Middle school fitness

During normal middle school day at Lonestar my lead teacher, Pat Berg, and I have one class of ‘Fitness.’ The fitness class is a class designed for students that are advanced in their understanding and dedication to a healthy lifestyle. Designed in part, to challenge students who are in athletics at the school, this class takes part in rigorous activity during their 50-minute period. Today in class, with the holidays in mind, we went through a workout that was new to me. It was called “The 12 days of Fitness.” This was a great workout! Berg gave the students the option to pick the exercises that would makeup the workout and I thought that was a great decision. Giving students responsibility, especially concerning their health is something that I believe in with all my heart.

Starting out at the middle school honestly made me just miss elementary school. I wasn’t on board with some of the attitudes and resistance I received. Well, I can say after today that the ship has sailed and I’m on board. I am having a great time and I think I have found my teaching style at the middle school level. Similar to elementary, you can’t take yourself too seriously and can’t push too much. You push, I promise they will push harder and win!

I’m subbing the rest of the week and this will help me to see if my style is really effective.

Gobble Gobble

It is great to be home (Everett, WA) for the holiday of thanks! Sometimes the best medicine for writer’s block is to change the scenery. Long story sort, Happy Turkey day to all and enjoy the WIN (what’s important now).

Classroom management plan

Mission:

To live the way we dream, without fear, without certainty, without the answer…To worry about the win (What is Important Now).

 

Vision:

To root inclusion of the body and mind so deep that the body’s end is mistaken for the mind’s start.

 

Physical Education Curriculum Rules

 

1. Have fun
2. Respect yourself, others, and equipment (talking and listening).
3. Hustle everywhere, participate and take pride in what you are doing.
4. Be positive (body language, talking, participating).
5. Become physically educated
   1. Has
   2. Is
   3. Does
   4. Knows
   5. Values

 

Classroom Management

Classroom management is contagious. I believe that if the standard is set from the first day of school that each person in class, myself included, should want to become better each day. Having a proactive approach to management is a philosophy I believe strongly in. If there is a behavior problem in class than the entire class should know what would happen as a result of the behavior.

I believe in developing a community where we can all become better individuals together and holding each other responsible for our actions.

 

1. Be organized.
2. Come planned and prepared.
3. Follow class structure and rules.
4. Encourage movement.

 

Proactive:

Students know and accept classroom rules and expectations.

Students are responsible for themselves and any equipment they are using.

Students are committed to becoming better with each day and make choices accordingly.

 

Reactive:

1. Warning (This may be given to the entire class, a group of students, or an individual)
2. Refocus (This is where I send the student(s) the an area in the gym to reflect and refocus on the issue. This is optimally near a drinking fountain. They are permitted to return to the lesson on their own time when they are ready to be responsible and respectful.)
3. Done (The student(s) have demonstrated they cannot respect the rest of the class and the instructor. The student’s behavior will be documented and brought up at conferences. Following class the instructor and student(s) will talk about the situation and try to come to a resolve.)
4. Gone (Behavior and/or actions are extremely inappropriate and immediate and drastic action needs to take place. Student’s behavior will be documented and student is sent to the office.)

 

 

 

 

 

Intern Work Day

Classroom management plans are crucial to interviews. If I know how to handle a management situation before it occurs than I can turn on the ‘management auto piolot’ once the situation arises.

 

Picture day

Today was picture day on the Lakevue campus and that means bad news for physical education. The gym is where all the pictures were taken all day. As a result, Terry and I had to make some lesson plan adjustments to make things work.

We started the day off with Kindergarten and went into their classroom for our lesson. We did a beanbag manipulation lesson where students perform different movements, both static and ballistic, with the bag.

The next three classes were the 5^th, 4^th followed by 3rd graders. We decided to collaborate with library and show an inspirational documentary to the kids. The name of the movie was, “Let Me Be Brave.” This video was about the 2009 Special Olympic games held in Idaho. Mrs. Elordi is interviewed and shown a number of times during the film, as she is not only a united player but also the floor hockey coach. We created a little worksheet to help keep the kids focused on the video and the responded well to it.

With the first and second graders we had them complete a cutting and problem solving activity that used the bones of the body. Each student received four pieces of paper that had all the bones on them. They were then instructed to cut out the shapes neatly and then tape them in their correct places. The final product was their very own skeleton labeled and ready for home, halloween, or studying. Long story short, it was hectic. 50 second graders followed by 50 first graders, all with tape and scissors…..yikes.

Another great day, ahhhhh.

Sick

I can remember going into the gym at 6 am every morning in high school to work on my basketball shot. After school it was right to practice for a good two hours of workouts. After practice I would eat a little but then it was off the the YMCA to work out or shoot some more or swim, whatever. I can remember putting my body through even more pain and pushing the limits daily during my community college baseball years. 6ams, two-a-days, conditioning, speed training, strength training, fundraising and I still found time to keep up good grades eat a little. No matter the punishment I would put my body through, it would respond with a “it that all you got” attitude. I was always on the go and if I was sitting down, it wasn’t for long. 

I could eat junk, eat all day, drink an adult beverage or two, anything and I would be fine. 

Well, my friends, my body and I have met our match. Not in the form of a pitcher throwing 90 mph, not an all state defender guarding me in the final seconds of a game, not a diving play that I have to make to save the game, but in the form of 650 snotty nosed kids! I am sicker than a dog and I don’t know what to do with myself. 

They say to drink lots of fluids and get some rest… I don’t have time for that, I have a thesis to write, data to analyze, kids to teach, things to learn. Give me a break!

I will overcome my nemesis, kiddie germs before the year is out. Mark my words!

Thesis control

After two weeks of implemented spelling words into the second graders PE lessons (treatment), the investigators leading my study are ready to move onto the control. The control being a normal PE lesson without spelling incorporated. The lesson remained consistent to the treatment in every way excluding use of spelling words with movement. It was a six station circuit lesson where groups of three to four students rotated every four minutes together. The stations consisted of: Balancing while bouncing a ball; playing catch with a partner with a variety of balls/bean bags/frisbees; dribbling basketballs under control; using scooter boards to promote total body range of motion (ROM); agility ladders focusing on speed, quickness, and coordination; and an obstacle course. The lesson was setup inside, to keep consistent with the treatment, and students worked well throughout the lesson. Following the lesson students lined up to head back to class. As they were waiting in line I asked them what they thought of the lesson and if they preferred this lesson over the previous two that included spelling words. Approximately 2/3 of the class preferred this lesson over the spelling lessons. This was a little surprising to me because of how much the kids seemed to enjoy the spelling lessons. At any rate, I am excited to see the control spelling test results compared to the treatment.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

RTI’s modeled within a classroom is a good indicator of a quality teacher. the purpose of an RTI is to promote individual growth among students. Students need to have benchmarks, goals, objectives and lessons that they can relate to in order to progress in school. Assessment and checking for understanding is what an RTI should deliver to each student. Along with this the RTI needs to fit the needs and level of the student.

When talking to my lead teacher about RTI’s she was not that familiar with them. She understood the concept and what its purpose was but had not specifically used them in her career. For PE application her and I thought back to our recess games unit and how after we set the schools rules we spent time outside at lunch and recess, as intervention, to help further guide students on the funniest fairest way to play! 

The three-tier RTI:

The University of Texas Elementary School in collaboration with University of Texas at Austin College continue to use research based RTI curriculums to help make their school successful.  The evidence that they have produced according to the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) is proof that they are responding well to intervention! Reading is the subject that is most focused on in regards to RTI. They are currently working on science and math programs as well to apply the three-tier system too.

It was interesting to me to see that the physical educator at the school is also active in the three-tier RTI system. To target childhood obesity the physical educator wants to create a RTI specifically for PE. Tier one: basic PE and nutrition curriculum. Tier two and three: The specialist works more closely with the students and parents to help make healthy choices for their bodies and discuss ways to create positive change.

The reading was informative. It was particularly appealing to me because the physical educator was taking an active role in the mission the school has set.

IEP

Today I sat in on my first IEP (Individualized Education Plan). It was a much shorter meeting than I had anticipated (about 17 minutes). The student was a first grader that simply is not as cognitively advanced as her peers and needs extra attention and guidance through some of the work. Her behavior is not an issue and no testing accommodations are needed. It was interesting because right before the IEP meeting was to begin I was swooped up by the school counsler to come assist with a problem student that had ran in the boys restroom. The only male on campus to the rescue! 

After talking to are little friend in the bathroom and helping him settle down I was able to head back to the conference room and sit in on the IEP.

Today was a long one and I am about ready to turn in for the evening.

Librarian

Subsitute Log:

Teacher: Alexander O’Brien

Date: September 11, 2009

School: Lakevue Elementary

 

Each book that was returned I inspected for damage. After inspection I placed them all on the roller cart so they are ready to get back on those selves!

5^th grade- 

Outstanding card! Great class. Well mannered and on task for the entire period. I had to ask them once to quiet down and they did. I was impressed to see how many  of the vocabulary words they knew and could explain.

4^th grade-

No card. A little too noisy. I had to calm down the group and get them refocused during Firestorm more than once. Overall, they had a good day but simply had too many people that couldn’t pay attention, keep their hands to themselves, and stay focused on the story. It was interesting to see the difference in vocabulary levels between 4^th and 5^th grade.

2^nd grade- 

Outstanding card! Nothing new here…Great teacher, great class. I always have a good time with this group of kids and aside from taking a little long to check out books they were a joy to have and read to.

3^rd grade-

No card. Had a little bit of a problem listening and following directions after we checked out books. Up to that point they were a fairy well behaved group. I had to stop and wait for a few students to refocus while I was reading but all in all they did well. It took them a long time to find a book and as a result we did not get as far along in Firestorm as I would have liked.

 

1^st grade-

Outstanding card. The class was great. I used a ruler, a one-inch piece of paper and the electrical room door (one yard across) as reference points to help the students understand what the book was talking about. At the conclusion of the book I asked the students why they thought the author would write a book like this. What was its purpose? Little Zander raises his hand and tells me that his mom is Sue! His mom wrote the dang book!