Mandate Physical Education

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_776799.html

I came across the article above and it made me entirely frustrated, it caught my eye because it is a newspaper from home that I usually read. Not only because of the education budget cuts, which everyone is dealing with but the cut of speciality teachers. Physical Education, Art, Music, just to name a few. What really irritates me is that they not only cut the teacher and class, the primary teacher is giving them "health and physical activity" in the class room, typically standing next to desk. It's simply not fair. If you're reading this there is a good chance you have the same knowledge of how to conduct a PE class, then we were taught. We were "trained" for the welling being and active lifestyles and how to deliver them to students. Let us do our job, and you can do yours. Let's work together.

Mosston Spider's Web Cooperative Activity

Mosston Spider's Web Cooperative Activity was one of my favorite activities done as a student and I think it would be even more fun to teach it and sit back and watch how students communicate with each other to conquer the spider web. It challenges both the mind and body. You may have completed something similar to this in Outdoor Pursuits. SRU's low ropes course has one of these. It is structured with strings/"webbing" connecting across the structure creating some narrow, some wide, all different shapes and sizes within the strings crossing. The object is to get everyone through without touching the "web." You can add a lot of different variations to this which is my favorite part, for example you can say you have to be lifted through or only occupy the slot only one time and so on. I found a link for what is looks like, portable for the most part. Have a look.         http://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=96379&minisite=10244&item=86242

PE Apps

There are a lot more physical education apps out there then I was aware of. "The PE Geek" website explains the apps created by Jarrod Robinson, a physical education teacher from Australia. My favorite one was the 12 minute run. It is very similar to the Pacer test. You can customize your run by entering your age and gender. It is designed to inform your fitness level. It will also display the norms for your age and gender so you can be informed if you are not at your fitness level. The app can motivated students and even yourself to get or stay at the appropriate fitness level. Check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/12minuterun/id440476864?mt=8

Mini Convention

Yesterday marked the 42nd annual mini convention at Slippery Rock University. It is a day dedicated to Physical Education. There was attendees from all over. It's always exciting to hear and see outside perspectives give information speeches and to watch elementary students preform something they've been working so hard on. It's a day where everyone comes together as one and for it to be held at SRU is pretty awesome, its a really enjoyable day.