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

Hi everyone,
    I hope you enjoy reading about the Best Parts of My Week!  I would love to hear about yours!  E-mail me at northparkpe@yahoo.com!

.....I was discussing cooperation with my younger students and I asked them how they should react when their partner makes a mistake.  One student raised his hand and said:  "We should help them".........wouldn't it be great if we all reacted that way?  It was a great opportunity to reinforce the idea that good teammates help each other learn......

.....One day this week I heard a spontaneous reaction from a student on the way in to PE class:  "I LOVE GYM!"  It made me smile!

.....Recently the NYC Marathon was held.  One of my students was very proud that his dad had run in the marathon and he was thrilled to tell me about it.  He actually brought in his dad's medal to show me!

.....I had a great opportunity to attend and present at the SEZ of NYS AHPERD Election Day conference this week.  I am so fortunate to be able to participate in some wonderful professional development during the year.  It's always a great chance to meet some passionate professionals and to learn some new ideas!  I can't wait to try out some of the new things I learned!  Fitness Frankie and Exercise Ernie attended too!  They were a hit!

.....The weather here in the Northeast has been unusually warm lately.  I took some of my classes outside this week and I was suddenly struck by how beautiful our play area is and how lucky we are to have such great spaces to play and work in!

.....I was walking in the hallway and met up with some students who asked how many steps I had on my pedometer so far.  I tell my students that I wear my pedometer all week and like to get a weekly total so I do not reset it until Monday morning.  When I told my students how many steps I had walked so far this week they looked surprised so I also said:  "I move a lot!"  One of the students replied with a smile:  "I can see that!"

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Visit the North Park PE website  and the new North Park PE Website for more information about our program!

Visit a preview of the new North Park PE website!

"The Best Parts of My Week" 10/31/11-11/4/11

Hi everyone,
     We started the week in October and now it's already November!  Our school is "traveling" down Pride Path and we are encouraging our students to take "Pride" in everything they do........I am so proud of my students as they show me that they have the "Courage to do the right thing"!

.....As my fifth graders were playing a game in partnerships, I noticed one student shake hands and wish each new partner "Good Luck"!

.....I played a cooperative game called Moon Ball with my fifth graders this week.  This game requires students to work together to keep a special balloon ball up in the air with as many hits as possible in a row.  In my many years of playing this game, I have never seen the cooperation, teamwork, fairness, and communication that one class in particular showed during this game.  It was absolutely amazing!

.....At the end of the day, one student took the time to ask me "And how was your day today?"

.....After school one day this week three former students came to visit!  As one of the students entered the gymnasium, he said "I told you I would come back to visit!"  It was great to see them!

.....One of the activities we played this week involved students acting as different objects and animals.  One of the levels in the game required students to act as eggs.  While giving directions, I cautioned the students to be careful and move safely around their classmates.  I said that we did not want to see any "scrambled eggs"!  They (well, most) laughed!

.....We have a great opportunity to use pedometers on a daily basis with my students in grades 3-5.  I smiled when I noticed that one of my students wears his own pedometer on a daily basis too!

.....I happened to be in the office when two kindergarten students came in to drop off the "North Park EZ-PASS" that they had earned during recess.  This pass is given for good behavior and allows students to go to the front of the line for lunch in the cafeteria.  These students were all smiles and very proud of themselves!  I was too and showed my pride with a "high five"!

.....While getting milk for my lunch this week I was in the cafeteria line when a kindergarten student chose carrots instead of noodles when asked by the cafeteria staff.  I was proud of his choice and told him that carrots were a healthy choice.  He was proud too!

.....At the end of the week my kindergarten students were working together to build towers using foam bricks.  These towers are built with one student holding the base of the tower while another student builds on top of the base.  The towers inevitably fall and we talk about how good teammates react in those situations.  I was reminded of the pure joy of play when one of my students laughed the biggest "belly laugh" I have heard in quite awhile each time the tower fell.  I could not help but laugh myself!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Visit the North Park PE website for more information about our program!

Visit a preview of the new North Park PE website!

The Best Parts of My Week 10/24/11-10/28/11I have recently

Hi everyone,
    It was a great week with many great moments!  28 years of teaching and I am still experiencing some things for the first time!

..... I had a great opportunity to go on a field trip with the 5th graders and their teachers to the Walkway Over the Hudson this week.  This is an amazing walkway over the Hudson River.  It was created as a restoration of a local train bridge and has spectacular views of the river and our beautiful Mid-Hudson Valley.  It was the first time I had been on the Walkway and the views and experience did not disappoint!  Students wore pedometers and made step count predictions ahead of time.  They were excited to use our pedometers in a "real world" way!  To be honest, I am not a fan of heights, so I was a little nervous about the trip, but my fears were calmed by the students' excitement, our ambassador's enthusiasm, and walkway's amazing views!  Fitness Frankie and Exercise Ernie were in attendance as well and they were just as excited as we all were!  This experience was a truly interdisciplinary one as Math, Science, Physical Education, Library Research, and Social Studies were all a part of the experience!  Click this link to view some pictures!

.....After the Walkway field trip, Exercise Ernie and Fitness Frankie spent the week in two different third grade classes.  During the week my third graders were sure to keep me posted as to their adventures!  They both spent some time in PE class, but also enjoyed Art and classroom adventures!

......As my primary students were getting to know each other during our cooperative unit, I asked students to ask a friend "What is your favorite dinner?"  One student answered:  "Popcorn Shrimp!"

.....During another cooperative activity with my primary students, I challenged classes to fit as many students in as few hoops as possible during a game called "How Low Can You Go?"  I was impressed as students were able to fit 18-20 students in just 2-3 hoops!  (-safely of course!)  It was great to see them including everyone!

.....As a result of my membership in the Southeastern Zone of NYSAHPERD, I had the opportunity this week to participate in a Care to Share event at Manhattanville College.  I had fun sharing the game "Pigs in a Blanket", but it was even more fun sharing the experience with those preparing to become PE teachers!

.....I have recently begun a Cooperative Education unit with my students in grades K-5.  I love this unit and always learn from it, even as I see the same activities create different outcomes year after year.  This week my students in grades 3-5 played a game called "Scrunchie Tag".  This game requires students to "donate" scrunchies to those who are out of scrunchies.  At the conclusion of the game I ask students to relate how they felt when helping others, or when being helped.  One of my students this week shared that it was more important to him to give away his last scrunchie rather than keep it for himself.  THAT is the power of Cooperative Education!

.....My primary students participated in an "Alphabet Stretch" warm-up this week.  During the week I changed the letters that students were creating.  Later in the week the letters became more challenging and one of the letters that students were asked to create by stretching their bodies was the letter "Q".  I smiled when I saw one of my kindergarten students making a terrific "Q" using one of his feet up in the air "just so" for the tail of the letter!  Another student said "Look at my i!"  He used his hand above his head as the dot!

.....I invited the 4th and 5th grade students to the gymnasium for Fitness Friday this week.  We played UNO Fitness and danced the Cha Cha Slide.  It was so much fun to see students working hard and having fun!  Click this link to view pictures of some of our Fitness Friday pictures!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Visit the North Park PE website for more information about our program!

Visit a preview of the new North Park PE website!

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/17/11--10/21/11

Hi everyone,
     It was a week to take a step back and appreciate the little things that can be easily taken for granted........

.....After playing a game with my kindergarten students called "Clean Up Your Backyard", one of my students commented while cleaning up at the end of class: "Oh look, we are recycling!"

.....One of the reasons that I like the game "Clean Up Your Backyard" is that it allows for some reinforcement of Math practice with my primary students. Students were counting and I was adding up the "garbage" on each side of the "fence" when one of my first graders offered to do the Math.  He did a great job!  He was 100% accurate!

.....Although I have been playing the game "Clean Up Your Backyard" for many years, I attended a conference last fall and went to a session about this game.  Lynn Hefele, a PE teacher, wrote a book to accompany the game.  I bought the book and added it to my lesson.  It was terrific and my students loved it! Fitness Frankie and Exercise Ernie played too!  One of the objects of the game is to aim for balloons that represent trees.  One of my students hit the ribbon holding up the balloon and commented: "I hit a branch!"Visit Lynn's website at LEPE, inc. for more information about this book and game.

.....While outside with my upper elementary students this week, we had the opportunity to play one-on-one soccer games.  It was a beautiful Fall week and we have such wonderful fields on which to play.  It was hard not to be grateful.......

.....I watched has students in several classes this week assisted others in need of help for shoe tying.  The students who helped did so willingly and without looking for thanks in return.....

.....I invited some second and third grade students to the gymnasium on Friday for a Fitness Friday activity.  We had a great time with UNO Fitness and the Cupid Shuffle.  A new faculty member joined in for the first time and said: "What a great way to start the day!"  I agree!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Please visit the North Park Physical Education website for more information about our program.

The Best Parts of My Week 10/11/11--10/14/11

Hi everyone,
     The days and weeks are flying by!  It's hard to believe that we are halfway through October already!  I wonder if time flies by as quickly for our students as it does for the adults in our building........

.....We had the opportunity to be outside participating in some soccer activities early this week.  One of my second graders said "I used to play soccer, but I retired."

.....I had the pleasure of listening to a fifth grader read Fitness Frankie's journal entry for the week he spent in their class.  She read with such great expression and enthusiasm I could have sworn that Fitness Frankie himself was speaking!  My principal continues to remind me:  "You know he is just a bear, right?"  I am not so sure.........

.....I am always inspired by the kindness that I witness at the most unusual moments during the day.  Several students this week definitely showed the "Courage to do the right thing" by being kind and helpful to other students who benefited greatly from their kindness.  I had the pleasure of sharing this behavior with their classroom teacher.  All involved were proud!

.....We held our October Healthy Highway assembly this week and introduced our new "characters".  Courageous Carlos and Courageous Cassie are the newest addition to what we call "The Pride of North Park"!  They are lions that will help our students with courage!  The students and staff were all smiles and laughter as they lions made their debut!  At the end of the assembly one of our fifth grade classes volunteered to dance our Healthy Highway dance on stage.  They did a great job and are wonderful leaders in our school!

.....October is Fire Safety Month and we have a wonderful fire department that comes to our school each year to teach fire safety to our students.  It is always an exciting day and I had an opportunity to take some kindergarten students to see the fire trucks.  They were in awe of the firefighters and the equipment.  We are so fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers keeping us safe!

....As a result of Fire Safety Day, I was not able to use the gymnasium and the weather did not cooperate so I spent the day in the music room playing Uno Fitness and Speedstacks with my classes.  When a kindergarten class arrived, one of the students said:  "I thought you were the gym teacher!"  When I responded that I indeed am the PE teacher, he said:  "Then what are you doing in here?"

.....Speedstacks are very popular with my students and we enjoy using them during the school year.  Kindergarten students are just beginning to use them by building creatively.  One student said to another when he was building: "You know the bigger the bottom, the higher you can build".  I thought that this was quite a concept to understand at five years old!  Maybe he will be an architect or an engineer someday - who knows??????

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week"!

Please visit the North Park PE Website for more information about our program.

The Best Parts of My Week - 10/3/11-10/7/11

Hi everyone,
     We are enjoying the changing of the seasons here in the Northeast, but one thing that never changes is that there are many great moments during the week!  Enjoy!

.....Exercise Ernie's journal entry was read by an enthusiastic first grader during morning announcements! It sounded like Ernie himself were reading!

.....One of our fifth grade classes took care of Fitness Frankie this week.   They were just as happy as the kindergarten students to have him in their class!  They helped him draw a picture in art and brought him to PE class with a pear!  His blog will be updated soon!

.....At our faculty meeting on Monday my director presented me with a beautiful hand-made plaque in recognition of my NYS Elementary PE Teacher of the Year Award.....Words are not enough to say thank you.  I continue to be overwhelmed...........

.....One of my kindergarten students brought in apples as healthy treat for his birthday celebration and brought me one too!

.....My primary students were creating obstacle courses this week.  I was impressed at the creativity of many of my students.  Each group used the same equipment, but there were so many creative ideas that I had not even thought of!  Two of my kindergarten friends who were working together told me:  "We made it so that we could go at the same time!....."  They have already learned how to Play Fair!

.....As a warm-up activity this week, younger students were moving throughout the gymnasium as they found letters on the floor to spell words.  Some spelled their name, others spelled a word on their spelling list.  One second grade student told me he spelled "Photosynthesis"and another told me he spelled "Jump Rope for Heart!"

.....I was waiting for a class to be picked up from PE this week and I said to the third grade class:  "I guess you will have to stay with me all day!"  They responded enthusiastically "YEAH!"  It doesn't get much better than that!

.....At the end of this week I had a wonderful opportunity to present two sessions at the Central South Zone of NYS AHPERD Mini-Conference at SUNY Cortland.  It was a great experience!  I am a SUNY Cortland graduate and it was a real treat to be back!  As I was setting up for my session in the gymnasium, I had a moment to myself to be truly thankful for the journey that I have been on since my days at SUNY Cortland.  I met some wonderful PE Majors and PE Professionals!  Thanks to the CSZ for inviting me!

I hope you enjoyed reading about the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Please visit the North Park Physical Education Website for more information about our program.

The Best Parts of My Week - 9/26/11--9/30/11

Hi everyone,

September flew by! It's hard to believe that we have been in school for a month already! The leaves are starting to fall and we are enjoying the cooler weather! I hope you enjoy the "Best Parts of My Week"!



.....This week students in the primary grades were learning a warm-up during which small groups take turns jogging around our "Rainbow Track". Each color starts in a different place, so I always remind students to "look both ways" before they enter and exit the track. Students take this direction seriously and I always smile when I see them doing it. One student was standing still in the middle of the track during her turn and turning her head from side to side. Other students jogged around her, and I went over to her to ask why she was standing still. She replied "You told me to look both ways!"



.....I had the pleasure of bringing Exercise Ernie down to a K-1 class this week as it was their turn to take care of him. They were so excited! Each time they attended PE, they brought him to the gymnasium. One kindergarten student proudly announced that they were teaching him how to eat healthy snacks!



.....I was touched this week when I saw a kindergarten student spontaneously go to another student to help with an activity. The student was having difficulty getting started and the other student went over quietly and helped without looking for any special thanks........



.....After Fitness Frankie and Exercise Ernie spend time in a classroom, students from that classroom read about their adventures to the school using our PA system. After two students read about Exercise Ernie's adventure this week they were walking back to their classroom when another student from their classroom stopped them and told them what a great job they did! He was so sincere and the students were beaming!



.....I have talked from time to time about how I enjoy doing bus duty at the end of the day. I often get to chat with students and ask about their day. This year I am assigned to the students who are being picked up. One student arrived to the gymnasium for dismissal and began doing jumping jacks! Her enthusiasm was infectious and soon the whole group was doing them!



.....I had the pleasure of moving some class PE cars down the road for classes that were doing a great job during PE. The students in the class were very excited and began using their "butterfly claps" to show how happy they were! Butterfly claps are quiet claps of fingers coming together. It is a great way for students to show enthusiasm and excitement without a tremendous amount of noise. It is always great to see them!



..... We had a great Fitness Friday this week! I invited some classes to the gymnasium for a Fitness Friday activity. Many of the students were from the kindergarten classes and had never been to a Fitness Friday activity in the gymnasium. They were so excited! It was clear that they did not know what to expect at first, and they realized quickly how much fun they were going to have! Me too!

I hope you enjoyed the "Best Parts of My Week!"

Please visit the North Park Physical Education Website for more information about our program!