School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 11/6/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Normal planning period.
PE (5th, long) - Both soccer and field hockey players have left for the state tournament; the numbers are really dwindling at the school today! However, I really want to finish up this soccer unit so I stayed with my original plans today. The students that were left, participated in the new warm-up routine (it still needs some work for proficiency). After the exercises, I set up a few drills to work on ball control and foot work. We ended the class period by playing indoor soccer - I'm contemplating letting them finish the unit on Monday so the soccer boys can participate.
Middle PE (7th) - Monday/Thursday Class. Dress Out/ Daily Exercises. Since I've had the Monday/Thursday class 3 times this week and they never get to participate in a "Free Friday", I let them have about 20 minutes of free play for the first time this week! Again, no issues in class and everyone participated in an activity that they enjoyed.
Reflections of Today's Activities:
I have noticed that "down time" or "free time" is almost an essential thing for middle schoolers. Structure is a good thing, but when it is forced on them all day long it almost becomes an impossible thing to contain by the end of the day. Middle school students have so much energy, that they just need an outlet to release - PE at the end of the day is sometimes that best outlet. I rarely let me kids partake in free time, but after observing their happiness of a specific time that they can make choices for themselves based on individual preferences - it was hard for me to ignore. I think I might designate special times through out the week for each class, a time to just release and be a kid!
Is this "free time" in gym class? If so, I think it's great to have a designated free time each week. Maybe the end of Friday each week. The entire period might be too much, but 25-30 minutes is probably sufficient, especially if they are active (which should be a requirement).
ReplyDelete