Fireworks for Lifelong Learning

Welcome back everyone!

We are looking forward to a great semester of working together in making education (and in particular physical education) transformative and transparent.

If you haven't heard, I believe YOU CAN make a difference, and I will do everything in my power and passion to help find your voice and make your students' learning the top priority.  They say if your students haven't learned, then you haven't taught properly. My goal is to guide and inspire you in the process of creating physically educated, active and healthy students.  With your dedication and commitment to learning and receiving constructive feedback, we hope to keep all our channels of communication open to facilitate all of our short and long-term goals.

This journey to a new era starts with you and I look forward to learning how I can best assist you in your life and professional pursuits.  To quote a current artist’s hit: "You just gotta ignite the light, And let it shine, Just own the night, Like the Fourth of July". Now let’s get out there and let your light shine through!

Are State Budgets Are Breaking US Schools? (presentations)

Image via WikipediaThe TED Talks series is a shining example of experts in their respected fields giving powerful and passionate presentations.  And although most of them use a powerpoint slideshow of some sort (Keynote) they never once use it to display insane amounts of information.  Rather they use the opportunity to tell a story that is important to them in order to get you do something about it.

Bill Gates presentation is a sobering view of economics and budget shortfalls overall and in particular for education.  What are the 3 things Bill Gates wants to happen?



I also love Adora's Svitak presentation and Prezi (www.prezi.com) about What Adults Can Learn From Kids. Could you do what she did in front of all those people?

7 DIVERSE Teaching Skills & Believing

Cross-posted from Amanda Caloia on Sound Mind Sound Body: 7 DIVERSE Teaching Skills: "

Creating a climate that honors and celebrates your students diversity is a key to success with a diverse group of students. There are 7 teaching skills to help students feel safe, have their unique needs and interests recognized, and are part of a classroom discourse. Just remember DIVERSE promotes equality and good teaching!
Diverse instructional materials: Be sure that all parts of the world and it's diverse thoughts, views and people are woven into the curriculum.
Inclusive: Provide opportunities for every student to participate in classroom activities and discussions including shy or quiet students.
Variety: Use different styles of teaching to allow for all the different types of learners to be successfull.
Exploration: Encourage your students open up their minds to explore and experience or learn about other cultures and beliefs.
Reaction: All students can learn from their questions when they are given effective feedback. Teachers can make sure they give effective feedback through patience, encouragement and high expectations.
Safety: Any offensive comments and physical or verbal bullying should be stopped immediately because without safety and security, little learning is possible.
Evaluation: Consider a wide variety of evaluation strategies to assess the unique strengths of your individual students.

Don't ever stop believing that you can make a difference.  You can with resolve, a solid plan and a commitment to do whatever it takes for your students.  Think of how many times it took the following college student - same age as you - to perform and produce the following song.  The different musical instruments, the vocal arrangements, lyrics, harmonies, editing and producing.  An amazing amount of effort to say the least. With nearly 100 million views across various performances, do you think they've stopped following their passion. The lead singer(s) Sam Tsui (and musician/producer friend Kurt) isn't even a music major yet he's been featured on national television shows as has a devoted following all because he pursued his passion. He's been on Oprah, Ellen, Bonnie Hunt, and much more. What are you willing to do and how long will you want to do it while others doubt you and goals?

Ji Lee: The Transformative Power of Personal Projects

Ji Lee’s 99% speech was a simply crafted and delivered eloquently to deliver his message of doing things that you enjoy and in which you are personally invested.

Bored with his ad agency gig and the uninspiring work he was producing, Ji Lee – now Creative Director of Google Creative Lab – decided to take matters into his own hands in 2002. The result was the ad-spoofing Bubble Project, in which Lee placed blank speech bubbles on ads around New York City. The masses responded and the project went viral, gaining Lee recognition and ultimately forwarding his professional career. Here, Lee talks about how he created, financed, and marketed the project single-handedly.

Passion, Commitment, Pursuing Your Dreams & Goals

George Lopez is willing to try a lot of new skits, material and interactions for his studio audience in hopes that it ranslates well to the TV viewers.  Bringing internet sensation Lin Yu Chun to perform his Whitney Houston's "Saving all my love" and a duet with Academy Award William "Capitan Kirk" Shatner “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was awesome. Watch and listen to the audience as Lin delivers on the high and low notes of these technically difficult songs.  Not only is he singing the correct words and notes, but he is in tune and has very few pitch issues.  More remarkable is his ability to interpret the songs in the way similar to the original version with his own interpretations and within the limits of his vocal range and ability.  

• Can you tell he speaks very little English? 
• Can you tell he has never been on TV in the US prior to this performance? 
• How many hours do you think Lin practiced at his craft of singing? 
• How many times did he hit a wrong note or wrong lyrics? 
• How many times do you think people told him that he is a terrible or can't sing?
• How many times do you think people told him he would never be successful?

• How much time do you spend planning and researching your lessons/activities?
• How much time do you spend practicing and rehearsing your lessons/activities?
• Do you seek others feedback and input?
• Do you record yourself (audio/video) while rehearsing your teaching segments?
• Do you ask your teachers, TA's and peers questions about your assignments?
• What are you willing to do in order for you to perform at an equally high level that is eventually recognized as being inspiring? 

Applications for Learning

As teachers, we all have our comfort areas and expertise in certain sports, activities, games, etc...  The challenge for teachers everywhere is to continue to learn and adopt the mission of lifelong learning. Do whatever it takes for you to help your students engage in more meaningful and impacting learning experiences.  Take classes in other areas to broaden your base of knowledge, learn from others how to improve your blogs (or visit this PE Tech page on Rockstar PE Wiki), take clinics in First Aid Certification so that you can certify your own students in Emergency First Aid, and in general never stop learning. Don't wait for others to "give" you what you think you deserve, go out and become the inspirational, transformative leader.