Sept. 5, 2017
Earlier this year, I started making a bucket list of things I'd like to do. I came up with some pretty cool things.
  • See a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  • Go to a football game at the University of Notre Dame
  • Watch an Olympics opening ceremony in person
As I was considering items for my personal bucket list, I started thinking about things I might put on my professional bucket list. I realized that there are a number of things I have been intending to do, things that would help inspire me in my work every day. I just need to start writing them down and making them happen. So this year, I'm going to:
  • Use Twitter and other social media platforms to connect to amazing minds and ideas
  • Read the stack of books I've been intending to get to
  • Put a greater emphasis on increasing the "fun factor"
What's on your professional bucket list? What are the things that you would like to accomplish with your students this year? What impact do you want to have on their lives? How are you going to reach your potential as a professional?

Make a list. Write it down. Put items on your calendar and in your plan book so that you set time aside to achieve them. Share them with your colleagues and administrators so that they can support you on your journey. Make this the year that you achieve what you intend -- one bucket list item at a time.

Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education

Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute
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 the Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute on Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 7.  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 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.

Physical Education Leadership Academy
The 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 be considered for two-year recognition as an SDCOE Physical Education Leader.

Sessions will focus on the following topics:
  • Rethinking the Use of Class Time (Sept. 26, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Oct. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Meeting Needs of Each and Every Student (Nov. 15, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 12, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Performance-Based Assessment (Jan. 24, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Student-Centered Learning (April 18, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and May 1, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
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 authorization 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 at the Health and Physical Education Advisory Meetings beginning Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 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 on 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.

Positive Prevention Plus Training? Let Us Know!
Please email  Paige Metz if your district is interested in sending attendees to a Positive Prevention Plus Comprehensive Sexual Health Education training. If enough people commit to attend, SDCOE will arrange to host a training.

Self-Defense Training for Physical Educators
A school site in San Diego County would like to host a Play-It Safe Self-Defense PE Certification and open the event to other teachers to offset the cost. If you are interested in participating, please email Paige Metz .
Communicating the Student Learning Outcome is the "Most Valuable Practice" of the Month
Imagine how much more students would learn if we explained ahead of time what they were going to learn and how we were going to measure their success. Letting students know what the focus of the learning is, and what the final product will be, gives them the power to take greater control of their learning. It is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
  1. At the start of the class, communicate the daily student learning outcome (SLO) and the criteria that will be used to determine whether they mastered it. This can be verbal, posted, or both.
  2. Throughout the lesson, provide feedback that is specific to the learning objective. Feedback can be from the teacher, the student, or peers, and should focus on the specific success criteria of the SLO.
  3. Give students an opportunity to reflect on their learning during closure.


 

Coach's Note Brings Sports Plays to Life 
Coach's Note is an interactive whiteboard that allows you to draw, plan, and create sports plays and tactics. The $4.99 app  can be used to explain strategies in class or online for students, and students can use  the app to create their own playbook or show evidence of what  they  know.


Make Fitness Routine with Easy-to-Incorporate Tips
As you are creating routines for the year, think about making regular fitness routines. You might consider:
  • Including a FITNESSGRAM station or two when setting up a circuit
  • Letting students take turns selecting fitness activities to do as part of your daily activities
  • Having students do fitness stations instead of waiting in lines
  • Assigning weekly fitness homework for students to complete outside of class
Close with a Paragraph to Boost Literacy 
At the end of the lesson, ask students to work with a partner to make a paragraph. First, have them come up with a topic sentence that describes what they learned in the lesson. Then, have the students create three sentences that support their topic sentence. Groups can write them down on an exit card or share them aloud with other groups or the class.

Running for Time Instead of Distance
To increase aerobic capacity, heart rate should be elevated for at least 15 minutes. However, we often send students out to run a distance that doesn't keep their heart rate elevated long enough to really benefit their cardiovascular system. Instead, consider having students run, or participate in other aerobic activity, long enough to keep their heart rate elevated for at least 15 minutes. As their comfort increases, you can increase the amount of time that students are active. By the end of the year, students will likely be comfortable keeping their heart rates elevated for well over 20 minutes. Give it a try!
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. Physical Education Best Practices 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 much, much more!

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 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.

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 .

Top 10 Research Questions Related to Youth Aerobic Fitness
The Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport article by Neil Armstrong, of the University of Exeter, reviews peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) and the historical lack of clarity in its relation to youth aerobic fitness over the years.

California Dairy Council Updates 'Eat Move Win' Nutrition Curriculum
  • Shorter lessons with more focused activities
  • New lesson on portion distortion and serving sizes
  • Quick activities to check for understanding
Check out what's new by logging in to access Eat Move Win.  
If you have any questions or comments about Health and Physical Education Monthly Update, please contact Paige Metz.

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county.

Follow us on Twitter    View on Instagram    View our profile on LinkedIn    Like us on Facebook