Monday, January 24, 2011
3rd and 4th Grade: It's time to skate!
Skating for my 3rd and 4th grade classes begin Tuesday, January 25. Students need sharpened skates, a helmet, snowpants, gloves/mittens, and a jacket. We will be doing a variety of activities to improve the skills of all levels of skaters. The children will also skate on Jan. 25, 26, 27, 28, Feb, 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11. The skates times are as follows: Murray 12:30 - 1:00, Feldner 1:00 - 1:30, Konik 1:30 - 2:00, DeTorre 2:00 - 2:30.
Friday, January 14, 2011
We love the new Basketball Hoops!
This week all of my classes grades 1-4 are in their basketball unit. Lots of ball handling, dribbling, passing, and shooting. Since we are in the new Lower School gym, we have new basketball hoops that raise and lower in height. The hoops go down to 8 feet, and now all of the children can practice shooting and be successful. Int he past we only had 10 foot rims, and a lot of children just didn't have the strength to get the ball that high. Now the children are so excited that they can make their shots. I could even teach the 3rd and 4th graders how to do lay-ups since the hoop was at an appropriate height. This is just one of the things I love about our new space!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Junior Kindergarten: Opposition!
The Jk'ers have been so busy in our new Lower School Gym. This week the children really worked hard on stepping with the opposite foot when they throw. First we had to figure out which hand the children like to throw with (usually it is the hand we write and draw with, but not always). Then I put a clothespin (or as some children called it, a big paperclip...hmmmmm, wondering how many children have seen clothes hung on a line with clothespins) on each child's opposite pant leg as a reminder of which foot to step with. Then the children practiced throwing a ball at our big dividing wall while stepping with their opposite foot. We also played Clean Up Your Backyard to practice our skills. Next we will play Oscar's Gabage Can. Both games work on throwing, and the children are encouraged to step with the correct foot. We even practice saying the words "opposite foot." Ask your child which foot they should step with when they throw (it's a big word to say so often I get some great answers.... ossopite is common and it makes me smile every time).
Why is my child speed stacking?
First, what is speed stacking? Children at University School use special cups to up and down stack in a pre-determined sequence. If you want to see it, you can find oodles of videos online, or better yet, have your children show you (and teach you) the patterns.
There are many benefits to speed stacking for children (and adults too!). It is a great activity for hand-eye coordination, especially because the children are taught and encouraged to use both hands. Using both hands also uses both sides of the brain. Once our children at USM know the basic patterns, we turn cup stacking into fun fitness activities. The children run from stack to stack, up and down stacking. Sometimes we will have them stack with just their knees or elbows. These activities add to their muscular strength (believe me, I play with them and it is exhausting getting up and down and balancing to stack with your knees and elbows!). In addition, speed stacking builds confidence quickly in children as they become faster and learn the sequences.
I just love speed stacking. My own children do it at home, and they will often grab a set of cups from my office when they come into school in the morning. Soon we will be sending home an order form so you can order speed stacks through the USM group order. The stacks will be delivered to school. If you order through USM, you will get a discounted price. You can check out the website of the speed stacking company we use at www.speedstacks.com to learn more about the sport or to order stacks for your family.
My students in grades 1 and 2 are introduced to speed stacking. My students in grade 3-4 have speed stacking as a unit and are assessed on the patterns.
There are many benefits to speed stacking for children (and adults too!). It is a great activity for hand-eye coordination, especially because the children are taught and encouraged to use both hands. Using both hands also uses both sides of the brain. Once our children at USM know the basic patterns, we turn cup stacking into fun fitness activities. The children run from stack to stack, up and down stacking. Sometimes we will have them stack with just their knees or elbows. These activities add to their muscular strength (believe me, I play with them and it is exhausting getting up and down and balancing to stack with your knees and elbows!). In addition, speed stacking builds confidence quickly in children as they become faster and learn the sequences.
I just love speed stacking. My own children do it at home, and they will often grab a set of cups from my office when they come into school in the morning. Soon we will be sending home an order form so you can order speed stacks through the USM group order. The stacks will be delivered to school. If you order through USM, you will get a discounted price. You can check out the website of the speed stacking company we use at www.speedstacks.com to learn more about the sport or to order stacks for your family.
My students in grades 1 and 2 are introduced to speed stacking. My students in grade 3-4 have speed stacking as a unit and are assessed on the patterns.
Friday, September 3, 2010
A great week in Physical Education
It was another great week in Physicl Education. Everyone is LOVING the new gym space!
Here are a few highlights from the week:
PK: We met in the gym for the first time and talked about the rules, staying safe, and what to do when the teacher says "FREEZE!" We pretended to be trains on the tracks, and also pretended to jump over snakes in a garden.
JK: We reviewed the rules for the gym. We learned how to play "I SEE." I bet your JK'er can tell you all about it! Some of the classes learned how to play a game called "Stuck in the Mud."
1st and 2nd: We worked on our locomotor movements: running, skipping, galloping, sliding, hopping, and jumping. We also learned some fun activities that we can play at recess: long rope and four square. We talked about how we need to share equipment, let all of our friends play, and using our kind words.
3rd and 4th: We played several cooperative games to work on our teamwork skills. We also tried a few fitness activities.
Here are a few highlights from the week:
PK: We met in the gym for the first time and talked about the rules, staying safe, and what to do when the teacher says "FREEZE!" We pretended to be trains on the tracks, and also pretended to jump over snakes in a garden.
JK: We reviewed the rules for the gym. We learned how to play "I SEE." I bet your JK'er can tell you all about it! Some of the classes learned how to play a game called "Stuck in the Mud."
1st and 2nd: We worked on our locomotor movements: running, skipping, galloping, sliding, hopping, and jumping. We also learned some fun activities that we can play at recess: long rope and four square. We talked about how we need to share equipment, let all of our friends play, and using our kind words.
3rd and 4th: We played several cooperative games to work on our teamwork skills. We also tried a few fitness activities.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome!
Hey everyone! Welcome to my new physical education blog. I hope you will visit it often to find out what your child is doing in physical education. We have a brand new gym which is completely awesome! We are so excited to use the new space, and I know the children are too.
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