Keeping Kids in Motion
Building a community where fitness and play are the foundation for all families.
Join the Movement: Keeping Kids in Motion
If you’re like me, you consistently seek ways to improve your craft. You search for the latest research and ideologies which have the potential to improve you as an individual as well as those you influence. In my case, I’m a physical education teacher with a passion for keeping my lessons challenging, fresh and fun for my students. I carve away at my profession by reading blog posts, articles, and books related to keeping children active not only during PE class and recess but throughout the day. Of course, much of this research can be shared and implemented at home with my own children.
As a way to share my professional knowledge and experiences with parents, teachers, and peers, I initiated a Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion. Whenever I come across something exciting, innovative, and useful, I truly want everyone to know. Perhaps other teachers, parents and kids can benefit as well. Posting information on Keeping Kids in Motion not only allows me to share, but also gives group members an opportunity to provide feedback and/or share any information they deem appropriate in regard to promoting lifelong fitness in today’s youth.
If you answer “YES” to any of these questions, you’re ready to join Keeping Kids in Motion:
- Are you a teacher or counselor who shares a similar passion for improving your craft?
- Are you a parent looking for new ideas and activities to enhance child movement?
- Do you have a blog or have you written an article relating to keeping kids in motion?
- Do you have a video of your family playing a cool, active game in your backyard?
- Do you have a question another group member could answer?
If this is the case then I would love for you to join the growing Keeping Kids in Motion Facebook group. Feel free to read the posted articles and watch the countless videos posted by people just like you. Together we can teach each other. Together we can learn from each other! Together we can keep our kids in motion and prepare them for lifelong fitness!
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/justybubpe.
Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!
“That’s a Whole NOTHER Ballgame!” Nother?
Have you ever had a conversation with someone when he/she suddenly says something that sounds grammatically incorrect yet it kind of seems correct? Despite what your talking about, you immediately refocus your thoughts on the one specific sentence uttered rather than the original topic of conversation. You could be in a heated political debate, ready to hammer home your point when you’re suddenly blindsided by a misused word or phrase by your fellow debater. Now I’m no wordsmith and I’m sure I frequently butcher the english language. In fact, it may be fun for you to count my grammatical and spelling errors in this very post. As an odds maker, I’d set the over and under at 12.
*NOTHER
Recently I was speaking with a friend in my neighborhood, when he broke out the word NOTHER. “That’s a whole NOTHER ball of wax”, he said. Have you ever heard this word used in a sentence? I bet most of you have. If you haven’t, after reading this post, I guarantee you’ll will in the near future. Trust me – it’s everywhere!
WHO ELSE USES THE WORD NOTHER?
Everyone! Professional athletes love to use it in post game interviews. After defeating the Miami Heat in the NBA finals the other night, one Golden Warrior explained why his team looked so good in their victory and so bad in their previous game when they lost to the Heat by a large margin. He said, “When we can hit our three pointers and tighten up our defense we’re a whole NOTHER team.” Yikes!
Politicians are infamous for using NOTHER. “We may have lost the New Hampshire primary but fear not! Iowa is a whole NOTHER fight I know we’ll win!”
Cable New Anchors are chronic offenders of the NOTHER Bug. Surely NOTHER isn’t written on their teleprompter… Right? “As we take a look at the northern counties in Virginia, one can see that voters support the democrats, however the southern counties are a whole NOTHER demographic.”
Meteorologists often give the day’s forecast and followed by the long range forecast. “Don’t let today’s rain dampen your spirits. There’s a whole NOTHER system approaching the southeast bringing low humidity and dry weather for the remainer of the week.”
Oh No! I’ve heard My family use it. In fact, just last Friday my wife made pizza. As we were devouring the first pie, my younger son reached for the last piece much to my other son’s chagrin. My daughter, the peace maker, said, “Relax, there’s a whole nother pizza in the oven.” Oh no! NOTHER has spread to my family!
Surely I would never use NOTHER in a sentence. Especially since I cringe whenever I hear it. For me, hearing the word NOTHER used in a sentence is like nails on a chalkboard! Eww.
Well, I kid you not! Just three hours ago I was helping my son fix his bike. We couldn’t find a proper sized allen wrench to adjust his handle bars. As I was searching through my tool box on the other side of the house with no luck, I screamed to my son, “I HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER set of wrenches in the car!” NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It’s an epidemic! (This is what put me over the edge and lead me to writing this post. I’m hoping that expressing my concern in words is the remedy to cure my case of the NOTHER bug.)
Have you ever heard the word FUS-trated used instead FRUS-trated?
That’s a whole nother blog post!
*Upon researching nother, I learned that it was misused so often that Dictionary.com said the heck with it! Lets just make it a word.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/justybubpe.
Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!
5 Important TED Talks for Physical Educators
Today’s physical educators are continuously seeking opportunities for professional development. One can choose a traditional route of enriching their craft by presenting or simply attending an annual conference. Others may opt to read the most up-to-date books and articles written by true professionals in the field regarding best practices for today’s pedagogy. One of my personal favorites, social media, has taken the physical education field by storm. Twitter in particular encompasses an enormous professional learning network full of ideas and insight. Have you heard of Voxerpe.com? Voxerpe.com is a website dedicated to helping physical education teachers connect with the global community of physical educators on voxer, a powerful free application for your phone. Think of your phone as a modern day walkie talkie used to communicate with some of the best PE teachers in the world. Crazy, right? Most likely, teachers, as continuous learners, are using a combination of the above examples. What about TED?
TED Talks as Professional Development!
Technology, Entertainment, and Design (TED) talks are yet another beneficial resource, which has helped shape me into the physical education teacher I am today. Usually short and to the point (under 18 minutes), TED talks include many of today’s most influential and motivating professionals including teachers, doctors, athletes, coaches, CEOs and ordinary people who just have a good story to share. Below, I’ve listed the 5 TED talks (+1) that have influenced me the most as a 21st century physical education teacher.
- Run, Jump, Learn! How Exercise Can Transform our Schools: Dr. John Ratey, MD
Dr. Ratey discusses the brain-exercise connection and how exercise can raise test scores, lessen behavioral problems, and help the overall well-being of today’s students with fitness based physical education. Dr. Ratey also authored the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. This TED talk along with Spark inspired me and my school to begin a morning movement program called Every Lap Counts.
2. Want Smarter, Healthier Kids? Try Physical Education: Paul Zientarski
Paul Zientarski, educator of 40+ years, discusses his highly successful program, Learning Readiness Physical Education (LRPE) he created at Naperville Central High School. He emphasizes how the program has produced dramatic improvements in test scores, behavior, and childhood obesity. His talk is an inspiring reminder of why quality physical education matters!
3. Every Kids Needs a Champion: Rita Pierson
40 year teaching veteran Rita Pierson calls for educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level. This talk inspired me to seek connections with each of my students. On many occasions, this has increased the comfort level of some students who were shy or hesitant about physical education class.
4. Changing the Game in Youth Sports: John O’Sullivan
John O’Sullivan chronicles his three decades as a soccer player and coach. He recalls when youth sports were about children competing against other children instead of adults competing with each other through their kids. This, he says, is the reason so many of today’s youth drop out of sports. John O’Sullivan also wrote a great book called, Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.
5. The Decline of Play: Dr. Peter Gray
Dr. Peter Gray emphasizes how there has been a dramatic decline in children’s freedom to play without adult supervision over the past 60 years. He discusses why free play is essential for children’s healthy social and emotional development and outlines steps through which we can bring free play back to children’s lives. Peter Gray also wrote an equally compelling book called, Free to Learn: Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life.
Bonus TED – Try Something New for 30 Days: Matthew Cutts
I wrote a blog post on this talk called 30 Day Challenges: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. I share thoughts on how I use 30 day challenges both personally and professionally. Be sure to check it out!
It is paramount for educators to keep up with the latest research and pedagogical practices while maintaining strategies and lessons that have proven success. There are countless options for professional development that won’t cost the educator a cent. Social media outlets such as Twitter, Facebook, and Voxerpe offer a bounty of information from peers in the field. The internet is full of websites and articles waiting to be explored. Have you seen what your colleagues are doing in their classes? I learn so much from sharing ideas with the three other members of my PE team. TED.com is one website that I frequently explore in search of inspiration to broaden my knowledge of teaching physical education. I hope you found the above TED talks to be equally inspiring. Be sure to share other TED talks that may have been beneficial to your professional development.
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Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/justybubpe.
Check out my Facebook group called Keeping Kids in Motion!