Aug. 3, 2017
Welcome to the new Health and Physical Education Monthly Update. We're now 100 percent digital, making the resources, tips, and links you appreciate even easier to access. I'd love to hear your feedback, so we can continue to make this service even more helpful for you.

This change comes at a time when the primary outcome of our work is changing. Health and physical educators are now tasked with developing students' health and physical literacies. For many of us, this is new territory.
 
Health and physical literacy doesn't just mean that students are reading and writing in our classes. Literacy describes the development of skills, knowledge, decision-making, and motivation that students will need to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It encompasses not only what students can do, but also requires that students have the desire to make healthy choices now and throughout their life. The experiences that students have in each health and physical education class will help frame their health and physical literacy. As educators, it is our job to make sure that students have a positive experience which will build both their confidence and competence in our disciplines.
 
As you start the school year, take a minute to think about changes you can make to your teaching practices to ensure that students leave your class having achieved the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional outcomes to develop their health and physical literacy. Examine your practice and identify opportunities to make personal connections with students, use class time more effectively, increase the fun factor, and make every minute meaningful. Then find and pursue professional learning opportunities (have you seen the SDCOE offerings?) and set goals to truly develop students' health and literacy. Our students are depending on us!

Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education

 
Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute
Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 7
Identify learning outcomes, create assessment tools, and plan instruction to empower students with the confidence, competence, and passion for a lifetime of physical activity. In addition to better understanding the concept of physical literacy, the three days include:
  • Using the California Physical Education Model Content Standards in tandem with the California Common Core State Standards
  • Collecting evidence of student learning and informing instruction through formative and summative assessment
  • Creating unit and lesson plans to develop students' physical literacy
The Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute is one of the accepted prerequisites for the SDCOE Physical Education Leadership Academy.

T he Physical Education Leadership Academy is designed to support teachers' implementation of best practices and develop teacher leaders who impact colleagues at their site, in their district, and throughout San Diego County. The academy prepares teachers to have a comprehensive understanding of critical shifts in teaching to support and promote physical literacy and gain instructional strategies that engage all students. Attendees will have a leadership network that supports quality physical education and they will be considered for two-year recognition as an SDCOE Physical Education Leader.  

The sessions begin at the end of September and include topics such as rethinking class time use, meeting the needs of every student, performance-based assessment, and student-centered learning. Registration is now open. Attendees must have previously attended the SDCOE Three-Day Common Core in Physical Education Institute, the Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute, or receive permission from Paige Metz or Lynn Barnes-Wallace.

Health and Physical Education Advisory Meetings 
Teachers and leaders from throughout San Diego County are invited to participate in professional growth and candid conversations, come together to review and discuss physical education trends, related legislation, health and physical literacy, technology, online resources, research, funding, and more. Network with colleagues from other sites and districts and provide input to SDCOE on programming and services. Don't miss this amazing meeting of the minds!  
 
2017-18 Professional Learning Opportunities
See all the professional learning events and more at the SDCOE Health and Physical Education webpage and at Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life. Get the latest information on events, dates, news, and more.  

Free Online Physical Education Conference
Register now for the free online physical education conference hosted by the PE Geek on  Aug. 4 to 6 . The ConnectedPE Online Conference aims to raise awareness of the best practices in physical education taking place across the globe. The free conference consists of four webinars each day hosted by presenters from throughout the world, each sharing an example of quality physical education. Register as soon as possible since each session can accommodate only 500 people.
Dynamic Classes Make Jamila Demby MVP of the Month
Jamila Demby's physical education classes at Otay Elementary School are nothing short of dynamic! Right at the start, students engage with the Student Learning Outcome (SLO) for the day and the academic language that they will be using to achieve that SLO. Scaffolds are in place so that every student can access content. Throughout the lessons, students routinely collaborate around complex topics and work together to develop skills and understanding in a manner that is fun, engaging, and inspiring. Students then reflect and refine their learning and continue dialogue to build physical literacy during closure. In May, Demby was recognized as the 2017 San Diego CAHPERD Elementary Physical Educator of the Year. See Demby in action at Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life.



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Calibrate Test Protocols to Support Student Learning
While the FITNESSGRAM assessment has been around for more than 20 years, it is still common for errors to occur in how tests are administered.Before having students complete baseline testing, make sure that the correct protocols are being followed. Use the  Reference Guide and the  training videos on the California Physical Fitness Test webpage to make sure you are current with your test administration and that students are not continuing incorrect practices learned in previous years. When students follow correct protocols (and scores are valid) then they are more likely to set meaningful fitness goals for the term. Additionally, give the entire battery of tests to the students, so they can determine which tests they are most successful taking and why.   

Creating a Collaborative Culture
The start of the school year is the best time to establish a class culture and climate that supports productive collaboration. Merely telling students to talk may not achieve your desired outcomes. Some literacy strategies to keep in mind include:
  • Plan your prompts ahead of time so that conversations meet your intended purpose.
  • Strategically group students based on what you want them to get out of the conversation or task; students will be more involved if the group is smaller.
  • Structure discussion so students are engaged in talking and listening.
  • Hold students accountable for their conversations or collaborative work.

Tabata Circuit is Great for Warm-Up 

Tabata is a series of eight exercises with each exercise lasting about 20 seconds with 10 seconds of rest in between. A sample tabata workout might include: high knees, invisible jump rope, lunges, squats, burpees, jumping lunges, mountain climbers, and then squat jumps. As students' fitness improves, have them do two or more rounds. Download a Tabata playlist on the Fit Radio app, or other apps, to help students stay motivated and connected to the circuit timing. For more information on the Tabata Circuit from the Teacher Toolkit by SHAPE America.  
New Documents Help Define Quality Physical Education
The San Diego County Office of Education, in collaboration with San Diego Unified School District, 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 Practices brochure describes shifts in practice that will improve students' physical literacy.
 
New Resources on Fit 2 Learn, Fit 4 Life 
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 much, much more.

San Diego CAHPERD Now on Twitter
The San Diego CAHPERD team has a Twitter account! Follow @SDPHYSED   for new resources, professional learning opportunities, and exciting ideas. San Diego CAHPERD will also tweet about their events and highlight other physical education professionals you can follow. You will be amazed at all the resources at your fingertips.  

Program Funding Available from Health Organizations  
Fuel Up to Play 60 provides up to $4,000 to support physical activity, physical education, or nutrition programs. Applications are due Nov. 1.

Clif Bar Family Foundation provides small grants of about $7,000 for specific projects that promote positive change in healthy food systems, increase physical activity, reduce environmental hazards, and build stronger communities. Applications are due Oct. 1.

Saucony Run for Good Foundation has approximately 10 to 12 grants of $10,000 that will be awarded to programs that promote running and healthy lifestyles. Applications are due Dec. 15.

Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart is looking for applications for $500 in grant funding to support its Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH) or Hoops for Heart (HFH) programs at school sites. Applicants must have conducted a JRFH or HFH event this past year, or are signed up to host an event this year. Grant applications are due on Sept. 30.
Health Framework Update
View draft chapters of the California Health Education Framework by the Health Education Curriculum Framework and Evaluation committee. Email questions and comments to healtheducationfamework@cde.ca.gov.
 
The R esearch Quarterly for Exercise and Sport article by Neil Armstrong, of the University of Exeter, reviews peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and the historical lack of clarity in its relation to youth aerobic fitness over the years.
If you have any questions or comments about Health and Physical Education Monthly Update, please contact Paige Metz.

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