Cortland PE Portfolio Showcase Fall 2011

Best & Worst Moments in Movement

Ramsey has posted his Prezi describing his Best and Worst Moments in Movement using a variety of media including images, hand drawn computer art, www.xtranormal.com video with his own voice recorded to narrate the story, all encompassed within the framework of his goaltender gloves. Check it out!

Foundations: Multiculturalism, Philosophy, Finances

Focus questions:

1. How do deficit, expectation, and cultural difference theories explain disparate academic performance among various racial, ethnic, and cultural groups?

2. What major developments have marked the educational history of Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Arab Americans?

3. What educational barriers and break throughs have girls and women experienced?

4. What classroom strategies are appropriate for teaching culturally diverse learners?

5. Are America's schools a secret success story, doing better than the press and public believe?

1. What is a philosophy of education, and why should it be important to you?

2. How do teacher-centered philosophies of education differ from student-centered philosophies of education?

3. What are some major philosophies of education in the United States today?

4. How are these philosophies reflected in school practices?

5. What are some of the psychological and cultural factors influencing education?

6. What were the contributions of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to Western philosophy, and how is their legacy reflected in education today?

7. How do metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and logic factor into a philosophy of education?

1. Why do teachers need to know about finance and governance?

2. How is the property tax connected to unequal educational funding?

3. What is the distinction between educational equity and educational adequacy?

4. What are the sources of state revenues?

5. How does the federal government influence education?

6. What current trends are shaping educational finance?

7. How do school boards and superintendents manage schools?

8. What is the "hidden" government of schools?

9. How does the business community influence school culture?

10. How are schools being made more responsive to teachers and the community?

1. What are your legal rights and responsibilities as a teacher?

2. What legal rights do students enjoy (and do they have legal responsibilities)?

3. What are today's main approaches to moral education?

Perfecting Practice

Manny Pacquaiao has three separate sparring partners to prepare him for his fight versus Juan Marquez, each tasked with imitating a certain boxing style, technique, or pace Marquez might display. In essence he beats the heck out of three guys during PRACTICE, and each of them is a great boxer in their own right, yet:

"When you get hit hard, you go, 'f---, how long are these three minutes going to be?'" Rodela says afterward, "because it feels like an eternity when you're in there."

How hard have you practiced for your teaching labs/lessons? How many times have you set up the equipment in the gym or other area to practice exactly what you're going to do when it's your turn? Have you prepared for the unexpected and the possible scenarios that might arise?  Have you gone through your discipline/management plan when problems come up? Will you give someone a time-out on the first offense? Will you be able to see the offense from your positioning in the class?

Here a couple pre- teaching samples from your peers.  Please post your videos to your blog and to our Facebook group to show people your progress.





What it's like to spar with Manny Pacquiao - Bryan Armen Graham - SI.com:

In regards to practice, Dan who was a commercial photographer but gave it up to learn to be an expert golfer by taking 5 full years to accumulate 10,000 hours of practice (a theorized level of expertise/mastery).

Remember, this course is just the start of your teaching career and if you're serious about helping kids learn, then you better get used to practice, trial, error, reflection and then back to practice again. This cycle is essential to continuous growth for both you and your students. I never assume I know everything because I wouldn't be open to see your points of view, appreciate how each of you learn best, and what you can teach me.

Dan's approach is intriguing and very gutsy even has his swing coach doing a video analysis (a necessity in golf education programs and coaching). Hmmm, video analysis - sound familiar?  Happy Practicing and Learning!

CS swing analysis September 2011 from Dan McLaughlin on Vimeo.

Time is of the Essence

Hey 255 Rockstars!  Your Lab C lessons have been up and running for some time now, and they are probably going a lot faster than you expected them to.  With that being said, it is crucial to manage the short time you have, wisely.  For those of you that have already gone, you all have great ideas and you all seem to be comfortable teaching, but some of you may not be satisfied with how it has gone.  So, for those of you that have not gone yet, you might need to think about how you can get your students to participate in activity time sooner.  Do not be afraid to take a look at your watch during your lesson.  Maybe at the 3-minute mark, get the class moving with some activities.  For those who have taught your Lab C already, remember that Lab D is just around the corner.  It is time to prepare.  You get more time, so start coming up with ideas of how you are going to increase the activity time.  This is why we record the lesson.  It allows you to reflect on what needs work.  You are here to become a better teacher with every lesson, so take advantage of it.



Also, you may have all been surprised with the students "misbehaving" in class, and the students with "disabilities."  Be prepared to expect anything.

PE InTECHgration: Lifelong learning

Learning to incorporate technology into our lesson is an important step in helping students learn better. As teachers you should constantly learn new tech skills, as I just read that tech skills have a two-year half-life. In other words

.. that the exact set of skills you have today will only be half as marketable two years from now.

 Lifelong learning should be ingrained in our work ethic and beliefs.

Rules, Protocols, Expectations

I love catching up with PE teachers all over the world on what they're doing in class. I truly miss the daily interactions in a school setting...but with teachers like Michael Beringer in Minnesota, Jarrod Robinson in Australia, Jenna Monahan (student-teacher) on  Long Island, Kyle McKune (Louisville, KY) and others...its almost like being there.

Check out Michael's Gym rules poster and other weekly highlights including how he plays games like Scat Cat and clump to get students used to directions and grouping along with self-spacing.  You never just play/practice these just once - you constantly remind, practice and give feedback on these expected behaviors.

Stephanie's Reaches Across Oceans to PE Geek

Just read a great connection of Stephanie reaching out to Jarrod of PE Geek fame. We've been twitter and blog pals for a while and it was great to hear him be so supportive. Way to be proactive Steph!

This morning I came upon a website of a man who is a Physical Educator in Victoria, Australia!

His name is Jarrod Robinson and runs the website 

The PE Geek!

With over 120,000 blog hits from around the world and 

nomination for the first runner up for the 2010 EDUBLOG Awards,

I couldn't think of anyone better to get in touch with to expand my connections! 

Click here to read the rest of the story from Steph's blog.

Lab C Lessons and C9 Forms

Hello Rockstars,

Just an update with your Lab C lessons.  The C9 form is what you are being evaluated on along with a feedback form.  Make sure you take a look at these forms before you teach your lesson so that you know what is expected of you.  If you want to, you can even have the C9 form with you along with a lesson plan as you teach so that you can remind yourself of what your are supposed to be doing.   You will be meeting to go over your C9 form at some point after your teaching so that you can improve your next lesson.


Also, remember that a responsibility as a teacher is to give feedback to your students.  This feedback should mostly be related to what you are teaching, especially your cues.  Be sure to use names when addressing students and make feedback specific.  In order to make sure this feedback is occurring, make sure that your are moving around the gym so that you get a chance to see majority of the class.


These are just a few tips to take into consideration with your teaching.  Lab C looked good today and keep up the good work!

Lip Sync Preps Skits

Here are the many video music lip syncs for PED 201 Fall 2011. Lots of fun choreographing and performing


Chumbawamba I Get Knocked Down (Jumping Jack and Jills Cover Cortland PE)

Bye Bye Bye - N'SYNC (Athletic Alliance cover) Cortland PE

Mr. Saxobeat- Triple Nuggets

Mary's Marvels teaching YOU how to Dougie!!