Back to 2007 All Star Teachers Showcase | Back to Kathy Crawford

Who am I really as a physical education teacher?

As a physical educator, I feel blessed to have a job that I am very passionate about. I went back to school with a husband and two children at home, and somehow graduated with honors. Before I attended college, I used to dream about activities I would do if I had the chance to teach physical education. I am here because I acted on an ambition to become a physical education teacher. It was a decision and an achievement that made me step out of my box and get out of my comfort level. After graduating in 1992, I was offered the job of my dreams in the Savannah R-III district, more specifically at Helena Elementary School. I still remember the first morning I went to work; I couldn't contain the smile on my face on the drive to my first day of school. I still smile as I drive to work after sixteen years of teaching physical education at Helena. I still get excited about new activities and ways to make my program better. Because of this, I think my teaching is better than it has ever been. I continue to learn and change as I grow professionally. I am very fond of the students I have taught over the years. I refer to any of my students past or present as "one of mine" and, I truly feel responsible for their development physically and emotionally. When I see them as adults with children of their own, I pray that in some way I touched their lives in a positive way. I am proud of what I do and accomplishments I have made in the field of physical education.

As a physical education specialist, what do I stand for?

As a physical education specialist, I live the lifestyle of a healthy and fit person. I think it is paramount that students see me work at staying fit and active in the community. I still climb the rope once a year.

I believe my actions speak volumes over my words. I want to be the person in a child’s life that tells him or her about good choices and have him or her see me making good choices for myself. In addition to traditional physical education, I teach lessons in not sitting in front of the TV all the time, using sunscreen, fastening seat belts, and wearing bike helmets. I feel it is important to give them the necessary tools they need to use in everyday life to be safe and healthy. As a physical education specialist, I stand for being an example of health and wellness for students to emulate.

What is at the heart of my programming?

What key knowledge/skills do I want students to own body/mind as a result of coming through my program?

KNOWLEDGE:

• Students have the vocabulary to describe being fit. Students know the benefits of exercise. (increase in bone strength, sleep better, look better, self esteem, energy level goes up, etc.)
• Students know the pathway to a healthy life: exercise, nutrition, and healthy habits.
• Students know the fitness components and exercises that incorporate them into their lives: Strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and body composition.
• Students know the difference between being fit and having sports skill.
• Students know body positions (pike, tuck, straddle), and body regions (core, abdomen, torso, trunk, thigh, etc.)
• Students know basic bones, muscles, and the systems of the body.

SPECIFIC SKILLS:

The specific skills I encourage in my class are the following: Increased fitness levels from fall to spring through assessments of the Presidential Fitness test and Project Fit testing, skipping, jumping rope, long rope jumping, hula hoop, cartwheel, forward roll, throw in opposition, drop kick, catch with hands, scarf juggle, soccer skills, basketball skills, football skills, volleyball skills, cup stacking, badminton, bowling skills and basic square dance calls and folk dances

BEHAVIORS:

Behaviors I expect in my class are as follows: Power moves (being polite and patient with one another), Teamwork, Cooperation, Communication, Respect, Honesty, Doing the Right Thing, Trying no matter how difficult, Common Sense

SUMMARY:

A broad-based curriculum with many challenges and experiences is at the heart of my program. I teach the things I love and have a passion for such are biking, backpacking, and skiing, as well as traditional sports and games. Fitness testing takes place twice a year at Helena and a print out is sent home to students in 1st through 6th grades. The most important thing I want to accomplish is teaching kids to feel good about themselves through movement and to be good people.

Here are a few of my favorite teaching tools that are unique to my programming:

HEALTHY ME FOLDERS
My fourth, fifth, and sixth graders create portfolios in my class called “Healthy Me”. Each folder contains the work we do with paper and pencil along with physical assessments and accomplishments.

LEARN YOUR BONES
To learn the bones I say:
Wiggle your phalanges
Pat your patellas
Flap your humurus
Tap your sternum
Clap your clavicle
Elvis your pelvis
Shake your cranium
HIGHLIGHT HANDS
To encourage good behaviors I have a highlight area on the wall called Highlight Hands, where students names go up for doing good deeds and being respectful, helpful students. The names are on a die cut that is sign language for I love you.

Power Moves are encouraged. A power move happens when students are kind and patient with one another. Such as when equipment is handed out I usually say to use power moves to get a jump rope or ball, whatever the equipment of the day is.

Every year I sponsor three field trips. We have a bicycle field trip, a snow skiing field trip, and this past year we added a backpacking field trip to the schedule.

QUOTES IN THE GYM

Physical Education Word Wall

There is no greater glory for a man than that which he wins by his own hand and feet

Sugar, Salt, Soda, & Sedentary=Poor Health

Let it Go!

Press –On
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

The ABC’s of Life

Dream Big

Helena Elementary PFA programming

Project Fit is used in the following ways:

CHART & CHALLENGE

I have a chart and challenge wall outside the cafeteria. I have been adding challenges every year since I started Project Fit, three years ago. The students are very excited to look the posters over while in the hallway. It has been very motivational for them. I have included photos of this year's wall to date. Remember that this is the beginning of the year, by the end of the year the entire wall will be filled.

TEAM FIT

Every Tuesday we have Team Fit for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Students earn punches on stations. Each filled card earns a different incentive. PTO is sponsoring this program. Voluntary participation has almost doubled since last year with 31 members actively participating. The levels are as follows.

1st Year:
1st card: Strength rubber bracelet
2nd card: PFA monogrammed sock
3RD card: PFA kid sticker
4th card: white PFA T-shirt
5th card: PFA dog tags
6th card PFA basketball
7th card Blue PFA jacket

2nd Year:
1st card: ribbon & certificate
2nd card: PFA gloves
3rd card: PFA stocking hat
4th card: Red PFA T-shirt
5th card: PFA dog tags
6th card: PFA basketball
7th card: Red PFA jacket

3rd Year: Not yet established, but will be similar

HEAVY HOOPS

The heavy hoops are very popular in my classes. With the hoops we play all sorts of games, but concentrate on the hula-hoop skill. The weight makes it easier for students to learn. I have 95 to 100% mastery on hula hoop in kindergarten due to the heavy hoop addition to my program. We hold many hula-hoop contests during the school year using a variety of activities. This activity is a favorite of mine and my heavy hoops are always close at hand.

PROJECT FIT CUPS

I have incorporated all of the games Steve Cox showed me at my first workshop. “Earn a Stack” is very popular and easily gotten into without much explanation. I use the cups with sit-ups, laps, down and backs, and push-ups. This activity works well if I have a little time at the end of a class but not enough to start a new unit or game. If a class has been especially vigorous, we may cool down a bit with a speed build, just to see how big a group tower can get in a set time.

PFA CURRICULUM

One of the most useful suggestions I use from my consultations with Steve Cox is the “Smile Mile.” I can't believe the improvements my kids have made in their mile times. Here is an example of the card we use to document each student's performance in the mile.

PFA LUNCHEON

All participants who fill two station cards at Team Fit are invited to a luncheon provided for them at the end of the school year. Fancy invitations are given to the members and a special table setting and decorations are made for the event. Of course, only healthy food choices are served to the club members.

PFA AWARDS

At the luncheon individual participants are honored for the most dedicated and most number of cards completed.