PE - October 6, 2016

As I began to think about this week's guest teaching assignment, I remembered my own PE experiences.  And they  weren't good!  In high school, most of us tried to have a full schedule so we could get a PE waiver.  In junior high, it was awkward and everyone tried to do as little as possible.  And in elementary, it was just fun and games.  PE has changed over time with a focus on fitness and health  This is for the better.  Life skills is the best way to make it relevant and easy for all to see the importance.

I sat down with Mr. Kuepker and we discussed the plan for this week.  Students were in a tennis unit.  He modifies the game a bit in order to accommodate the large class size and give everyone a chance to participate.  Before beginning the tennis match, students are to warm up and the class has 8th grade leaders who are in charge of warm ups.  I enjoy tennis and was excited to get in the gym!

The first thing I noticed was the students' attitudes.  You can tell who really did not like to exercise and whose favorite class was PE,  I began with my guest teaching story and then the leaders began the warm ups.  They did an awesome job!  It was a perfect opportunity for me to see some of these students in a new light.  One student typically has a large number of behavior referrals.  He was an outstanding leader!  Students listened to him, he redirected students kindly, it was just great.  Somehow we need to get that behavior in every classroom.  How do we harness his preferences to make the rest of his day successful?  We need to recreate this environment and give this student the confidence to be a leader in each of his classrooms.  This was the most thought-provoking moment of this guest teaching experience.

When we went out to play tennis, the students complained that it was sprinkling.  They didn't argue about their teams or playing, but some dragged their feet or tried to hide out in the back.  Overall, most students were good sports and participated.  It is difficult with such large class sizes for all students to get involved and really play.  Not everyone worked up a sweat, but at least they all had the chance to practice hitting the ball.  For some students, this is the time of day they can relax, be themselves, and let off some steam.  For others, it can be stressful and embarrassing.  PE is unlike other classrooms and, again, I learned a lot from this experience!