I told him that sometimes we need to have patience.  Right then and there a kindergarten student told me that she has a book about an elephant that needs to learn about patience.  I think I need to read that book and have it on hand! 

…..Primary students took a “solar system field trip” this week after reading Ziny’s Driving School by my friend Lynn Hefele.  As students arrived on different planets they were encouraged to explore.  After each planet exploration I asked students to share what they discovered.  My second grade students were so creative!  One student said that she saw an Alligator Taco and another said they saw a chocolate mountain with aliens eating marshmallows!  While some of the students shared their discoveries after raising their hands, I also asked students to “turn and talk” to a friend to share.  I love to hear the conversations!  While this only takes less than a minute it is a great way to make sure that all students are heard.  They were so creative and proud to to share with their classmates.  I shared their creativity with their teachers and before long they were talking about using this experience as a writing activity!  At the end of the activity I asked students to turn in their “quasar” (spaceship) keys so that I would have them for next year.  There were moans and groans!  They did not want to give up the keys because they were having so much fun!

…..I wear a lanyard with my school ID on it and I have decorated the lanyard over the years with pins from different places that we have traveled with Fitness Frankie.  This week one of my students happened to notice some of the pins and said:  ”I like your souvenir pins!”  I had fun telling her a bit about where they came from!

…..Like many of my students I have a new pair of sneakers for this school year.  I wear my old sneakers to school and then change into my new ones (keeps them cleaner that way!)  One day I noticed that I forgot to change into my new sneakers and commented on it during class.  One of my second grade students suggested that I write myself a reminder in my phone!  Students are so tech savvy!

…..A student was so excited about how well he could do push-ups and came over to me to ask ”Can I show you my push-ups?”  Of course!  I was happy that he wanted me to share in his success!

…..I noticed this week that my students are better able to complete fitness and high intensity activities than they were many years ago.  We have increased the amount of PE and physical activity that students participate in and I think it has made a difference!

…..At the end of the week I was fortunate to be able to talk with a former student who was in our building as a substitute teacher.  I did not even recognize her at first but when I realized who she was I was shocked that she was already an adult!  Time flies for sure!  We had a nice chat and I am so proud that she has chosen a career in education! 

 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

Best Parts of My Week - 9/12/16--9/16/16

Hi everyone,

    It was the first full week of school and it was full of “best parts”!

…..For the past several years I have begun the year asking third grade students to complete the sentence:  “PE is important because…….”  This week the responses came back and I posted them on my “Why PE?” bulletin board in the hallway.  The responses were great!  Some of the responses included:  “it makes you stronger”, “the exercise”, “you get strong and fast and good at things”, and “it keeps you healthy”!  How great is that?  Third grade students understand the importance of PE!  

            

…..As I was putting the Why PE? bulletin board together early in the week a student was coming down the hall toward his classroom.  Just as he passed by I happened to be putting his work on the board.  He was so excited!  What a coincidence!

…..Students in grade 3-5 are participating in a warm-up that includes jumping rope and jogging.  One of my new students was reluctant to jump rope because he had not done it in his other school.  After trying it and doing well he said:  “At least I’m learning!”

…..I use a game called Human Bingo with my students to help them get to know each other.  I have modified the activity to make it work for our school and I am the free space on the board.  The idea is that students ask classmates questions to “collect” their name on the board and create a Bingo.  Each student’s name can only be used once so students must talk to all classmates to be able to get a Bingo.  I love this activity because when I observe it from the beginning I see students talking to their best friends first but then the conversation grows and expands and pretty soon they are talking to everyone!  At the end of the activity I ask students to share what they learned about each other.  The responses are great and it shows that they are well on their way to becoming a cohesive group!

…..My school has a wonderfully diverse population.  This year we have several new students who do not speak English.  While doing Human Bingo one of my fifth grade students was kind enough to offer to translate and work as a team with our new friend!  It warmed my heart to see the goodness in hers……

…..I took Spanish in high school and remember some of the basic phrases.  It has come in handy at times when new Spanish speaking students arrive.  I mentioned to a class that I needed to brush up on my Spanish to help out with a new student.  The very next class one of the students asked me if I had learned my Spanish yet!  He was looking out for his new friend…..and for me!

…..When I told students that we would be introducing the use of pedometers this week I heard YES!  I guess they like using them!

…..My kindergarten students were warming up by following me around our rainbow track.  I have a new remote control for the music and when I started the music from far away one student looked so surprised and said:  “How did you do that?” Of course, my answer was:  “Magic!”  It’s always good to have some magic available!

 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 - 9-5-16--9-9-16

Hi everyone,
     It is hard to believe that summer is over and the new year has started!  Every year is a chance for new beginning and I am excited and ready to begin my 34th school year!  
     Before I talk about the "Best Parts", I would like to remember and honor all those affected by the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 on this, the 15th anniversary of that horrific day.  I remember that day as we all do.  I remember the fourth grade class that I was teaching when my principal walked into the gymnasium with a folded note for me to read.  I remember reading the note and not being able to react outwardly because the nine year old students in front of me were relying on me to keep them safe and I could not, and would not make them feel the fear that I was feeling.  Even though I teach in New York, I remember not quite comprehending the magnitude of the tragedy initially but as the day continued and more news was available and ever increasing numbers of parents came to pick up their children early, I realized the scope of the loss was bigger than anything I had experienced in my lifetime.  I remember being home that night with my family and hugging in a group as we gave thanks for being able to come home together, while we felt an enormous sense of loss for those who would not be able to do the same.  Our community, as many similar communities did, felt the loss personally as one of our own was one of the many victims of that day.  I remember.....May we never forget......

     .....Our district always begins after Labor Day and this year we had two days of staff meetings and professional development days before students began on Thursday.  Opening day (as we call it) is always a very festive day.  There are smiles all around as we greet friends and colleagues that we have not seen in awhile.  As we begin the new year there is a sense that everything is possible and that creates the most positive climate!  It would be terrific if we could "bottle" this feeling for those days when everything is not quite so rosy......Ok...that is not possible so instead, I have learned to drink it in and enjoy it!  This year on opening day, our district added a new level of recognition.  In past years the superintendent and Board of Education President have recognized all those who have been employed by the district for 25 years but this year all employees with 30 or more years of service were recognized.  I am proud to say that I fall into that category and I was grateful to be called up to be recognized.  

.....On the second day of our year the staff was required to attend some professional development around the idea of critical thinking skills.  Our district is making a commitment to improve critical thinking skills in our students and this day was about learning the basics and exploring how we might add the teaching of these skills to our curriculum.  During the afternoon session I sat with another PE colleague and we discussed the fact that our cooperative activities unit is the perfect place to teach students critical thinking and problem solving skills and that we have been doing this for years.  After small group discussions took place we were proud to share that there are fantastic connections to Physical Education!

.....There is nothing like the first day of school!  Students are so excited and, for the most part, are happy to be back!  I saw so many smiles, got lots of "I'm glad to be back" hugs, and had the most wonderful day!  Many students eagerly told me how they exercised during the summer and I even got a completed June fitness calendar returned! (Students are not required to return these.....)

New year - New sneakers!

.....During the first day of PE I show students in second grade a short video on Physical Literacy so that they understand the goals of PE class.  Before the video I tell them that I am going to ask them to tell me what they saw and heard in the video when it is done.  When I asked students what they thought was important to remember from the video they had all of the right answers!  It was clear that they were listening and comprehending and are ready to become Physically Literate! 

.....Students in grades 3-5 work on a class contract during the first day of PE.  They create individualized paper hands that will serve as their "signature" on their eventual class contract.  I always encourage students to include others and be helpful to those in need and I saw just that this week!  In each class anyone working alone was invited to join a group and there were no shortage of helpers to trace hands!

.....Physical Eddie came out during a first grade class to help a friend and at the end of class I invited students to say hello by patting him on the head as they left PE.  They were so cute!  Each one was gentle and kind to Physical Eddie and happy to see him after the summer vacation!  

.....North Park has been awarded the Let's Move Active School National Recognition Award!  We are one of only 544 schools in the country and one of only 11 in NYS!  We are so excited!  

And so another year begins.......

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