Entry 31

School Placement: Carlisle School

Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead

Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))

Date: 10/7/14

Summary of Today’s Activities:

Planning and grading as usual - this tends to be the part of the year where I can't catch up if I tried. As always, assessments in all of the classes ended up piling on top of each other and there doesn't seem like enough hours to plan for daily lessons, grade, practice/game, and anything else at the moment. However, I know at some point I will catch up - Winter break.
PE (5th period - long) For once, I didn't get a new student today! The boys and 1 girl performed their daily exercises then waited somewhat patiently for the plans of the day. Today was our last day of working on volleyball skills and I was actually shocked to see the improvement that just came all of a sudden! The serves are finally going over the net and there is also somewhat of a serve receive (or they just don't let the ball hit the ground that easily anymore). After working extensively on our volleyball unit the last few weeks, it is finally amounting to something! And what's even more amazing is that the boys come in everyday excited to play volleyball - I almost feel like it is the new basketball (a reference to the activity that they always want to play and enjoy the most). At the end of class, I let them play a game and so proud of their accomplishments and progression of the game!
7th period (middle - tues/friday) Same exact plans as yesterday. The students came in, dressed out, performed daily activities, and waited for their plans/orders. They are still working on volleyball as well - they were given 3 different ball control activities before they played Newcomb.

Reflection about Today’s Activities:

I had a pretty rough volleyball game last night at Westover (my Varsity team). I wasn't even sure if I wanted to coach volleyball at Carlisle anymore (even though I have been coaching the last 6 years, and the reason I got hired to teach at the school). But for some reason, my PE class sparked my interest for volleyball again with their pure progression and passion for the game. They enjoy learning the game as much as I love teaching it at this point. This is very different from the team I coach where there is no passion, but more of a hobby after school. I'm looking forward to coaching my first club team come this November - but I have my PE class to thank to help keep pushing me forward in my first love - volleyball.