More PE to meet the mandate!

     I have been waiting patiently for the Buffalo News paper to release their story on WNY physical education programs meeting state requirements. It is WONDERFUL that the topic made the front page of the Buffalo News today 5/7/13.  Our physical education programs in WNY deserve recognition, even though many of our schools are not meeting the state mandates. Parents and our communities need to be informed of this problem. Our children, their classroom teachers and physical education programs deserve better!

     Recess and classroom movement time is not the same as physical education class taught by a certified physical education teacher. As a physical education teacher and a parent, it saddens me to think that this “problem of not meeting state requirements” is just dropped on the plates of the classroom teachers! Classroom teachers have enough on their plates as it is and in no means should this be left up to them to provide quality physical education to our children. This is not the solution to the problem. 

     I agree with Sam Magavern co-director of the partnership for the Public Good he stated in the article “This is legally required by the state Department of Education and should be thought of not as optional but as legally binding requirement that has to be followed.” 

     Yes, of course I would advocate for hiring more physical education staff to meet the mandate! I do believe the solution is providing our kids with the required amount of quality physical education programs. In reality that may not be an option for many school districts at this time. However, the bottom line is that children need an opportunity to move more within the school day.

     Light does need to be shined on the schools that are making efforts to provide more physical activity opportunities for our children throughout the school day. I am proud that my child attends one of the schools listed in the article.  The principal values the importance of physical activity for her students.  She supports and makes every effort within her building for her students to be more active and healthy during the school day. When we place value on something, that is when change happens.   

    There are districts/schools out there that value, support and have made the mandate a priority. One example is the Primary Education center in Lewiston-Porter school district. Students K-3 are actually exceeding the mandate! WAY TO GO Lew-port!

     Let’s go WNY, let’s get creative, let’s figure out a way to solve this problem by providing quality physical education programs ~ our kids, teachers and physical education programs deserve more!

How to be a Worker BEE in PE!

Bees are a cute theme to use with kids as a visual for behavior management. 

Years ago when I first started teaching, I would hang a bee from my neck to promote a positive behavior, life skill or manner for the day. 

Such as BEE determined, when learning different hula hoop skills. 

BEE polite, when the teacher is talking. 

BEE a hard worker, in all that you do.

I submitted my idea to PE CENTRAL  and you can read it here. 

My girls and I came up with 90 little bees! They are great for games, bulletin boards, and behavioral management. 

You can get them HERE.

Just PRINT, LAMINATE, & USE TODAY!

Happy Moving!

Radical 80's SALE!!!

  I have been TOTALLY creative and crazy busy lately!

After holding an 80's event at my daughter's school, I am offering a HUGE sale on ALL my TPT stuff!

20% off ALL my items, it's only a 2 day sale!

I recently posted a BUNCH of new TOTALLY TUBULAR TEACHING ITEMS.

THESE GAMES ARE GNARLY DUDE!

My new motto for posting TPT stuff is 

"PRINT, LAMINATE AND PLAY IN PE TODAY!"

Basically, I want to help PE teachers by creating items that they simply print (on card stock), laminate (so that it lasts longer) and START USING THAT DAY IN CLASS! 

Believe me I know how long it takes to find, develop, & make up educational games for your classes.  These games not only get your students moving but they also have many teachable opportunities within each lesson/game.  

I hope you take advantage of these great deals

BE SURE TO FOLLOW ME ON TPT 

so that you can stay up dated on MORE items that are spinning out of mind head into my computer! 

HAPPY MOVING!

Stinkin' Thinkin'

No Stinkin' Thinkin' ... 

Don't be a Stinker, be a Good Thinker!

This topic is one I stress all year long.  

As educators we hear a lot of negative self-talk from our students.  

Two words I never allow students to say is 

I CAN’T! 

In this packet you will find visual aids to print and hang on the wall or a bulletin board. You will find 56 little skunks with positive sayings and stinkin’ thinkin’ sayings to hang or create games with. I share a couple ideas on how I incorporate the skunks into a P.E.lesson. I also have created a data collection sheet to display the results.  (If you are a classroom teacher and purchase this packet please let me know how you implement them). This packet could be used with students K-5. 

You can purchase it from my TPT store!

PRINT, (laminate), hang and PLAY!!!

When the students are playing the games, be sure to play some songs about skunks. 

Here is a list I found on ITUNES!  

SONG                        ALBUM                                                              

Skunk                        Animal Alphabet Songs                  

Punk Rock Skunk     Rockin in Forest with Farmer Jason 

Skunk in the Trunk   The Ultimate Kids Collection 

Funky Skunk            Songs in the Keys of Beaver

Skunk                        Presidential Physical Fitness

Happy Thinking!

Guest Teacher!

Thank you to those schools and who welcomed me in to do some FUN holiday games with their students! Being a guest teacher is a win-win situation. I get to practice my creations, share ideas, get my fill of working with the little ones and most importantly collaborate with like minded PE teachers. 

Ice skating, cross country skiing, making it snow, creating a blizzard, rocking around the tree, playing frosty tag, and much more! 

 I will be sharing this holiday games very soon!

Happy Moving!

Not just for the floor!

 Floor Tape!

This past summer I had the opportunity to help two of my close friends set up their first grade classrooms!

We utilized lots of plastic table clothes in both rooms to cover large areas, and hide things on the shelves. 

 They both had 2 large areas to cover. 

One was a bulletin board.

The other was a wall divider that was completely magnetic!

The hot glue gun was our favorite tool and we discovered that the floor tape I use in the gym, also works great at keeping stuff up on the walls.

It peels off easily and leaves no residue! 

We used the 2inch black floor tape from

S&S world wide 

They come in a bunch of colors and works great on different surfaces.

Make a sweet choice, be sure to add this to your supply list so that you can do & hang S'more great work! 

Happy Creating!

Let's Spin & Move

These spinners are perfect for an instant activity, warm-up or part of a fitness unit.

Here are a 8 Different SPINNERS to get your students up and moving individually or in small groups.

 They promote exercises to increase your heart rate, build and stretch your muscles. When explaining a stretch, I use and have listed the proper names of the muscle groups. Therefore, students will need to know their muscles or use a visual aid as resource. Anytime I have students stretch, I have them hold each stretch for at least 10-15 seconds, on these boards there is not a length of time listed. I have also included locomotor skills and ways for students to engage/interact with other students/participants. 

If you are unsure of an exercise or movement please feel free to e-mail me. 

When you print them out, be sure to laminate & use a brad with a paper clip (works better then the arrows provided), I trick I learned from my daughter's first grade teacher. I also use a corner rounder punch to smooth the edges. 

You can find them on Teacher Pay Teacher

Happy Moving!