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!

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!

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!

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!

The Best Parts of My Week - 9/24/12--9/28/12

Hi everyone,
     As September drew to a close, it felt as if we are back in the rhythm again!

.....My primary students were creating obstacle courses this week while they were learning the concepts of over and under.  I reminded my students that while cartwheels are fun, the surface of they gym floor is not safe for indoor cartwheels.  One of my students came up to me and said:  "Guess what?  My mom is 33 and she can do a cartwheel!"

.....My third grade students are using pedometers for the first time during PE class and they are very excited!  One student left PE class this week and said:  "I feel like I still have my pedometer on!"

.....We have many new friends at North Park this year and many have not had as much jump roping practice as some of other friends.  I smiled when I saw a student master a jump rope skill this week for the first time!

.....We have some new bear friends this year at North Park to reinforce our Healthy Highway program. This year, Physical Eddie and Healthy Hannah from Savannah are with us and they made their classroom debuts this week!  Healthy Hannah came to PE class and one of the students asked if she could take Healthy Hannah for a run during the warm-up!

.....All of our students completed baseline PE assessments this week for the very first time.  They required diligence and perseverance from all.  I was impressed at the work ethic of our students and their willingness to take the assessments seriously!

.....One of my kindergarten classes had enough time to play outside at the end of their baseline assessment task.  Unfortunately, one of the students took a tumble on a piece of equipment.  While I was making sure that he was OK, another student came up and gave him a hug to make him feel better!

.....At the beginning of the year my students created their "hand cut-outs" for a class contract.  This week after cutting out all of the hands and asking students about the rules that they felt were important to include, I was putting the contracts together.  It struck me that for the first time, one of the rules that students felt was important was "Eat Healthy".  How about that?  It was great to see that our efforts to include nutrition and healthy choices are starting to pay off!

.....My primary students were participating in a warm-up called "Alphabet Soup".  During this warm-up students touch letters, spell their names or spell words that they know while moving in different locomotor patterns to music.  One of my second graders came up to me during the warm-up and said:  "I just spelled Healthy, now I am going to spell 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!

The Best Parts of My Week! 9/17/12--9/21/12

Hi everyone,
     It has been a very exciting start to the school year at North Park!  We have so many new students and families and I think that I made some progress this week in getting to know everyone!

.....I was impressed by a fourth grade student who completely understood the concept of pacing himself during a warm-up and fitness activity this week.  It is a hard concept to teach and I am always thrilled when the message gets through!

.....My upper elementary students were assigned their pedometer numbers this week.  This is always exciting and when it was time to put the pedometers away I rattled off the odd numbers from 1-30 so that those students could clean up first.  One of my fifth graders looked at me while I was doing this and said "impressive!"  I responded - "Thanks!  I like Math!"

.....My younger students were playing a game called "Find My Color", which I use to reinforce the assignment of color groups at the beginning of the year.  Students look under cones to find foam sticks that match their color group.  One of the rules is "No Peeking".  One of my first graders took this rule very seriously and it was great to watch him play by the rules!

.....One of our early pedometer activities is an activity during which students walk for six minutes and attempt to get as many steps as possible.  It is always a challenge to walk and not run during this test.  I was proud of how well the students followed the directions and was also impressed at the number of steps they walked!  They were too!

.....During the course of the week I heard comments from several adults about how PE has changed over the years.  They are glad for the opportunities their students have to learn about nutrition and lifetime fitness during PE class and wish they'd had that opportunity when they were growing up......

.....We are off to a great start in our journey down the Healthy Highway!  One of the opportunities that our students have is to earn a bracelet and a mile for their class if they bring a healthy snack for their birthday treat to share with class.  We have had so many take advantage of this opportunity already this year!  Students have brought in homemade blueberry muffins, zucchini cakes, popcorn, and more to share with classmates as they celebrate their birthdays!

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!

The Best Parts of My Week - 9/10/12--9/14/12

Hi everyone,
     School is in full swing and in many ways it feels as if we never left!  It was a busy week!

.....We started the week with our first Healthy Highway Assembly of the year.  This was very exciting because we have so many new students.  It was great to be able to introduce the program and how North Park travels down the Healthy Highway to so many new students and adults!  I read Fitness Frankie's Summer Adventure book to everyone and we explained the meaning of our traffic light sticks and our very first road of the year:  Courage Crossroads!  Our school motto is:  "We have the COURAGE to do the right thing!"  "Physical Eddie" and "Healthy Hannah" made their debut and of course, we danced!  At the end of the day I was talking with some students and asked them about their favorite part of the day.  Several of the students  commented on the assembly and about how much they liked the dance!  It was great to start the year on such a positive note!

.....During the summer I created a bulletin board that I call "Fitness Frankie Approved!"  The board contains ten different summer activities and some paw prints.  I asked the students to place paw print stickers on the activities that they participated in this summer.  Each student and adult received four paw print stickers and they were asked to place them on the activity board.  It was great to see the excitement from the students and adults!  One of the students asked me if I put my stickers on too!  I was happy to share that my stickers were put on the activity boards for kayaking, walking, bicycling, and golf!  Fitness Frankie was watching as the students placed the stickers.  Some of the students in one of the fifth grade classes asked me if they could hold him.  They were very excited to pass him around and said that they loved his new hoodie!

.....This week we held our annual Meet Your Teacher nights.  I enjoyed so much meeting so many new parents and the opportunity to share what North Park PE is all about with parents and grandparents with a slide show celebrating last year's activities.  I had some great conversations!  I finished showing this slide show to my students as well this week and it was great to hear comments like "I love that!" when students were watching all of the activities that they participated in last year!

.....My primary students are learning about moving in general space safely with a game called "Bubbles".  Students use hoops to create a bubble and attempt to move throughout the gymnasium without popping!  When I explained that the hoops would be pretend bubbles, one of my first graders suggested that they could also be a force field!  How creative!

.....I ended the week with the signing of the Healthy Highway pledge board.  It was wonderful to see the students sign carefully and take the pledge seriously!  I invited the adults in the building to sign it as well and they were delighted to be a part of it!

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!