| Author |
Message |
Andrew Michael Barbin (Andrew_b)
Junior Member
Username: Andrew_b
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 - 3:41 pm: |       |
How far should PE teachers be able to push their students in class. No i do not mean physical push them around. What i am saying is how far should we make them run or how hard should me make them go. From what i have heard is that PE in elementary education is all about having fun. I feel that it should be fun but at the same time we should start off young in mentally training them to be motivated. All we hear is how over weight the US is, so why don't we start taking charge and start making PE in elementary education a little bit more motivating. |
Joe Herzog (Bigfish344)
Advanced Member
Username: Bigfish344
Post Number: 66
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 - 5:03 pm: | |
My feeling is that physical exercise and activities, properly presented and explained are their own motivation.Virtually all human beings inherently enjoy movement. As adults we do activities which we enjoy and because we enjoy them we don't hold back much, recognizing the need to sweat and make our heart beat. Children are even easier to take down that path. I think kids need to be encouraged (pushed?) during certain activities, but if the end goal/benefit is well known it doesn't take much or they'll simply do it on their own. Much of that is dependent on proper preparation before the activity begins. PE in elementary schools is much about fun (I prefer the term "enjoyment")and so it should be. How hard should we push them to run? Well, first you would rightly know each kids target heart rate so you know what their abilities and limits are. EVERY child is different, even those who are similar. Also, I prefer running for a specific time rather than a specific distance although the latter is acceptable, now and then. A mile run for a kid who can run a 6 minute mile is a lot different activity than a mile run for a kid who can't run under 12 minutes (or can't run at all.) I spent my last decade of teaching in a poverty/at risk kids middle school and that philosophy worked really well for our staff. |
Nancy Blake (Neblake)
Junior Member
Username: Neblake
Post Number: 3
Registered: 1-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 - 5:40 pm: | |
I agree with Joe. I teach K-2, and we do a lot of running. We practice "distance" running with an activity called a "Pit Stop Run," which is set-up like an auto race, around the little track in the gym. The kids are taught how to identify their own pace (I explain it as their "magic speed"), and the challenge is to maintain that pace for the duration of one song. This allows me to adjust the length of the run as they progress. They have numbers at the endline, and this is their "pit stop." If they need to stop for any reason ("engine trouble" = running out of breath; "need gas" = drink at the water fountain; "tire trouble" = untied shoelaces), they get off the track at their number on the endline and take care of the problem as fast as the cars do at a racing pit-stop! I do not allow the kids to walk on the track. (Some folks disagree with my opinion on this, but I find that if I allow kids to walk, too many of them will fall back on this option instead of really challenging themselves!)
We live in Alaska, so I do a "Run to Nome" at Iditarod time (late winter), and each lap represents a mile on the trail for their class. They work HARD to get as many laps as possible in a song, because it's a class competition to get to Nome first, which is 1100 miles away! By the third day of this, the kids are BEGGING me for the longest song I can find on my iPod... but I usually cap it at 11 minutes, so there's time for other activities in our 40 minute class! You don't have to "push" the kids --- they will challenge themselves & each other, and feel GREAT about their accomplishments in the process. Elementary kids are the BEST! |
Nancy Blake (Neblake)
Junior Member
Username: Neblake
Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 06, 2011 - 5:47 pm: | |
One more thing: If PE lessons are structured right, activities that are challenging and require hard work will be VERY FUN! Achievement & learning are extremely fun!! "Fun" doesn't mean easy or involving low expectations. |
Andrew Michael Barbin (Andrew_b)
Junior Member
Username: Andrew_b
Post Number: 3
Registered: 10-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2011 - 2:02 pm: | |
Thank you everyone for your responses. I enjoyed reading what you had to say back and hope to use some of your ideas in the future. |
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