Feb. 5, 2018
Time to Shed Light on the Good Things Going on in Physical Education
One of the best parts of my job is that I get to visit classes to see the great things going on in health and physical education throughout San Diego County, and there are a lot of great things taking place!

I'd like to start collecting examples of quality health/physical education that is effectively developing students' physical and/or health literacy. These examples will be featured in this newsletter  and will be shared on Twitter, featured in visits, and shared with other educators and administrators.  

To do this work, I need your help identifying:
  • Standout teachers -- veterans and those new to the profession
  • Your new favorite teaching strategies
  • Helpful resources (apps, articles, programs, equipment, you name it!)
  • Fun ways to increase physical activity
  • Social media opportunities
  • Professional development
  • Cool events to promote physical activity and/or raise money
  • Strategies for promoting your program
The bottom line is, the more I know, the more I can promote and support the great things that are taking place in San Diego health and physical education classes. If you have something to share, please email me . I'll be giving shout-outs to those of you who share examples of the amazing things going on in your classes, that you've seen colleagues do, or that you have found.

Thank you for helping me put quality health and physical education in the spotlight.

Paige Metz
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
pmetz@sdcoe.net

Assessing Wellness Policy Implementation: the Who, the Why and the How: Feb. 9
The San Diego County Office of Education is collaborating with the California Department of Education, the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, and the Dairy Council of California to host Assessing Wellness Policy Implementation: the Who, the Why, and the How from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 9. District/site wellness leads, wellness committee members, district/site nutrition leads, PTA/PTO representatives, and anyone else interested in supporting healthy school environments are invited to join us as we:
  • Review two evidence-based implementation assessment tools
  • Hear local best practices
  • Learn how assessment date can be used to meet other district objectives
For more information, and to register, click here .

CAHPERD State Conference Just a Few Weeks Away: Feb. 22 to 24
The California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) state conference is scheduled for Feb. 22 to 24 at the Marriott City Center in Oakland. Hear keynotes by Move Live Learn founder Dr. Amanda Stanec and Common Core and equity expert Dr. Martha James-Hassan, as well as breakout sessions by national and state leaders. Visit www.CAHPERD.org for more information and to register.

Positive Prevention Plus Comprehensive Sexual Health Training: April 3 and 4
The San Diego County Office of Education will offer another round of Positive Prevention Plus Comprehensive Sexual Health Education training on April 3 and 4. This training will provide critical information about AB 329 (the California Healthy Youth Act) and will provide teachers with the curriculum and resources needed to meet the new Education Code requirements. Click here  for more information and to register. Please register early. We must secure at least 20 attendees by Feb. 20 to offer the training.

Free Genders & Sexualities Alliance Advisory Training:  Feb. 21
The San Diego Unified Office of Youth Advocacy, Sweetwater Union High School District, Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network, and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) will be hosting a free countywide training for current and new GSA club advisers . The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 in the Starboard Room at the Marina Village Conference Center. This training is appropriate for school staff who would like information and skills to support LGBTQIA+ students. Sign up early as registration is limited. For registration information, contact Amanda.holt@sdcoe.net .

2017-18 Professional Learning Opportunities
Visit the SDCOE Health and Physical Education webpage or the Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life website to view upcoming professional learning opportunities, including conferences, site visits, and more.

Most Valuable Person, Program , or Practice:
Peer Evaluations
With large class sizes, it can be difficult for teachers to provide targeted and meaningful feedback for each and every student on a daily basis. It is often easier and more effective for teachers to give students the opportunity to provide feedback to each other. While it may take a little training up front, the results of peer evaluation can be staggering. Here are a few steps to make it happen:
  • Provide students with the cues (or rubric) used to describe correct technique of a skill or understanding of a concept. Keep it to no more than five cues. Simplify the descriptors for each cue.
  • While one student (or group of students) is performing a skill, another coaches by analyzing their partner's work, using the description of cues (or rubric) to determine what is being done well and what needs some improvement.  
  • The coach uses the academic language of the cues and descriptors (or rubric) to tell peers at least one thing done well and one thing to improve. Vague comments like "good job" are not allowed. Coaches have to use academic language.
Other ideas: 
  • While students are performing, have others write down feedback about their performance using the cues and descriptors on a Post-It note. When they are done, the notes can be placed in a specific place for each person or handed to them.
  • Have students record their performance of a skill or routine. Have them analyze their video and write an evaluation of their performance using academic language, indicating how they will improve their performance next time.

Health and PE App of the Month
A pp of the Month: FitBreak
FitBreak ($2.99) f eatures fun activities to liven up warm-ups  or t o keep students active for 4 5 minutes. Activities  featured on the app use concepts from popular TV shows and games to engage students in fitness.

FITNESSGRAM Tip of the Month: Create A Training Plan
As the FITNESSGRAM testing window approaches, now is a great time to have students create a training plan that will help them reach their fitness goals.
  • Let students know when fitness testing will take place.
  • Have each student identify items they can complete in and out of class that will improve one or two areas of fitness that mean the most to them.
  • On a blank calendar, have them write (or draw) the activities they can do that will help them meet their fitness goals.
  • Have them take the calendar home for their parents to sign, so parents know what their student has committed to do.
  • Regularly celebrate the students who follow through on their fitness plans and who are working hard to improve their fitness. Have them share what they are doing with the class.

Literacy Strategy of the Month: Word of the Day
Each day, identify a Word of the Day that you would like to be a student focus. It can be a concept (example: force), a part of the body (example: quadriceps), a social skill (example: affirmations), a training principle (example: overload), a skill cue (example: follow-through), or any other word that students would benefit from using and understanding. Throughout the lesson, give students the opportunity to discuss the word with others and use it in a sentence as much as possible. Listen for students using the word in conversation and during activities. Give a shout-out to students at the end of the period who you heard using the word of the day during class. 

Activity of the Month: Activity Calendar Challenge
Health and PE Activity of the Month
Each month, the Society for Health and Physical Education America posts activity calendars for elementary and secondary classes. The calendar has a short workout or activity each day designed to improve students' health and fitness. Consider using the calendars to:
  • Work the activities into your daily instruction as part of a warm-up, or cool-down, or when students are waiting.  
  • Encourage students to do the workouts on their own or with their families on weekends.  
  • Have students take the calendars home, and have their parents initial every day that their student completes the activity featured on the calendar for that date.
  • Once they get in the habit of doing the activities and have a range of activities they are familiar with, they can create their own activity calendars, a great lead-up to creating their own fitness plans.
The PE Geek Releases 100 Ways to Use Technology in Physical Education
The PE Geek has recently released the top 100 ways that physical educators can use technology in their classes. Whether you are looking for fun fitness activities, using video in class, assessments, Google opportunities, active gaming, virtual reality, productivity and useful tools, you will find something worth implementing on the 100 Ways to Use Technology in Physical Education list.

New Documents Help Define Quality Physical Education
The San Diego County Office of Education, in collaboration with San Diego Unified School District, has created two tools to help teachers and administrators define quality physical education. The Foundations for Quality Physical Education: Observation Guide can be used by teachers as a self-evaluation tool or can help guide administrators' understanding of what quality physical education looks like in action. The Physical Education Best Practice brochure describes shifts in practice that will improve students' physical literacy.

Check Out What's New on the Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life Website!
The Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life website has been updated with new resources to support high-quality physical education to develop students' physical literacy. Resources include unit plans, lesson plans, video examples, assessments, lesson observation checklists, physical education program evaluation tools, and more.

TKF to Offer Restorative Workshop
The Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF) is a San Diego nonprofit with a mission to create safer schools and communities through educating and inspiring children (grades 5-9) in the restorative principles of accountability, compassion, forgiveness, and peacemaking. The TKF curriculum is built on tested instructional materials developed to meet educational standards for social competency, healthy decision making, and personal safety. The curriculum is intended to help students develop social skills, sound reasoning abilities, and collaborative behaviors. Students learn restorative principles and practice their delivery as a means to build skills for cooperative behaviors, managing conflict, and reducing misconduct incident. This summer, TKF is going to offer training to educators, school counselors, and others interested in incorporating this unique educational programming within their schools. Watch the TKF website for additional information.

Professional Articles Worth Your Attention (Don't Miss!)
SHAPE America Looking for Teachers to Field Test Physical Education Assessments
The Society for Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) America has partnered with the American Institutes for Research to provide schools with online assessments to measure students' achievement of the national standards in physical education and health education. This pilot testing of assessments will be conducted in March, and we invite you to participate in this tremendous opportunity.  
 
Some fast facts:
  • The assessments can be completed anytime during March.
  • The assessments are for students in every grade level, K-12.
  • The assessment will take approximately 30 minutes to complete for each content area. If you choose to assess your students in both health education and physical education, you will need to allow a total of one hour.
  • Each student will need access to a tablet or computer to complete the assessment.
  • Schools that participate will receive a report of their results. 
Schools and districts can participate in the field test for free and will receive summaries of how well their students are performing against the national content standards. Schools and districts interested in participating in the field test can learn more and register here . The deadline to register is Feb. 16.

We Need Your Input: What Are The Top 10 Things Administrators Can Do to Support Quality Physical Education?
In the next few weeks, we will be putting together a list of the top 10 things administrators can do to support quality physical education, and we want your input. Take a few minutes to suggest items that you think would improve the quality of instruction, professional development, scheduling, leadership, communication, assessment, management, and more by taking this survey. Make sure to include items that do not cost large amounts of money so administrative support is not limited by budget. Thank you for your help with this critical project.

Physical Education Credential Program Set to Open at SDSU in Fall 2018
The San Diego State University (SDSU) Department of Education has decided to add a physical education credential Cohort to the list of teaching credential programs offered. A single-subject credential can be earned in two semesters. Applications for fall 2018 are due March 1. Applicants do not need to have all prerequisites completed before applying. SDSU will help applicants complete prerequisites before enrollment in the program. Scholarships and grants are available for credential students. Visit teach.sdsu.edu for more information. 
If you have any questions or comments about Health and Physical Education Monthly Update, please contact Paige Metz.

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