MEDIA REVIEW

National Standards And Grade Level Outcomes For K-12 Physical Education

This book defines what a student should know and be able to do as result of a quality physical education program. The book consists of two sections: section one focuses on “Exploring the National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes” while section two address the challenge of “Implementing the Outcomes.” Each of the two sections is split into separate chapters. Section one has 5 chapters and section two 4 chapters. The main purpose of this book is to present the newly updated national PE standards and then help teachers understand what these standards might look like in terms of grade-level expectations.

The book begins by presenting the new National Physical Education Standards and the rationale for this new update. A key change is the introduction of the term “physical literacy” into each of the standards.

Additionally, there are now five standards replacing the six previous standards.  Chapter 1 begins by describing and examining each of the standards. The chapter is brief and straight to the point, which makes it easy to understand. Chapter 2 presents the National Standards in a simple chart. Summarized, the standards focus on the following: (1) developing motor skills and movement competencies, (2) applying knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics, (3) demonstrating the knowledge and skills needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle (4) exhibiting responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others, and (5) recognizing the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction. Chapter 3 details sample elementary outcomes, chapter 4 goes through the middle school outcomes, and chapter 5 describes the high school outcomes. Each chapter includes a table of outcomes with two different levels.

Section two of the book begins by using charts to illustrate the skills that should be achieved by each grade level and at what level of competency. Three different competency levels are identified: emerging, maturing, and applying. Emerging is described as “Students participate in deliberate practice tasks that will lead to skill and knowledge acquisition.” Maturing is described as “Students can demonstrate the critical elements of the motor skills and knowledge components of the grade-level outcomes, which will continue to be refined with practice.” And applying is described as “Students can demonstrate the critical elements of the motor skills and knowledge components of the grade-level outcomes in a variety of physical activity environments.” Chapter 7 explains how to teach the content that will help students successfully achieve the standards. The last two chapters wrap up the book by summarizing how to identify that students are learning together with outside resources that physical educators can use to enhance their instruction.

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