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Nov. 4, 2019

Creating TOP GUN Health and Physical Education Programs

Last month, at the Health and Physical Education Advisory, attendees had the opportunity to watch a video called The Myth of Average, a TEDxSonomaCounty presentation by Todd Rose. In the video, Rose describes the challenge that the U.S. Air Force faced when it was not getting the results it expected from aircraft or pilots because the cockpits had been planned for the “average” pilot. Rose goes on to explain that just like there is no “average” pilot, there is no “average” student. Each has a jagged learning curves that make them unique.

So, instead of planning for the “average,” to become TOP GUN, perhaps it is time we begin to plan for the margins. By planning for the margins, we provide multiple access points and choices for how we present content to students, engage them in content to create their own meaning, and have them show evidence of what they know and are able to do.

At the advisory, teachers from elementary, middle, and high schools collaborated to determine some of the ways we can plan for the margins, rather than the average that is so elusive. Here are some of the TOP GUN ideas that were generated:

Learning Influences and Top Gun Ideas to Plan for the Margins

Paige Metz

Health and Physical Education Coordinator

San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)

Register now for 2019-20 SDCOE Health and Physical Education Professional Learning

Join colleagues from throughout San Diego County to participate in professional learning opportunities for health and physical education educators. Many of these offerings have been updated to include Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and social-emotional learning (SEL) in health and physical education. Click on the links below to learn more about each event and to find the online registration link. 

Don’t see what you are looking for? Please email suggestions for additional offerings to pmetz@sdcoe.net in order for SDCOE to provide what you need to support all students.

Keep an eye out for details and information in upcoming Monthly Updates! Also remember, on-site professional learning, consultation, walk-throughs, and coaching are encouraged and available. Contact Paige Metz for more information.

Don’t Miss the Physical Literacy Institute

This year’s Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute has been updated to include strategies to address equity, access, and “first best instruction” through the use of UDL and strategies to support SEL. The institute will be offered this spring. Click the link to view specific dates and other details for the event.

Opportunities to Support District/Site Compliance with the California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA)

CAHPERD Opens Registration for In Focus State Conference

The California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) has opened registration for its 2020 state conference, which is taking place Feb. 20-22 in Garden Grove. This year’s conference theme, In Focus, will bring a lens to better focus our work on SEL, growth mindset, and physical literacy. Don’t miss keynote speakers Jessica Lawrence and Catherine Sanderson, as well as the opportunity to sign up to attend self-defense certification for physical educators by Play-It-Safe Self Defense. Why attend? Check out the conference flyer. Please visit CAHPERD.org for more information. 

Current Drug Trends in San Diego

Come hear specialists from the Drug Enforcement Agency San Diego, Social Advocates for Youth, and the Center for Community Research present information regarding current trends in marijuana, synthetic drugs, opiates, and prescription drug use by youth in San Diego County. This event will take place at SDCOE’s main campus (6401 Linda Vista Road, in San Diego) on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission is free but registration is required. Check out the flyer for more information.

Most Valuable Person with Lots of Most Valuable Practices: Terri Clark (Patrick Henry High School)

Terri Clark plays a lot of roles. She is a mom, wife, physical education teacher, San Diego County Physical Education Leader, cheer coach, and leads whole-school programming about human trafficking. However, one of her greatest assets to her school site is as an advocate for quality physical education in the Patrick Henry community.

One of the ways in which Terri gains support for her program and provides communication amongst stakeholders is through the strategic newsletter articles she publishes monthly. These articles go well beyond describing what students will be doing and when. Instead, Terri provides insight as to WHY and WHAT IS IMPORTANT. For readers of the articles, it is clear that the Patrick Henry Physical Education department is committed to the health, well being and success of their students. Check out one of her recent submissions articles and ask yourself, what more might you want to say to parents and stakeholders?

Minute to Win It Warm-Up 

Give students the opportunity to select an activity that they are going to do nonstop for at least a minute. The activity has to increase their heart rate and be something that will increase their overall fitness. Once they do their own activity for a minute, have them find a partner. In partners, have them take turns doing each of their “Minute to Win It” activities. Partners vote on their favorite. Then they combine with another set of partners and take turns doing each of their favorite “Minutes to Win It” activities. At the end, they vote on their favorite and find another group of four. This activity can keep going until the class has an “Ultimate Minute to Win It” winner, or until you run out of time.

iMovie (Free)

iMovie allows you and/or your students to create movie trailers. After choosing from one of 14 trailer templates, videos, photos, sound effects, songs, narration, and more can be dropped in and customized to create your own high-quality videos. iMovie is a fun way to create interest in content or for students to show evidence of what they have learned in your class. (This app was recommended by both Bailee Sandsmark and Melissa Beninger. Thank you!)

Peer Assess for Practice

Because some fitness assessments begin to hurt as students become fatigued, they tend to think they are doing the activity correctly even when not using correct technique. To address this issue from the very beginning, it is critical that students receive feedback regarding their form. The most efficient way to make sure that each student receives feedback is to have them work with their peers. First, make sure that each student recognizes correct technique by showing videos and/or using a rubric. Then give students the opportunity to practice the skill while their partner takes notes on their form. The notetaker then provides concrete feedback, directly related to the steps/cues of the skill, back to the participant. Have students do this regularly. Once they get in the habit of providing specific feedback to each other, they can provide feedback to each other on any and all skill development situations. Also think about providing students with video feedback opportunities so that peers can provide feedback while participants watch a video of their performance.

Hess Rigor Matrix for Physical Education is Here

Many health and physical education teachers struggle with the concept of rigor in our disciplines. Does increasing rigor mean that we ask students to run faster, eat fewer calories, or lift more weight? When focusing on physical and health literacy, increasing rigor means that we engage students with questioning, activities, and opportunities for them to build critical meaning related to content. The Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix for Health and Physical Education is designed specifically for our disciplines and helps provide a roadmap to take students deeper and engage them more meaningfully in health and physical education by strategically planning lessons, units, and semesters to move (and keep) students as far to the lower left of the matrix as possible.

Mindful Minute

Students walk into our classes with all kinds of baggage. Often, before they are ready to tackle content, they need a minute to focus their thoughts and intentions. Once you’ve told students the learning outcome for the day, give them a “mindful minute” to process what they are going to learn. During this time, encourage them to set a goal for the day, identify what they want their performance (academic, social, physical, emotional) to be, recognize strengths that they have that will help them with the learning, and identify areas that they may need support. Just one mindful minute can give each student the opportunity to focus and center themselves to be successful in your class.

San Diego County Physical Education Leaders Provide Support, Expertise

For the past four years, passionate health and physical education teachers have honed their work and investigated best practices through the SDCOE Physical Education Leadership Academy. These educators each spent a year focused on professional learning and rethinking and revamping their work to support all students.

The San Diego County Physical Education Leaders are highly qualified candidates to support you, your site, or district with peer coaching, induction programs, working with student teachers, engaging in professional dialogue, networking, and more. Click here to view the list of San Diego Physical Education Leaders. You’re encouraged to reach out to these leaders with specific questions or to pick their brains. You will be glad you did!

If you’re looking for a specific expertise, contact Paige Metz for help finding a leader.

Professional Articles, Videos, and Websites Worth Your Attention

SDCOE Accepting Applications for Health Framework Leadership Committee

SDCOE will begin rolling out the 2019 Health Education Curriculum Framework for California Public Schools this Spring. SDCOE is looking for teacher leaders in health education who are interested in collaborating with SDCOE and other health educators to plan, design, and facilitate the rollout of the new framework throughout San Diego County. Please see the job description to better understand the scope of work and compensation. Applications are due Dec. 2. Please contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net or at 858-569-5349 if you have any questions or would like more information. 

San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative Releases Data Report

The San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative recently released The State of Childhood Obesity In San Diego County: Supplemental Data Report 2019. The new report indicates that 34% of children in San Diego County are considered overweight or obese. As well, it indicates that disparities exist among diverse racial, ethnic, and economic groups. These results show a slight decrease from 36% in 2005 but illustrate that there is still more work to be done. Educators are encouraged to take a look at the data for your school and determine actions that can be done systematically that may include physical education, health education, food service, wellness policies and implementation, opportunities for physical activity, healthy fundraising/incentives, and more. For more information, visit sdcoi.org.

Legislative Updates

SDSU Women’s Basketball Announces Events for 2019-20

SDSU has announced the following events for students and school groups. 

Through a partnership between SDSU Athletics and SDCOE, free tickets will be available for students, teachers, and chaperones to attend these games. More information about requesting tickets for specific dates will be available next month. Schools are responsible for their own transportation. Game tickets are free for K-8 students and their teachers and chaperones. High school students are welcome but cannot receive free tickets, as per NCAA recruiting rules.