CH 3 – The Role of Middle School Physical Education

1. CH 3 – The Role of Middle School Physical Education • Accomplished physical educators: • Create advocates for P.R. by providing opportunities for family involvement & involvement of the community at large • Function as members of a large learning community

2. Accomplished physical educators (cont.) • Recognize the multiple benefits of a physically active lifestyle and promote purposeful daily activities for all students that will encourage them to become lifelong adherents of physical activity.

3. Colleagues and community need to see the PE program as part of the school • PE does NOT take part in a vacuum • Colleagues and community MUST see you as part of the school • Need to be seen as an equal partner in the educational program: • Equitable class size • Equitable instructional time • Sufficient funding

4. What does PE owe its stakeholders? Physical education is REQUIRED, so: • It should be part of educational reform • Equal instructional time • Equal class size • Equal funding

5. Instructional Time • Students should take PE every semester or quarter for a total time equal to the other subjects • At the LEAST, NASPE recommends 225 minutes/wk for middle schoolers • Lobby for more time with legislature, school board, administration

6. Class Size • Class size and grouping should be the same as other subjects • Sometimes the computer schedules everything and PE is last with very unusual result • Better to take the entire number of students and divide by class times – maybe add 5-10% and let that be the max. number

7. Need class sizes controlled: • Limited equipment • Students stand in line: watch others play, wait their turn; get in trouble Securing equipment must be a priority.

8. Funding • Instructional materials include equipment and supplies as well as textbooks and technology • Did your schools give physical education equal funding?

9. Gaining Administrative Support • Must have support to help with funding and scheduling • How do you get it? • Have a quality program - a sequences curriculum; a method to asses the students and yourself • Educate others about your program and the positive influences on physical education on the lives of students

10. Gaining Admin. Support (Cont.) 3. Represent your department on school-wide committees; I.e. professional development, funding, curriculum. • This helps others get to know you • Increases their knowledge about what you do

11. Physical Education & the Extracurricular Setting • After-school Physical Education – goals: • Reinforce concepts taught during regular PE classes • Assist students having trouble with motor skills • Create intramural and recreational opportunities • Help students develop a “can do” attitude • Improve social skills • Permit students to chose activities • Increase physical activity levels

12. Fitness-Wellness Programs: • Create a fitness center • Used by students during school hours • Used by community after school

13. Fund raisers • Jump rope for heart or hoops for heart • School-side jog-a-thons (or walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, etc.)

14. Intramural programs • Ideally run by a council of students with a faculty advisor – they set the schedule –Sport Education Model works well with this • Activities should be those recently covered in PE. The PE program should drive the intramural program – not vice versa

15. PE & the Coordinated School Health Program • Physical education • Health education • Health services • Nutrition services • Counseling and psychological services • Family and community involvement • Safe and healthy school environment • Health promotion for staff

16. Developing a Public Relations Program • Determine your message – including information on your current program and your future needs • Use a variety of media – print, video, audio, and displays to present your message • Don’t give up, no matter what happens or doesn’t happen

17. Ten Ways to Promote Physical Education • Create displays of student word for exhibition at special community and school events • Make presentations at school board meetings, including student demonstrations • Visit and write to local state legislators to solicit their support

18. Ten Ways to Promote Physical Education (Cont.) • Create a physical education newsletter describing your program that goes home to parents and out to local businesses and community members • Present adventure-based or other workshops for businesses, parents, and community leaders.

19. Ten Ways to Promote Physical Education (Cont.) • Put on student demonstrations at local shopping centers • Make and send a fitness fact sheet to community members • Speak at a luncheon meeting of a local civic organization about your quality physical education program and its benefits to students.

20. Ten Ways to Promote Physical Education (Cont.) • Arrange for messages about quality physical education to be printed on grocery bags • Write short public service announcements for local radio and television stations to make