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Sept. 4, 2018

Create a Classroom Adventure that Fosters Students’ Health and Physical Literacy!

It is the start of the school year. A blank slate. Endless possibilities. So what do you have in store for your new students? Now is the time to think about the experience you want each student to have in your class. It is the perfect chance to identify the positive things that kids receive from your class and to identify new possibilities.

In the past few years, the disciplines of health and physical education have truly evolved to support students’ health and physical literacy. Take a look at the definitions below.

Physical Literacy : The motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life (by Margaret Whitehead as cited by the International Physical Literacy Association).

Health Literacy : Understanding basic health information, directions, and services needed to make informed personal health decisions.

Which aspects of these definitions do you have evidence that students are achieving? Which elements need more focus? Which do you still need to put on your radar?

Use the blank slate of a new year to select the adventure and experience you want each and every student in your classroom to have and make it happen! If not us, who will? This is our work, our passion, and our charge. Building students’ health and physical literacy can be a great journey. Build the adventure and experience that gets each student closer to a lifetime of health, wellness, and fitness!

Paige Metz

Health and Physical Education Coordinator

San Diego County Office of Education

pmetz@sdcoe.net

Check out What SDCOE Has to Offer

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Health and Physical Education professional learning schedule for 2018-19 has been announced. Offerings include:

Check out the one-pager for a comprehensive list of opportunities to move your practice forward. Keep an eye out for further announcements in upcoming monthly updates! Also remember, on-site professional learning, consultation, walk-throughs, and coaching are available. Contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net for more information.

Calling All Health and Physical Education Leaders — SDCOE Health and Physical Education Advisory Kicks off Oct. 3!

Don’t miss the opportunity to represent your district/site at the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Advisory meeting Oct. 3! Make sure you have a voice in the room as we discuss current trends and issues, legislation, funding, leadership, SDCOE programming and support, multi-tiered systems of support, equity, innovation, and much, much more. As always, there is no fee to attend, but registration is required. Contact your administrator who oversees curriculum and instruction to see if they will support the cost of your sub for you to attend. 

Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute is a Must-Do

The goal of physical education is to develop students’ physical literacy: the knowledge, skills, fitness, values, and motivation to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 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 confidence and passion for a lifetime of physical activity. The fall session of the Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute takes place Oct. 10, Nov. 8 and Dec. 5.  Click here for more information and to register.

Step Up to Be a Physical Education Leader

The Physical Education Leadership Academy is designed to support teachers’ implementation of best practices and develop teacher leaders who have the ability to impact colleagues at their site, in their district, and throughout San Diego County. During our time together, we will focus our work on increasing students’ physical literacy by:

Each of these topics will be introduced at an afternoon session (first date listed) followed by a full day of collaboration (second date listed). Academy includes onsite coaching. Participants who meet specific targets will be recognized as a San Diego County Physical Education Leader.  Click here for more information or to register. PRE-REQUISITE: Attendees must have previously attended the SDCOE Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute, Three-Day Common Core in Physical Education, or receive approval from Lynn Barnes-Wallace or Paige Metz.

Spotlight on Girls: Critical Issues, Trends, and Strategies Conference Sept. 20-21

The California School Resource Officers Association will host the Spotlight on Girls: Critical Issues, Trends, and Strategies conference on Sept. 20-21 at the Marina Village Conference Center. This event will offer a variety of workshop topics, including girls and gangs, supporting girls of color, anxiety in girls and women, drug use trends, mentoring high-risk youth, empowering all girls, and more. There will also be a special performance of Jodie Knowles’ Learning Curve: Confessions of a Special Ed. Kid. For more information and to register, visit www.csroa.org.  

SDCOE Hosts Technology Summit with Strand for Physical Education

Mark your calendars! The SDCOE Innovation team will be hosting a technology summit on Dec. 1. This summit will feature a specific strand to support and discuss the use of technology in physical education and to expose physical educators to tools they can use in their classes. The planning committee is currently looking for physical education teachers to present at this event. If you have been using technology and have insight to share, please apply to present. Click here to access the application. 

Subject Matter Project Offers Professional Learning on Social Emotional Learning in Physical Education and Health

If you haven’t heard of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) yet, you will soon! To participate in conversations on this critical topic, it is vital to understand where health and physical education fits into this work. One way is to focus classroom efforts on social-emotional learning (SEL). Since we are the only academic disciplines with specific SEL outcomes (standards) for students, it is important that we build students’ SEL competency. As a result, the California Physical Education-Health Project is offering two four-day trainings to build understanding and skills about SEL in our content areas. This is a free program, although it does require a $50 deposit to hold your spot. For more information, contact cpehp@csuci.edu or click here to register.

Mark Your Calendars! The National Adapted Physical Education Conference Is Coming to San Diego Nov. 8-10

The 47th Annual National Adapted Physical Education Conference is scheduled to take place in San Diego Nov. 8-10. Click here for the informational flyer and to access the call for presenters.

New Opportunity to Differentiate Professional Learning With I3

SDCOE is now offering a new professional learning opportunity for health and physical educators that allows educators to use a “choose your own adventure” model for professional development. Health and Physical Education I3: Inquiry — Innovation — Implementation empowers health and physical educators to identify a topic to study or an area of need. Participants may come as individuals or teams to engage in the I3 process:

Prior to meeting, attendees will provide SDCOE with a tentative focus area or topic. SDCOE will then collect and provide access to resources for participants to navigate their own inquiry. They will then rethink, redesign, or recreate their work to incorporate their new learning, so that they can implement meaningful change in their practice. I3 will allow teachers to progress at their own pace, engage in professional dialogue, and receive feedback and on-site support/coaching. 

 

Topics may include (but are not limited to): rethinking use of class time to increase physical activity, meeting the needs of each and every student, student-centered learning, performance-based assessments, utilizing technology in health/physical education, multi-tiered systems of support, curriculum mapping, unit/lesson plan collaboration, and more.

 

I3 will be offered twice, once in Fall ( Oct. 30, Nov. 7, Nov. 28, Dec. 18) and again in the Spring ( Jan. 29, Feb. 13, March 14, April 3). For more information contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net.

MVPs: Westview Exercise and Nutritional Science Department

Each spring, the Exercise and Nutritional Science (ENS) Department at Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District puts on a triathlon for the freshman class. Each student completes a 300-meter swim, 2.5-mile bike ride, and 1.5-mile run as a capstone event for the year. To prepare for the triathlon, students engage in goal-setting and apply training principles throughout the year to build the skills and endurance they need navigate the course. The triathlon is also the primary fundraiser for the department and has enabled them to provide students with a state of the art experience in each ENS class. It is the highlight of the year! Kids have a blast! Want more information? Check out the informational video.

App/Program of the Month: Pear Deck

Create innovative and interactive lessons that engage all learners with your instruction by turning presentations into conversations. Drop an assortment of formative assessments into your slide deck for students to engage. Student responses show up on the teacher dashboard, but are anonymous to the rest of the class.  

FITNESSGRAM Tip of the Month: Set The Expectation for the Year!

Fitness testing isn’t something that we should only discuss when the testing window opens. In fact, it is a conversation that should take place throughout the year! It is important that we are clear with students and parents from the get-go. Take the first few weeks of school to introduce them to FITNESSGRAM. Introduce the tests, share links to videos of the test, and explain each of the components of fitness. Then, once you have given a baseline assessment, share the results with students and parents. Give them the opportunity to strategize goals and opportunities. All along, let them know that throughout the year, students will track their progress and adjust their goals so that they are more likely to get the results they’d like when tested in the spring.

Literacy Strategy: Collaborative Posters

When engaging students with a piece of informational text (text, picture, diagram, video, etc), have students process the text by completing a collaborative poster. Give small groups of students a large piece of paper. Have them divide the paper into four quadrants. In each quadrant, put one of the following:

In completing the quadrants, students will have the opportunity to truly make meaning of the content.

Activity of the Month: What? So What? Now What?

Many teachers take ample time at the start of the year to create a positive class climate by engaging their students in team building activities. While the activities themselves can be challenging and fun, the true power of these activities comes in the debrief. An easy way for students to process their team building experience is to ask them what, so what, and now what?

New Curriculum Mapping Resource Available for Physical Education

Thephysicaleducator.com has released a guide to curriculum mapping for physical education. Check it out by clicking here!

SHAPE America Releases Doc on Student Safety in Physical Education

Student safety is at the forefront of many of the conversations taking place in education right now. In response, SHAPE America recently released Keeping Students Safe in Physical Education During Critical Incidents. To view these online resources, visit Keeping Students Safe, Best Practices and Observation Guide.

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, advice on using video in class, assessments, Google opportunities, active gaming, virtual reality, productivity, or useful tools, you will find something worth implementing on the 100 Ways to Use Technology in Physical Education list.

Documents Help Define Quality Physical Education

SDCOE, 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.

Professional Articles/Videos Worth Your Attention (Don’t Miss)

Chargers Champions Grant Application Period Now Open

For almost 20 years, the Chargers Champions Program has been providing grants to students, educators, and schools — awarding just over $6 million in grants and funding since its inception. For 2018, the Chargers Champions School Grant Program will again be providing funds to San Diego and Imperial county schools for physical fitness, nutrition, and athletic programs. High schools can apply for grants of up to $70,000, middle schools up to $40,000, and elementary schools up to $30,000. You can download the 2018 Chargers Champions School Grant Application here. Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 12.

Message from Your New San Diego CAHPERD President, Jason Reisenfeld

Hello San Diego CAHPERD! My name is Jason Reisenfeld. I am excited to be your new CAHPERD regional president. For the past 13, years I have been teaching middle school physical education and currently teach health/physical education at Rancho Del Rey Middle School in Chula Vista. I am a passionate lifelong learner who believes in quality instruction. I genuinely look forward to having the opportunity to meet you and move our profession forward. If I can be of service at any moment, please feel free to contact me. As well, please fill out a quick survey so I can better serve your needs. Please look for San Diego CAHPERD activities and opportunities in your inbox and in the SDCOE Health and Physical Education Monthly Update!

San Diego CAHPERD Meeting/Social on Sept. 21

San Diego Region CAHPERD will be hosting its first meeting/social of the year from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 at the Lazy Dog restaurant in Mission Valley. Join us to celebrate the start of the school year and to discuss programming and opportunities. We will be set up in the bar area. Bring a friend and/or colleague!

Elementary School Cross Country Championships Announced

Gage Elementary School and PTA are proud to announce the 1st Annual San Diego County Elementary School Cross Country Championships! The event is scheduled to take place at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Tecolote Park North. There is no entry fee, but the event is limited to the first 200 participants. For more information visit www.kidscrosscountry.com. 

San Diego State Looking for Physical Education Mentors

San Diego State University (SDSU) is going to start offering a mentor-based induction program for teachers who are new to the profession. SDSU is currently looking for physical education teachers to work one-on-one weekly with new teachers to mentor via videos, written feedback, and collaborative online huddles addressing immediate needs that new teachers have in the classroom. To be eligible, mentors must have completed a minimum of three years of teaching physical education and hold a clear credential and a master’s degree. Please contact Paige Metz at pmetz@sdcoe.net for more information or if you would like to be considered as a mentor.

Arthritis Foundation to host Annual Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 8

The Arthritis Foundation will host its 26th Annual Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 8 at NTC Liberty Station. Encourage your students and their families to put on their favorite holiday costume and jingle bells to participate in the event’s 5K. The top-finishing school will receive a pizza party. For more information and to register, visit www.jbr.org/sandiego.