Strength In Schools

 

Strength In Schools

 The view today from the capital building in Lansing, Michigan.

“this is our house”

Most of the over 12,000 protesters were outside in the cold.  The Capital was at capacity early this morning.

MAHPERD Region 4   23nd Annual Southeast Michigan Regional Workshop!  Saturday, March 2, 2013 8:00am - 1:30 pm Warren Woods Middle School 13400 E. Twelve Mile Rd. Warren, MI  48088

MAHPERD invites you to join your professional colleagues for a fun, energetic workshop! Adapted Physical Education, Assessment, Advocacy and Useful Classroom Activities are just a few of the topics on the agenda! Download the workshop flyer from the link below for more information, or go to the MAHPERD website.   Online registration available soon! Workshop Flyer www.mimahperd.org SCECHs will be available.

To send us an email, click on the person that you would like to contact: Convention Manager Executive Director Phone: 517-347-0485 FAX: 517-347-8145

Line Dance

I try to keep everyone moving in my PE classes.  One way I keep students moving its by playing a dance song so students can dance when they would otherwise not be moving.  For example, when we are playing tag I might play the song,  Cha Cha Slide , so even when students are not being chased they can still participate.  A new dance I just taught my class is called the Interlude Dance   Now whenever I play the song my students dance to it.

Fall Day Fun.

How many leaves can you grab before they hit the ground?

MAHPERD Convention 2012

2012 Annual Convention!

November 15-17, 2012

Grand Traverse Resort

http://www.mimahperd.org/html/convention1.html

Help support our student scholarship fund by taking part in our 5K Run/Walk, 10K and 1 Mile Run Run!!

This run will be located at the Stony Creek Metropark in Utica, MI.

The coarse is sponsored by the Michigan Governors Council and participants will be eligible for the Mackinac Bridge Labor Day Run Lottery!

See Flyer for more information!

All funds received from the event will go toward our student scholarship program and other member services!!

Thank you for supporting our future professionals!

REGISTRATION FORM!

180bpm Running

One of my favorite stores is Playmakers in Okemos, Michigan.  It seems like every time I go to the store I runners are talking about running at 180 strides per minute.  Runners World has great article on the subject.  To help my students run at 180 strides I first use an online metronome that I set to 180.  Once students get the hang of it I use the DJ program Virtual DJ to change the speed of songs so that we can run and correct the pitch of the song.  I change the pitch of the song so the song doesn't sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks.

A day without shoes

Classroom Management

  

Class Dojo is a classroom management tool that my brother told me about last week.  I have used it with my upper elementary classes and it has helped quite a bit.  ClassDojo is a free web based program where a teacher uploads a class list and can give real time feedback to his students (Both positive and negative).

Using the system is easy, all you need to do is click on a students name and give them an award.

It is a points based system and each student can see if they are currently in the Green(positive points) or in the Red(negative points).

When a student receives a positive award their name will appear on the screen for a few seconds.

I usually project the page on a wall and control the program from anywhere, in the gym, with a wireless mouse.

I really like how you can see a graph of the different types of comments you gave out during a class.  That way you can see your ratio of positive and negative comments.

Instant Replay

This week, we are playing Hockey.  I wanted to use a game clock, so students would know when they would get to sub in.  I set the online clock for 2 minute games.  Using my wireless mouse I can start and stop the clock from anywhere in the gym.

I used my projector in rear projection mode and projected the clock on the screen.

Then I decided to add a 8 second delay of live video for a replay camera.

After that I added a hockey goal horn sound affect(bottom left).

I can control everything from the wireless mouse in my hand.

Gym Shoes

Physical Education and Academic Performance

I read a great argument for Physical Education today.  If your school district is thinking about cutting P.E. to help its Math and Science scores they may want to think again.

"Physically active, fit youth are more likely to have better grades and test scores then their inactive counterparts."

PDF: Why We Should Not Cut P.E.  I think every Physical Educator should share this PDF with their school's administrator.

FuelBand In School

Nike's FuelBand comes out later next week.  I WANT a set for my elementary physical education students.  From everything I have read about the device, it sounds like, it tracks activity biased on oxygen usage.  I am not sure if they will fit elementary aged students.  They come in 3 sizes.  The bands are going to start out with a price around 150.  The band will also report to Nike+ online and you can compete with others around the world.

Time Machine

There are some really useful tools at http://www.online-stopwatch.com. This site has many different clocks to choose from. Sometimes I project my screen on the wall to show students how much time is left in a workout. 

 "Hold that plank for 20 more seconds"

  If you don't have the internet you can save the page to your computer and use the stopwatch online.

The Shadow

This activity I created using LCD projectors to turn my gym into a obstacle course, where players use their body's shadow, to play the game. Students are about 4 feet from the 15 foot high projected screen. I used power point to make the animations. If you are interested in the power point file then leave a comment below.

Some tips

Students move counter clockwise around gym.

Make sure students are not too close to the wall when playing because

it is really hard to see the screen when you are too close

The power point file