Student teaching thoughts for Rockstar PE

The elementary is such a great experience student teaching! I'm having a blast and the children love to learn! My cooperating teacher is great and does a great job with the children. This placement is terrific compared to my first placement at the high school level. Photos, videos, and more to come! Check out my blog at dhowardphysed.blogspot.com

Sarah Nadrowski (2013) Wins All-Around National Title

Congratulations to Sarah Nadrowski a Cortland PE Senior who won the all-around title at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The Cortland team won third place overall. More details can be found here.

Who profits from the NCAA March Madness?

Click image to see a larger versionCollege Basketball and Taxes via H&R Block

20 Surprising Social Media Stats For 2012

Interesting facts compiled by GO-Globe.com about our usage of social media.

No Recess in Syracuse?

You heard me, there will be no recess scheduled in Syracuse city schools this year.  On top of that you can bet that they don't have daily PE either as it is not mandated by the state DOE.

“If they are going to opt to do recess, they are going to be taking time from ELA (English language arts) and math, and that’s a choice I hope every teacher considers very carefully,” Kelley said.

They have obviously not read the latest on brain development, physical fitness and academics.

I spent a few days in March at Naperville, IL where PE, recess, and physical activity is paramount to learning for all, but especially for those with difficulty learning math, and reading (part of Common Core). These are the results for the Learning Readiness PE program over 5 years:

• Reading rose 1-2 grade levels
• Math scores increased 10-22%

Don't forget to get your resources for the benefits of exercise, fitness on academics at:

• NASPE Advocacy Toolkit - http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/advocacy/governmentRelations/toolkit.cfm
• Postion Statements http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/standards/PEPS.cfm 
• Let's Move in Schools - http://www.aahperd.org/letsmoveinschool/about/overview.cfm

One of the main authors of the brain study on youth who exercise is Chuck Hillman and you can find one of his papers here from the Nature journal "Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition"

#PEchat Takes-Off

The first World Wide #pechat has been happening all day and will continue the entire day through the Pacific and eventually Europe. Here is the initial batch of 300+ tweets that show-off our willingness to share with each other to improve the lives of our students.

Lives in Crisis: Transformed by Tony Robbins (Bright Spots)

Author, life coach, and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anthony Robbins is a world-famous motivator and life-coach but its great that he offers lots of little videos to compliment their Coach Training website and his mega workshops. I think it is so important for everyone, especially those in education, to work on your own professional development and growth.  To really make a difference you need to be a lifelong learner and have a thirst for constant growth.   Reading, taking workshops, discussing with peers and mentors and contributing to your Personal Learning Network will make all the difference in your potential.

Click here to see how he transformed Rechaud's lifelong struggle with stuttering by listening first and identifying the first time he remembers stuttering and what was the emotional trigger. The term Bright Spots comes from a great book by Chip & Dan Heath called "Switch" - a must read.

Cover via Amazon

What Recent College Grads Regret the Most

What Recent College Graduates Regret the Most [Chart]: "

According to a recent survey by Rutgers University’s Heldrich Center for Workforce Development [pdf], the above are recent college graduates’ seven biggest regrets looking back on their college years as they consider their current employment situation. While most graduates say they are ultimately happy with their decision to have gone to college, a full 74% regret not doing something differently. The tops: Wishing they had been more careful about selecting a major or choosing a different major, or getting more part-time work or internship experience.

(via Andrew Sullivan. h/t Hannah Waters)

Related articles

• Will You Be More Successful Than Your Parents? (economix.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Jobless grads: What they would've done differently (cbsnews.com)
• Recent College Grads Wanted More Tech Classes (speedofcreativity.org)

Understoodit: Checking for Understanding for the 21st Centruy

I've been toying around with lots of these Classroom Response Systems (CRS) and like the fact that many of them are free and can be accessed with multiple devices (SMS, twitter, web, apps, etc.). I've listed a bunch of systems at the end of the post but wanted to share 2 new ones including one still in closed Beta.  Although I love the intent of these tools, the majority of the scenarios are unfortunately still modeled in the traditional teacher-centeted class or lecture-based delivery format. From what we know about different learning and teaching styles, surely we can give better examples of student-centered learning, problem-based, project-based, team-based, just something besides the lecture.

Teaching, Quizzes, Online Polls, Study Aids

1. GoSoapBox
2. GoClass
3. Poll Everywhere (SMS, Twitter, Web)
4. ResponseWare - (Smartphone & clickers)
5. StudyBoost
6. SAP Web 2.0 (Twittter) - PC
7. UnderstoodIt (Beta)
8. Wiffiti

Understoodit is still in closed Beta, but you can sign-up and try to score your own Beta invite. It looks to be on par with a lot of the other systems that allow anonymous responses, but is that just between students or is there a tracking mechanism for teachers?

GoSoapBox is another classroom response system that has an interesting tag-line "Hear what your students are thinking!" Now if I could really hear what they thought, that would be pretty scarey because I know what I think while I'm in a class. This system is anonymous between students but the interactions can be tracked by the teacher.

Getting started with GoSoapBox

View more presentations from John Pytel'

GoClass is a new iPad app that allows teachers to create lessons using different forms of media, project these lessons with a compatible projection system and broadcast specific media to student iPads.

Related articles

• Understoodit Lets Students Voice Their Confusion Without Having to Raise Their Hands (techcrunch.com)
• Confused in Class? There's an App for that (understoodit.com)

InPE = The PE Interviews

Here are my interviews with Dr. Ernie Medina, Paul Zientarski, Ken Reed, Ed Kassanders and George Velarde at the Phil Lawler DuPage County Institute For PE, Health, Driver Ed.held in Naperville, IL back in March 2012. With a special message for SUNY Cortland PE teacher-candidates and student-teachers. http://schools.naperville203.org/north/academicdepartments/DuPageCountyInstit...



Note: Phil Lawler was the crusader who helped to refocus physical education to a wellness-based model that encourages fitness for a lifetime. 

Ken Reed
Game Changer captures the passion of this legend in the field of physical education who believed that every child—regardless of athletic ability—should be given a chance to find an activity he or she can embrace and enjoy for a lifetime.
Ken Reed's book Game Changer (based on Phil Lawler's mission) is available http://www.amazon.com/Game-Changer-Improving-Education-ebook/dp/B0076QCB7Q

Dr. Ernie Medina
Dr. Medina practice and business centers around using technology to improve health including using exergames and mobile applications - http://www.medplaytech.com/

In this interview he showed his Mobile Adventure Walk app - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobile-adventure-walks/id464283791?mt=8 and discussed how important it is to be unique as well as practical in addressing the needs of his patients. Certainly a message we can all relate to.

George Velarde
Be sure to check out George's PE programs for lots of information and some of the programs they run at Sierra Vista Junior High http://www.hartdistrict.org/sierra/pe/

Ed Kassanders
Be sure to check out Motion Fitness & Exergame Fitness for lots of product information and programs around exergaming - http://www.exergamefitness.com/

Paul Zientarski
Be sure to check out Learning Readiness PE for lots of information and some of the studies done at Naperville's schools - http://www.learningreadinesspe.com/