Birth of Son #2

With the birth of my second son (5/17/10) I now am in charge of two males growing up in this exciting world. Though the challenges are many, I am up to the task of raising them to be independent thinkers, emphathetic citizens, courageous adventurers, and trustworthy/respectful students, sons, and brothers. I can't wait to see what will happen over the summer!

Who have I impacted lately? My new son, to shower him with love and devotion. To guide him down the right path in life. To teach him about the ways of Christ and that the honorable thing won't always be the easiest. Also to devote the time and attention to my first son. Let him know that he is, and always will be, loved regardless of any new siblings.

Grades...What do they mean in my classroom?

As I type this I want you to know these thoughts have been swarming around my brain for the past few weeks. Inspiring to take a new and hard look at my current grading practices. After reading many different pieces of information I've come to the startling conclusion, they don't mean much. Reflecting upon my gradebook creation some five odd years ago, participation rang true as the cornerstone. Though I still believe it is vital to participate for one to reach results, does that participation equal mastery of skills/content/standards?

A recent article from the magazine Educational Leadership entitled "Grading What Matters" written by Tony Winger really opened my eyes. I have been including things, that would fall under a heading of Personal Responsibility (behavior, effort, attentiveness in class, punctuality), impact my student's academic grade.

Here is a common example from Physical Education class, should those that forgot to bring clothes to change into be allowed to participate? My snap reaction is "No!" they weren't responsible enough to remember to bring them and they are essential to one's participation. Comparison to a regular education classroom- when a student forgets to bring their book, pen/pencil or other required materials does the teacher bar them from participating in class? If so does the teacher hold this forgetfulness against them in the gradebook? I don't think so, so why as a professional do I not allow my students to participate when they forget their clothes?

This among many other topics have swam around my brain as I pick apart and reassemble the pieces moving forward.

I just finished reading Rick Wormeli's book "Fair Isn't Equal, A Guide to Differientiated Instruction." Fo those that haven't read it or seen him speak, grab a copy and sign up for the seminar. I had the pleasure, as well as my colleges at Van Meter, to attend a professional development day where he was the keynote speaker. His book brings up many great points especially standards based grading. Aren't we all supposed to teach to our own subject's standards and benchmarks?

For those who are reading this and hoping I'm going to radically overhaul my current grading practicies, not this year. But wait, what I'm starting to put together will not only empower my students, but create a grading system that not only meets district standards/benchmarks but allows for more accurate feedback to not only parents but students regarding mastery. Now that was a run on sentence! Not an english major! Come back often to see what other new information I am adding to my future grading practices.

Who have I impacted lately? Right now I feel like myself. It is hard at times to critically analyze one's current practicies and try to peice together the good and discard the bad. Moving forward, looking to lay the foudation soon.

Mac Training and Postural Reminder

As I am sitting in my second Mac training session (great presenters Rae and Lainie leading) I notice my posture and that of others who are working on their computers. As this technology grows, the level of sedentary involvement also increases. Though different sources debate the impact of posture on one's overall health, I believe that improper posture does negatively impact the body in as little as 10 minutes and can last as long as 60 minutes. In the future I believe tables/chairs/desks must be individually fit to the person utilizing it to increase one's posture and decrease the prevalence of carpal tunnel and other repetitive disorders. Look for future posts discussing posture and ergonomic designs of work stations / desks. Also to decrease the prevalence of improper posture is to systematically get up and add movement into your daily routine (every 10 min. or so). JAM (Just Add Movement) is a place for educators to infuse just one min. of exercise into the lives of their students. Though many might find it time consuming the benefits will last longer than a traditional class period. A typical class period (45 min.) would include four one-min. JAM sessions but I believe the students would be more focused during instruction time.

Who have I impacted today? Those who learn just one thing I teach them from my training session today.

Choices in Physical Education

Though this seems to be a problem in smaller schools (choices for PE), I believe it would greatly increase the desire of the students to participate in something they value. I know, facilities, equipment, supervision, etc. are all aspects that would need to be addressed. As an earlier post I indicated the desire for physical education options outside the traditional classroom. The student could use the traditional time to access information, from the teacher, other students, internet, etc. to better plan their individual workouts or choices. They then could choose to perform the workout at school during class time or during another time convenient to them. Different research studies have validated the desire for choices in as young as 8th grade. Currently in my high school classes I allow my students to walk (while wearing a pedometer) instead of participating in the class I had planned. Many take the opportunity but know that they have a target number of steps they must reach to earn their full daily pts.

Larger schools have more than one teacher for the department and can offer different choices to their students. I believe today's technology can allow different choices to be available, the teacher just needs to think outside the box and become a facilitator and not so much a leader.

Who have I impacted today? Those who were able to walk instead of playing speedball in my high school physical education class this morning.

Physical Education outside the school walls

Today I had a high school female, junior, approach me and ask for more information concerning stability balls and medicine balls. She were not satisfied with her current workout and wanted a broader variety of information. I was able to give her two DVDs from Juan Carlos Santana on those specific topics. Isn't that exactly we want as teachers? Our students seeking us out for further information about a topic they have evaluated and determined isn't meeting their specific needs? I was floored and invigorated, I still am as I sit down and write this post some two hours later.

If a student can apply specific content knowledge outside of the classroom at a local fitness facility, does my class have to meet within the traditional school model/structure/walls? I don't think so. With the vast amount of information on the internet (we are a 1:1 school this year for our secondary students) and for a student to approach their teacher for guidance was amazing.

With things like wikispaces, ITunes U, UTube, etc. why couldn't a student take a physical education class at their local fitness facility? As a teacher I think you would provide them with what you would want to be covered and figure out an assessment for them to determine if it was completed or how it fits into their overall fitness goals.

Who have you impacted today? The girl who came to me for information concerning her personal physical fitness.

Setting the Stage

I am getting tired of hearing "can't we do anything fun?" during my morning physical education classes. I view it as a simple frame of mind. But obviously what I find fun isn't the same thing as my students. Never mind that overweight/obesity statistics have continued to rise and the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes is increasing throughout the adolescent population. "Fun" is such a relative term. "Fun" to me, is a realization that one's life will drastically change after high school and team sports will falter to individualized workouts whenever they can be fit it between pizza and studying or working. As a secondary physical education teacher I believe that one must leave school with a wide variety of "tools" to utilize to prevent problems from arising. Stability balls, medicine balls, resistance bands, resistance training, circuit training creation, etc. are all things one can fall back on to meet the recommended daily workouts. Or if one's tools have gathered rust or broken, to be able to access valid information to better their livelihood. Who am I to think that in today's 4G world, kids have the patience to properly plan and participate in an approved individualized workout? To those who are, I thank you!

"Fun" to me is taking steps to prevent disease from setting in, instead of reacting to it once it rears its ugly head. Physical education has transformed since I was in high school, mid-late 1990s. Gone, or modified, are the traditional team sports and individualized personal fitness is king. Don't get me wrong, it is easy to play kickball and dodgeball and rationalize how it meets NASPE standards. Not much prep time there. It has been my mission to bring a non-traditional approach to my physical education classes, but it has been met with resistance.

In future posts I will share my thoughts on what I have been doing for the past five years, and where I believe my classroom should be headed by combining scientific research and best practices. It might mean that all I know to be is wrong. But until recently I have been scared to face that possibility. It is time to stop thinking I know a lot, what I do know and implement is backed by science, but is that enough to prevent one of my students from becominmg a statistic?

Who have I impacted lately? Those who have applied anything I have taught them, and for those who just might in the future.