This year many of the students have physical education twice a week. This is in addition to recess each day and Move-to-Improve exercises in the class room.
For those families I have yet to meet, my name is Jay Rosen. I teach P.E. Sports.
The kids call me Jay or Mr. Jay.
When the children come to P.E. Sports they learn about games, races and activities while meeting the National Standards for Physical Education.
For more about the standards please go to the standards link.
In the younger grades the children practice skills such as hopping, galloping, running and jogging, leaping, and jumping over hurdles.
Additionally, the children are learning how to toss a ball underhand and throw a ball overhand.
We are finishing up our basketball unit. Next, we start soccer. While learning about basketball, we are also meeting the standards for dribbling and controlling a ball.
The middle grades continue many of the skills they learned in the lower grades. At this stage, however, they are beginning to understand many of the concepts. They are running and skipping in a more mature fashion, as well as leaping and jumping over hurdles. We started running through a series of obstacle courses. They are learning to throw with force and accuracy. In addition to controlling the ball, they are beginning to learn how to use their bodies to keep possession of the ball by twisting and bending movements, also standard skills.
While continuing to refine their skills they learned over the years, the upper grades are learning about the more advanced rules of the game, as well as strategies, and being a referee and team captain. Each student will have the opportunity to take on these rules. Standards such as balancing, weight transfer, passing and receiving are practiced. They are also learning how to combine skills such as jumping, landing, locomotor, and manipulatives.
By this time, the students are demonstrating personal responsibility, the ability to work with others, and safety issues. The students act as coaches for each other, offering positive and constructive feedback. Fifth grade students have begun health education classes of which I am happy to be a part of. This includes both personal and mental health. Please join in the conversations with your children.
Lastly, fourth and fifth grade students participate in Fitnessgram testing.
As part of meeting the standards we want all the children to be knowledgeable about the importance of physical activity. We also want them to start thinking about what makes a nutritional, healthy diet.
We help the youngest students understand what personal responsibility is, accepting feedback, working with others, following rules, good sports conduct, and safety. These skills will develop and refine over the years.
I will be adding to and updating this page on a regular basis, so please continue to check it out. If you have any suggestions, concerns, or feedback, please do not hesitate to let me know.
For now, I am looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday evening, October 22.
F.Y.I.
Every Tuesday The New York Times has a column entitled Physical Education in the science section. Check it out. The articles are relevant and insightful. You can go online and read them every Tuesday.
All the best,
Jay