PHE America Repeats 10 previously published articles that we think you will enjoy Reprint 9 of 10 (Originally published – October 25, 2016) Assessing the skills and physical fitness of students with disabilities can be challenging. Most physical educators are used to assessing general non-disabled… Read More
Assessment in physical education is a key accountability measure for both the student and the teacher. The primary goal of assessment should be the enhancement of learning (NASPE, 2004), not an add-on (Nye, Dubay, Gilbert, & Wajciechowski, 2009). Unfortunately, due to time constraints or uncertainty… Read More
Assessing the skills and physical fitness of students with disabilities can be challenging. Most physical educators are used to assessing general non-disabled students, but many don’t have the know-how and experience of testing and planning activities for students with disabilities (especially students with severe/multiple disability).… Read More
In the world of physical education, there are times when the internalization of teaching models, concepts and strategies is, in my opinion, rushed or incomplete. Models that are not specifically designed for physical education are often either glossed over due to the perception that “we… Read More
The purpose of the Get HyPE column is to discuss topics that will excite and inspire the physical education community. My goal is to encourage you to think about or try something new every month. The name of the column also has a secondary meaning.… Read More
Imagine that your team has just finished a dismal season having shown few signs of progress. Or perhaps the feedback in your community has been overly negative about your program. Alternatively, maybe your program is winning but you want to take it to a higher… Read More
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1986 Part C expanded the definition of “disabilities” to include children from birth to age 2 and their families and made them eligible to receive early intervention services. Included within these early intervention services was motor/physical development… Read More
By definition a trailblazer is simply a “leader or pioneer in a particular field.” If you’ve studied the history of physical education you’ll be familiar with many of our original trailblazers. These professionals, who broke away from the European influences and created the American system… Read More
(Article 2 of 5) [5-Part Article Series] People with physical disabilities hold limited positions as scholars, teachers, or leaders in physical education, recreation, and sport. Perhaps the reason is that the field is flooded with able-bodied people who think they know best. But do they?… Read More
Each school year, I teach a unit called “Abilities Awareness.” Making students aware of each other’s different abilities helps us become better citizens and leads to a more positive and inclusive school climate. This awareness leads to empathy and a deeper understanding of our peers’… Read More
Education continues to evolve offering students an assortment of opportunities to earn college credit while still attending high school. In the state of Idaho, the Fast Forward Program provides students attending public schools access to $4,125.00 to help pay for dual/concurrent enrollment credits, Advanced Placement… Read More
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate and impairing inattention, motor hyperactivity, and impulsivity, with difficulties often continuing into adulthood (Thapar et al., 2016). ADHD is pervasive and developmentally inappropriate difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity (American Psychiatric… Read More
(3 minute Read) When I study confidence, I always come away with two distinct themes and one troubling thought. First, it is obvious that confidence is important, so important that even when we are tricked into having it, we perform better (Vealey & Chase, 2008).… Read More
Getting and keeping school kids motivated in physical education is not the easiest task. Particularly for novice physical education teachers, that might seem to be “mission impossible.” Kids come to school carrying different cultures, different backgrounds, and different beliefs. Some kids are athletic, whereas others… Read More
(2 Minute Read) In my experience as a Mental Performance Coach most of the questions I get regarding performance can be answered by creating a mental plan. Mental plans can be as simple or complex as needed. They can be made to address everything from… Read More
I grew up a three-sport athlete, but I always had a love of outdoor recreation – especially rafting, mountain biking, and snowboarding. Unfortunately, with a limited income and the time constraints associated with being a college student, it was hard to get away for extended… Read More
UDL is a way of thinking and acting that may change the way you approach student learning. Rather than thinking a student needs to change, UDL looks at the learning environment. Consider what within the environment is a barrier to learning. Is it that space itself?… Read More
Toasting the new year offers physical education teachers the chance to rethink, reframe, and reteach. Thinking back over the last six months, have your classes been meaningful? Are your students learning? Did students’ faces light up like lightbulbs when they suddenly “got it?” That spark… Read More
Research is clear, students with physical disabilities are excluded from physical education (Jespersen & McNamee, 2009; Martin, 2018). Thus, the purpose of this article is threefold: 1) to share a story of the best possibilities of attitudes and resources for students with physical disabilities, 2)… Read More
[2 Minute Read] As I’ve visited with many administrators and teachers across the country this past year, it has been fascinating to hear the stories of the many ways our profession has changed since the beginning of the COVID 19 Pandemic. It’s been transformative to… Read More
10 previously published articles that we think you will enjoy! Conquering the Creativity Challenge: Originally published – September 6, 2018 Skill and Fitness Assessment Ideas for Students with Disabilities: Originally published – October 25, 2016 You Don’t Know, What You Don’t Know: Originally published – March 2, 2018… Read More
PHE America Repeats 10 previously published articles that we think you will enjoy Reprint 8 of 10 (Originally published – March 2, 2018) I’m the “tech mentor” in my school. The responsibility of a tech mentor includes providing professional development to staff members, supporting teachers… Read More
PHE America Repeats 10 previously published articles in 10 days that we think you will enjoy Reprint 7 of 10 (Originally published – February 1, 2015) A few months ago I was invited to help review a middle school PE program. It wasn’t what I… Read More
PHE America Repeats 10 previously published articles in 10 days that we think you will enjoy Reprint 3 of 10 (Originally published – January 3, 2018) Dear Quitting Self: Excuse my blatant disregard for pleasantries, but let’s clear something up right away. The only reason… Read More
(5 Minute Read) Advocacy for health and physical education is crucial, now more than ever. During this global pandemic, we need to shout from the mountaintops how important health and physical education is for our student’s physical, social, and emotional health. The more we speak… Read More
(Publisher’s Note: This article is based on a review of feedback submitted by participants of the 50 Million Strong by 2029 Forum held at the 2017 SHAPE America National Convention in Boston. The information in the article has not been previously published but was shared with SHAPE America staff… Read More
Research has informed us that schools that embrace the whole child establish a foundation for academic success, improved school attendance, and a decline in disruptive behaviors among students. These gains are made possible with a specific focus on the unique role that quality skills-based health… Read More
(3 minute Read) When I study confidence, I always come away with two distinct themes and one troubling thought. First, it is obvious that confidence is important, so important that even when we are tricked into having it, we perform better (Vealey & Chase, 2008).… Read More
Climb On – Live Webinar Date: April 28, 2020 Time: 2:30-3:45 PM Central EVERLAST CLIMBING Learn how to bring rock climbing to your program! This live webinar will explore the rationale for adding climbing, including the many benefits it offers. Receive an overview of the… Read More
(3 Minute Read) Wisconsin Health & Physical Education (WHPE) recently completed ten years of involvement showcasing quality physical education and connecting with state school board policymakers by updating them on ‘best practices’ and ‘hot topics’ in Health and Physical Education (HPE) during their annual Wisconsin… Read More
(2 Minute Read) In my experience as a Mental Performance Coach most of the questions I get regarding performance can be answered by creating a mental plan. Mental plans can be as simple or complex as needed. They can be made to address everything from… Read More
I grew up a three-sport athlete, but I always had a love of outdoor recreation – especially rafting, mountain biking, and snowboarding. Unfortunately, with a limited income and the time constraints associated with being a college student, it was hard to get away for extended… Read More
This story describes the legacy of the Snow Valley Basketball School on coach development and the game of basketball. (This article was originally published in four parts 11/30/18, 12/21/18, 1/15/19, and 2/15/19) Chapter 1 A Passion for Teaching Fundamentals Herb Livsey still operates in the… Read More
(Publisher’s Note: This article is based on a presentation made by the author as part of the 50 Million Strong by 2029 Forum held at the 2017 SHAPE America National Convention.) In 2015, SHAPE America unveiled something new entitled 50 Million Strong by 2029 (50MS) at its Seattle National Convention. … Read More
(Publisher’s Note: This article is based on a presentation made by the author as part of the 50 Million Strong by 2029 Forum held at the 2017 SHAPE America National Convention.) The physical education profession has faced numerous challenges in recent decades. A few of these challenges include declining… Read More
Elementary school teachers are commonly referred to as “generalist” teachers because they normally teach across all the curricular areas. For generalist teachers, the connection of curricula can be effective in helping students experience meaningful learning; it helps students “connect the dots.” Often overlooked however is that… Read More
(This four-part article describes the legacy of the Snow Valley Basketball School on coach development and the game of basketball) ———— If the Coach is Learning the Athletes are Improving Charlie Sands fled to a corner of the gym, trapped as the pressure of over… Read More
Escape Rooms are becoming more and more popular among today’s youth and are a great way to get students’ adrenaline pumping.They consist of adventure type games in which players solve a series of puzzles, mazes, and riddles using clues, hints, and strategy to achieve specified goals. If… Read More
SHAPE America’s 50 Million Strong by 2029 commitment has a very clear vision: To get all of America’s school-aged youth physically active and healthy by the year 2029. Less clear, is how America’s physical and health educators can successfully accomplish such a challenging mission. But what many… Read More
What was described in my previous post was step one of the assessment plan presented at the 50 Million Strong Forum at the SHAPE America Convention in Boston 2017. Step one involved the use of nationally available high school and middle school level data to track our… Read More
(Publisher’s Note: This article is based on a presentation made by the author as part of the 50 Million Strong by 2029 Forum held at the 2017 SHAPE America National Convention.) In 2016, SHAPE America made a commitment to ensure that by 2029 all of America’s youth will be… Read More
A major concern in education today is the negative impact of stereotype thinking. The physical education classroom has its own social dynamic. But unlike in other academic settings, physical education settings can, from the outset, be especially intimidating for some students. These students, who I’m… Read More
To get 50 million school-aged students actively participating in physical education and physical activity by 2029, it’s vital we engage America’s youth in the planning of physical education programs. Designing challenging, relevant, and exciting learning experiences to promote student learning and interest is the key… Read More
Health and well-being are central to the mission of public education, and a healthy school environment is shown to improve academic performance (Birch & Videto, 2015). At Slippery Rock University, our goal is to prepare school wellness educators who are certified in K-12 health and… Read More
I’m the “tech mentor” in my school. The responsibility of a tech mentor includes providing professional development to staff members, supporting teachers with technology in their classrooms and setting technology up for special events. At the beginning of this school year, after two years of… Read More
Dear Quitting Self: Excuse my blatant disregard for pleasantries, but let’s clear something up right away. The only reason you – my quitting self – even exist is because I love not only what I do, but the profession that allows me to do it.… Read More
In this article, I share the results of an assessment study designed to provide an adapted aquatics and rehabilitation class, feedback on successful areas of instruction and areas that may need improvement. Although several adapted aquatic swimming assessments exist (e.g. Special Olympics, DePaepe Checklist, Sherrill… Read More
A moonshot, in a technology context, is an ambitious, exploratory and ground-breaking project undertaken without any expectation of near-term profitability or benefit and also, perhaps, without a full investigation of potential risks and benefits. When I think of moonshot thinking, one name always comes to my… Read More
What: 2017 National PE & School Sport Institute When: July 24-26, 2017 Where: Asheville, North Carolina Website: NationalPE.com Just over a month remains before the start of this year’s National PE & School Sport Institute. Registrations are fast filling and the schedule is finalized. Take… Read More
Author’s Note: I wrote this on October 18th of 2016 and shared it with a few colleagues. I held off publishing it because it’s just my opinion and I’m not sure that non-profits should be critiqued. I’m publishing it upon return from Boston as a… Read More
It’s been almost two years since SHAPE America announced its commitment to changing the way health and physical educators do business. It might not have sounded much at the time but on closer examination it was a seismic shift in thinking. For years, those of… Read More
Don’t Just be a Future Professional, Be the Future of the Profession -A letter to future professionals- To whom it may concern When will “New PE” simply become PE? That’s a question I think about from time to time. It speaks not only to the… Read More
After attending SHAPE America sessions where the 50 Million Strong by 2029 commitment was unveiled and explained, I began thinking, “What can I do as an individual to further this exciting vision?” As a retired secondary HPE teacher – coach, I now work facilitating our… Read More
Over the years, I have heard many physical education teachers make statements such as, “Don’t they understand that we are different?” or “This doesn’t pertain to me, so why should I be here?” Comments like these are typically made when a policy or expectation is… Read More
To support a student’s physical literacy journey, health and physical education teachers need to consider and use all the skills and resources at their disposal. By effectively doing this, teachers can create learning environments that enhance their students’ development of physically active and healthy lifestyles.… Read More
Expertise in coaching can be achieved by acquiring specific knowledge related to a particular sport (Côté & Gilbert, 2009). To be an effective coach, one must match his or her expertise within the context of the learning environment, focusing on learner outcomes (Boardley, Kavussanu, &… Read More
At Slippery Rock University (SRU) PA, we’re working towards achieving SHAPE America’s 50 Million Strong by 2029 commitment through our new School Wellness Education program (that includes teaching certification in health and physical education). We began this program redesign by thinking about our purpose and… Read More
As part of the teacher evaluation process in my school district, students are administered mid-year client surveys (student perception surveys) in specific classes. The surveys are a combination of free-response and quantitative (Likert scale) questions. Students complete the surveys online with a proctor, and the… Read More
More and more states are adopting the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) while the student population, in the United States, is rapidly becoming more diverse. The CCSS aim to prepare students for College and Career Readiness (CCR). As the new direction of today’s educational reform,… Read More
Most teachers I know are always looking for ways to improve their practice so they can better serve their students. We strive to develop more effective assessments, more engaging lessons, better classroom management techniques, stronger interpersonal relationships, the list goes on endlessly. When I reflect… Read More
50 Million Strong (50MS) includes all children as seen on the photo on the 50MS literature from SHAPE America. This image depicts children that come from diverse backgrounds with a range of skills and abilities. Our job as educators is to address the needs of… Read More
(This essay was originally published on SHAPE America’s member Exchange [December, 2015] and is reprinted with permission.) Does this scene sound familiar? You’re in a social setting and someone politely asks, “What do you do?” Quickly the question morphs into a conversation killer if you… Read More
I would like to share an incident that occurred while I was teaching the other day. At the time, I found the actions of one of my students to be unconscionable. Now, as I look back, I consider the incident both comical and pivotal. It… Read More
Let’s face it. We all have our own way to do things in our classes. For those of us that have been around for a while, we have methods that we are pretty comfortable with. Our kids seem to learn the material we present. They… Read More
The purpose of my Get HyPE column is to raise and discuss topics that will excite and inspire the physical education community. My goal is to encourage you to think about or try something new every month. The name of the column also has a… Read More
“Health is the only subject matter that is going to affect a student’s life every day in high school and everyday afterwards. If you don’t have your health you don’t have anything at all. Younger kids need to learn why health is important and be… Read More
I just returned from a successful weekend road trip. I say successful because of the 5 hours that I personally drove; I only missed one exit, resulting in a short 10-minute detour from our destination. For those of you who know me this is a… Read More
“The kids are the future, we have to make sure we invest in the future…show them how important they all are.show them to be more than their upbringing.”- Shelly Hoffman In 2014, Shelly Hoffman of Franklin Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas was recognized as SHAPE… Read More
A few months ago I was invited to help review a middle school PE program. It wasn’t what I expected. I soon learned that some of America’s richest and best-known families pay a hefty sum to send their kids to this private school. I was… Read More
Like many elementary school physical education teachers, early in my career I began creating an imaginary world in which my students could practice their skills. Many of the activities simply changed themes as Disney changed heroes and heroines. The beauty and brilliance of motivating students… Read More
Ready or not, here it comes! New teacher evaluations, high stakes student assessments, and common core standards have been implemented whether educators are ready or willing. While most teachers out there are plenty able, the real question is whether or not we have the ability… Read More
“Believing we can improve schooling with more tests is like believing you can make yourself grow taller by measuring your height” (Robert Schaeffer). Physical education teachers juggle their time between instructing, assessing skills and fitness levels, managing space, organizing equipment, monitoring behaviors, and much more.… Read More
We are sad and a bit angry – maybe even confused. Due to significant falling enrollments it was decided by departmental and college administrators that we will admit the last class of PETE students in the fall of 2014, and class-by-class the program will disappear… Read More
There are several ‘tools available for our tool belts’ as teachers of physical education when it comes to quality assessment procedures. In this article, we would like to SPELL one out for you! Assessing student learning is a vital component of the teaching process… Read More
Ready or not, here it comes! New teacher evaluations, high stakes student assessments, and common core standards have been implemented whether educators are ready or willing. While most teachers out there are plenty able, the real question is whether or not we have the ability… Read More
This article is the first part of a two part series. The second segment will be published in the next issue of PHE America. Recently, I was asked to participate in a college class activity in which students “defended physical education” before a simulated school… Read More
Not long ago I was preparing to schedule student teacher observations and field experience visits. I then discovered it was that time of the year when standardized tests took over our schools. Schedules change and teachers and administrators are overly stressed ensuring proper procedures are… Read More
“Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later: Ten Years Later and Have We Seen Any Change?” was the title of an article I wrote 10 years ago. It appeared in a monograph issue of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education that presented multiple perspectives… Read More
By definition a trailblazer is simply a “leader or pioneer in a particular field.” If you’ve studied the history of physical education you’ll be familiar with many of our original trailblazers. These professionals, who broke away from the European influences and created the American system… Read More
There’s a feeling among some physical educators that Online Physical Education (OLPE) has been thrust upon them. These same physical educators also feel that OLPE cannot contribute to a meaningful physical education curriculum experience. Despite these reservations, many states are now requiring high school students… Read More
“What do you do?” Throughout my career I’ve been asked that question many times. I expect that you have too. If so, how do you respond? Something that I hope you NEVER say is “I’m just a teacher,” or “I’m a gym teacher” or something… Read More
“What are we playing in gym today?” is in all likelihood the first question asked every day by every class in every gymnasium across the country and possibly the entire world. It may be an overly simplistic answer to the lack of respect for our… Read More
The new Presidential Youth Fitness Program promotes healthy lifestyles, empowers students and parents, and supports quality physical education. Here are five things physical educators should know about the program: It’s a model: The Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP) provides the tools, resources, and a checklist… Read More
Sportsmanship for me is when a guy walks off the court and you really can’t tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way. – Jim Courier When I first thought about the theme for this month’s article, it struck… Read More
Recently my wife, Kelly Strong, lost an elementary level health educator in her district. Losing this important resource made the district examine what it could do within the physical education curriculum to meet this need. The elementary physical educators created a committee to develop nutrition… Read More
Twenty-five years ago, the Assistant Commissioner of Education for New York State (L. Meno) asked all twenty-six content areas in New York public education (Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Music, Home Economics, Physical Education, and so on.), to justify their content area’s impact on “Adult… Read More
After three years of meetings, member reviews, and lots of re-writes, the National Standards and Grade-level Outcomes for K – 12 Physical Education are available on the SHAPE America (AAHPERD) website. This document was the work of the NASPE Curriculum Framework Task Force, which was… Read More
Advocacy is preventive medicine and in this second in a series of three articles on advocating for your profession it’s worth reviewing the first of the three rules of advocacy that I laid out in Part 1. The First rule of advocacy is Do Some… Read More
After many years as a physical educator, I’ve learned that three key ingredients have to combine for students to successfully learn athletic skills or improve their physical abilities; potential, effort, and opportunities. Eliminating or limiting any of these parts drastically reduces a student’s chances of… Read More
The Common Core is a national movement to adopt common standards and assessments for English language arts and mathematics. These standards aim to create assessments that will not vary among states and will determine whether students are meeting those standards. Common learning goals provide a… Read More
After reading an Op Ed essay in the New York Times about how routine it has become to give kids trophies and how meaningless, too, I thought of the year I transferred to a “REDBOOK” school of national excellence, with a much heralded principal who… Read More
Want a fall activity that is student centered, standards based, creates authentic, exciting, entertaining learning experiences that can be used K-12 and demonstrates the quality and importance of a Physical Education Class? Try a PE’s Got Talent show based on the popular TV series “America’s… Read More
Interscholastic sports coaches all want to win. We all want to have the best team, the best players, and have our team compete for regional or state championship. One of the best ways to do this is to use your school’s physical education program to… Read More
The title of this article is one that could be deceiving until you understand what I mean, and how it should be food for thought. Preparation (for the new school year) should have started many years ago in the college years by acquiring pride in… Read More
