Oct. 4, 2017
I recently heard Dr. Joseph Johnson from San Diego State University say, "Our programs produce the results that our systems are set up to achieve." This gave me food for thought. We often make the effort to work harder to improve our effectiveness rather than stepping back and taking a look at our systems.

As you think about your own practice and work with colleagues to improve physical literacy at your site, I encourage you to take a step back and look at your system. If there are outcomes you would like to change, take a few minutes to think about items within your control that could impact student achievement. Here are a few questions to consider:
  • What are you doing to make sure that students leave your program with the skills, knowledge, values, and motivation to develop the confidence and competence of someone who is physically literate? What evidence do you have that it is working?
  • Are you using class time to engage students rigorously with content while also keeping them active for at least 50 percent of class time? How can you rethink time to use it more effectively?
  • Are you offering courses that provide meaningful experiences and student learning that will inspire students to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle?
  • Do your assessments measure the outcomes that you want to achieve with students? How might you align your assessment policy to better motivate students to meet course/grade level outcomes/standards?
  • Does each and every student have equitable access to your courses and content?
  • What do your FITNESSGRAM scores tell you? Are there changes in programming that might increase number of students in Healthy Fitness Zones?
  • Do stakeholders know what your program is about? What are you communicating to administrators, parents, and other stakeholders so they are likely to support your efforts, and how?
  • What are students saying about their experience in your program? What items do they think would improve their learning?
Take a few minutes to think about some of these questions as an individual, and pose the questions in your next department meeting. If you are not pleased with the results you are getting, it is time to think about changing your system!

Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education

3-Day Physical Literacy Institute (Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 7)
The goal of our work has changed. No longer are physical educators tasked with teaching sports. The focus of physical education is now to develop students' physical literacy : the knowledge, skills, fitness, values, and motivation to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle . Physical literacy doesn't happen on accident. It requires a systemic approach to pedagogy that challenges many traditional practices. Join us as we identify learning outcomes, create assessment tools, and plan instruction to empower students with the confidence, competence, and passion for a lifetime of physical activity .  During the 3-Day Physical Literacy Institute, we will collaborate to:
  • Better understand the concept of "physical literacy"
  • Utilize the California Physical Education Model Content Standards in tandem with the California State Standards
  • Integrate shifts in pedagogy to develop students' skills, knowledge, and desire to attain and maintain a physically active lifestyle
  • Utilize formative and summative assessment to collect evidence of student learning and to inform instruction
  • Create unit and lesson plans to systematically develop students' physical literacy

Note: The 3-Day Physical Literacy Institute is one of the accepted pre-requisites for the Physical Education Leadership Academy .

Self-Defense Training for Physical Educators Offered on Oct. 27
California Education Code requires ALL high school students receive an instructional sequence and assessment in Combatives. Most schools implement self-defense units to satisfy this requirement. Poway High School will be hosting a Play-It Safe Self-Defense Certification for physical educators and are interested in opening the event to other teachers in San Diego County to offset the cost. If you are interested in attending, please email Tracie@PlayItSafeDefense.com.

Safe and Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Students Webinar on Oct. 12
Promoting and providing a learning environment in which all students and staff can expect to feel safe, supported, and included is an essential function of schools. Join a webinar on Oct. 12 to:
  • Identify health and safety risks that can affect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) students
  • Summarize laws and policies that support safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ students
  • Construct an action plan to ensure compliance with California law and policies related to safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ students
Contact OaklandEvents@cardeaservice.org or call 510-835-3700 for more information.  

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!

Positive Prevention Plus Training?  Let Us Know?
Please email Paige Metz  if your district is interested in sending attendees to Positive Prevention Plus Comprehensive Sexual Health Education training. If enough people commit to attend, SDCOE will arrange to host a training.
Most Valuable Person, Practice, or Program: Alice Birney and Rosa Parks Elementary Schools
Alice Birney and Rosa Parks Elementary Schools in San Diego Unified have been named to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's 2017 list of America's Healthiest Schools. Both schools received the Bronze Award for making changes to promote healthy eating and physical activity for students and staff. Specifically, these schools meet or exceed federal nutrition standards, offer school breakfast to their students every day, meet or exceed federal Smart Snacks in School standards, offer regular physical education, and ensure physical activity throughout the school day. Congratulations to Alice Birney and Rosa Parks Elementary Schools' students and staff!

 
App of the Month: Flipgrid, Inc. (Free!) 
Flipgrid is a video discussion platform that is both a web-based program and an app that allows teachers to create prompts for students to record their responses in short video clips. The videos are collected in a grid and can be viewed and responded to by peers as well as the teacher. Visit #flipgridfever to view ideas on how you can use Flipgrid with your classes.

FITNESSGRAM Tip of the Month: Time for Baseline Testing
Almost every grade level has standards that require students to assess and determine current fitness levels against criteria-referenced standards. At the start of the school year, students should have the opportunity to determine their "starting point" for the school year. Throughout the year, students then have a reference point to set goals, implement work out plans, and determine progress. When doing baseline testing, give students the opportunity to take all of the tests for each area of fitness. For more information on FITNESSGRAM, download the FITNESSGRAM Reference Guide at pftdata.org .

Literacy Strategy of the Month: Structuring Productive Conversations
The Technical Education Research Center has developed Goals for Productive Discussions and Nine Talk Moves. Below is a list of their goals and moves to help structure quality classroom dialogue...in health and physical education, too!

Goal: Individual student share, expand, and clarify their own thinking
Move 1: Time to Think
Move 2: Say More
Move 3: So, Are You Saying....?

Goal: Students listen carefully to one another
Move 4: Who Can Rephrase or Repeat?

Goal: Students deepen their reasoning
Move 5: Asking for Evidence or Reasoning
Move 6: Challenge or Counterexample

Goal: Students think with others
Move 7: Agree/Disagree and Why?
Move 8: Add On
Move 9: Explaining What Someone Else Means

Learn more.

Activity of the Month: 10 at a Time
The Society for Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) America features free monthly activity toolkits for members. One of the toolkits is called "Give Me Ten." Students participate in a variety of activities designed to improve all aspects of physical fitness. Students do each activity 10 times. Depending on the physical demand of the activities, students could start doing 10 but could increase every week or every month so that they gradually improve their fitness levels. If starting at 10 seems too easy, find a starting spot that seems more appropriate for your students. For more information, visit SHAPEamerica.org.
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 much, much more!

Grant Opportunities:
Fuel Up to Play 60 :  Up to $4,000 to support physical activity, physical education, or nutrition programs. Click here  for more information. Applications are due Nov. 1.

Saucony Run for Good Foundation:  Approximately 10 to 12 $10,000 grants will be awarded to promote running and healthy lifestyle programs. For more information, click here. Applications are due Dec. 15.
Lets Tweet! Join San Diego County Health and Physical Educators on Twitter
Twitter isn't just for the president! Join fellow health and physical educators on Twitter to share ideas and network.  Don't miss following  SDCOE Health and Physical Education (@SDHealthPhysEd) and  San Diego CAHPERD (@SDPhysEd)! Other handles worth following are @mkbeninger@tbromiller@terridr99, and @physedreview.

Health Framework Update
Draft chapters of the California Health Education Framework are posted  by the Health Education Curriculum Framework and Evaluation committee. Email questions and comments to healtheducationfamework@cde.ca.gov .

Kaiser Permanente Announces Dates for STD Prevention Performances
Kaiser Permanente offers a 60-minute performance for high school students called "What Goes Around." The program uses technology and social media to engage students while providing information about Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Students hear facts and myths about STDs and see how the choices they make have a lasting impact on their lives. Available dates include Jan. 31, Feb. 1 or 28, and April 23, 24, 25, 26, or 27.  For more information, or to sign up, contact Emily Goodall or click here.
If you have any questions or comments about Health and Physical Education Monthly Update, please contact Paige Metz.

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