The PE Huddle | Physical Education Strategies, Techniques, and Ideas!

Lisa Smith and Sarah Gietschier-Hartman join Dr. Aaron Beighle for an energizing episode of the PE Huddle focused on the evolving landscape of secondary physical education. Drawing on their experiences in health, PE, adapted PE, and unified PE, Lisa and Sarah explore how the field is shifting from traditional, sport-dominated models toward more student-centered, meaningful, and inclusive experiences. Their conversation highlights the importance of changing the narrative around PE, creating spaces where students feel safe and supported, and designing programs that engage all learners, especially those who may not have seen themselves reflected in traditional physical education settings.Throughout the episode, the conversation digs into practical ways teachers can move secondary PE forward, including giving students more voice, choice, and ownership, using the Meaningful PE framework to guide instruction and assessment, and rethinking outdated practices that no longer serve today’s learners. Lisa and Sarah also share honest reflections on disruption, innovation, inclusion, and professional growth, offering encouragement for educators who want to create joyful, relevant, and responsive programs for adolescents. This episode is a thoughtful and inspiring look at what secondary PE can become when teachers are willing to challenge the status quo and center student experience.

Kick off the school year with inspiration, fresh ideas, and practical strategies to set yourself and your students up for success. In this episode of The PE Huddle, we revisit the "why" behind physical education, explore routines and systems that build meaningful learning, and share ways to create a positive classroom culture. We'll also touch on recent developments in fitness testing and what they might mean for the field. Join us as we set the tone for a purposeful, optimistic, and impactful year ahead. Jason Semanoff is a third-generation educator and past president of SHAPE Maryland with a career dedicated to advancing physical education. He spent 16.5 years as a health and PE teacher before moving into state leadership. Jason now serves as the Director of Comprehensive Health and Physical Education at the Maryland State Department of Education, where he provides guidance and technical assistance to Maryland's 24 school systems and works closely with community partners to strengthen programs statewide. As an adjunct lecturer at the University of Maryland, he prepares the next generation of teachers while staying at the forefront of research and best practices. Jason is passionate about meaningful, high-quality PE and the critical role fitness testing and standards-based assessments play in building physically literate students. Dr. Aaron Beighle (beat-lee) is an internationally recognized expert on physical education and school-based physical activity promotion at the University of Kentucky. With extensive global experience, Aaron regularly collaborates with schools seeking to elevate their P-12 physical education and physical activity promotion efforts. He has written more than 100 research-based and practical articles as well as six books, most notably Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children, now in its 20th edition. He also contributes extensively to Dynamic PE ASAP (dynamicpeasap.com), a leading resource for evidence-based physical education and activity promotion.  

Coaching is a profession filled with both significant rewards and notable challenges. On the rewarding side, coaches often experience satisfaction from helping individuals achieve personal and professional growth, fostering self-confidence, and improving communication and teamwork. Coaching also comes with challenges, such as the emotional demands of players and parents, maintaining work-life balance, and navigating the competitive nature of the field. Join Josh and Jessica on the PE Huddle as we discuss the many sides of the coaching profession.  

Adapted physical education has the power to elevate the quality of instruction across our entire profession. The saying holds true: creating a program that truly meets the needs of every student demands adapted physical education for every student. Join us as we dive into this transformative topic with three exceptional physical educators. They'll share actionable insights on everything from equipment adaptations and assistive technology to pre-teaching strategies and school-wide integration. Discover how to shift mindsets, foster meaningful collaboration with paraprofessionals, and unlock the potential of an inclusive approach to physical education. Don't miss these practical strategies to make a lasting impact!  

Join SHAPE America Teachers of the Year Casey Page, Ryan McKinney, and Outdoor Adventure expert Tari Garner in an engaging session hosted by Dr. Robert Pangrazi. Learn actionable strategies to bring outdoor education into your physical education program and empower students to thrive outside the classroom. Perfect for PE teachers seeking practical tips and inspiration!  

Join Heather and Dr. Robert Pangrazi as they discuss her unique background and how it has impacted her teaching effectiveness. She came from a rural background that taught her, "to just make it work and figure it out." Challenges from family and school leaders always took the form of, "Let's see what you can do." Enjoy a PE Huddle that is filled with enthusiasm, pride in our profession, and tips for getting the most out of every student.  

Understanding how physical education is taught and structured in different countries can offer insights for our programs. Often,we discover that our programs share more similarities than differences with those around the world. In fact, many of our current practices have been influenced by models from other nations, particularly those from Europe. This month's Huddle will focus on physical education across Canada. Join us as we discuss teacher preparation, teaching methods, curriculum, and institutional practices.   

This episode of the PE Huddle is focused on instruction that helps all students find success in physical education. Join us as we discuss topics such as rigor and differentiation, dealing with difficult student behavior, assuring equity for all students, and creating a class environment that promotes success. Our guests have over 30 years of teaching experience and will focus on offering support for teachers at all grade levels.  

Join us for a discussion about "Becoming the Teacher your Students Remember." This three-part podcast covers a toolbox of attitudes that you carry with you as you teach. It has a great impact on how students remember you and feel about physical education. The second part is a discussion of the Master PE Teacher video series that covers the "how to" of teaching using effective methodology. The last toolbox is filled with the Dynamic PE ASAP online curriculum which includes lesson plans, master teacher videos, formative assessment sheets, instructional signs, and fitness support signs. Join the webinar and gain access to professional support from Gopher!  

Join the PE Huddle for a lively question and answer session. Dr. Robert Pangrazi, a Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University, and an Educational Consultant for Gopher Sport, will review and answer your questions from past podcasts in an action-packed hour. Dr. Pangrazi has had a long and illustrious career in physical education, beginning as a 5th-grade teacher and later teaching physical education for several years before becoming an ASU professor of physical education for 32 years. He has published over 60 textbooks and 125 research and professional articles.  

The world we live in is changing rapidly thanks to the rise of AI language models, which are set to revolutionize the way we communicate and interact in countless ways. What does this mean for us as health and physical education professionals? In today's episode, we'll cover how AI language models are being used in communication education, the concerns around biases and accuracy, the role of open AI prompt engineering for improving prompt quality and the potential use of AI models and physical education.   Hi, I'm Collin Brooks, and I am an Assistant Professor of Health and Physical Education at the University of West Georgia. The voice you hear right now is not actually mine. It is an AI voice. This podcast itself was assisted by AI by using an AI script writer which I collaborated with to create this podcast, I wanted to show some of the power of AI while discussing its potential use in physical education. With that said, let's get started.  Microsoft Copilot, Google Bard, and Grammarly go are all great examples of AI language models that we can use to facilitate communication and enhance collaboration. When it comes to leading the way in developing powerful and widely used tools, open AI is undoubtedly at the forefront. These tools have the potential to help people communicate more effectively across languages and cultures. And translation models like Google Translate are already enabling real time communication without the need for a human translator. AI language models also have amazing potential for education. They can provide personalized learning experiences and assist teachers with grading and feedback. Double-checking generated text.  Being mindful of biases and using AI generated text in conjunction with other sources of information and professional expertise is critical. One popular way to use an AI language model is through open AI chat generative pre-trained transformer GPT three tool to access chat GPT language capabilities, you can visit the chat GPT page on the open AI website and click start chatting to interact with it directly in the chat window. Once in the chat window, you can ask to chat GPT questions or give prompts for it to generate text, such as creating a sentence about a specific topic or providing ideas for a new lesson plan. One of the benefits of using chat GPT is that it is free and requires no special software or hardware. However, it is important to note that it only has access to data from 2021 and earlier. If you want to save your conversations with chat GPT you can sign up for an account. You can also upgrade to chat GPT for more features, such as plugins from platforms like Zapier. While chat GPT is a powerful tool, it should not be used as a substitute for human expertise and judgment. Health and Physical Education professionals can use chat GPT to assist in their work, but should still rely on their own knowledge and experience. It is also important to critically evaluate chat GPS responses for accuracy and appropriateness. In the following sections, we will discuss how Chat GPT can help create quality learning content and lesson plans, specifically through prompt engineering. Effective prompt engineering is the key to unlocking the full potential of these models. Prompts are specific and precise instructions that enable the AI language model to generate high-quality responses that are aligned with the user's goals. The quality and specificity of prompts directly impact the AI language model's output quality, so good prompt design is critical. Asking chat GPT for information about a particular topic with a vague and open-ended prompt like what can you tell me about topic X might not yield accurate results. Instead, it's better to use a specific and well-structured prompt that clearly defines the topic and what information is being requested. For example, a prompt like what are some effective teaching strategies to help students manage stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic is effective because it is specific provides a clear request for information, and is easy to understand. This helps chat GPT generate a relevant and helpful response. Physical education professionals can benefit greatly from AI language models, which can assist or act as a collaborator for teachers create engaging and effective learning content, and even help create tailored assessments and rubrics for grading. Nevertheless, it is crucial to approach these models with caution and careful consideration. As the accuracy and appropriateness of the generated text can vary widely. I encourage you to check out chat GPT and begin learning effective prompt engineering skills and see the various ways it can provide you help in your workflow and enhance student learning. While integrating chat GPT into educational platforms as possible, it should be executed with caution and attentiveness towards student learning. It is essential to adhere to best practices such as creating content that aligns with academic standards, promotes inclusivity, is accessible, and resonates with students of diverse backgrounds and abilities. Adopting a student-first approach during the creation process can guide businesses and creators in a direction that will ultimately enhance student learning and experiences as long as they are mindful and deliberate.  Thanks for listening to today's episode, where we explored how AI language models can be helpful in physical education while also being mindful of potential biases and accuracy concerns don't forget to subscribe for more insights in the future  

Join the PE Huddle with two outstanding teachers who have had over 20 years of success. How they manage and teach students to reach their full potential will be discussed from many different angles. Both teachers have experience with students in many settings and have learned the fundamentals of "assuring students learn." In addition, learn how they challenge themselves to improve and grow and maintain their desire to be the best teachers they can be.   Alvin Mariteragi has been an educator for 24 years in Hawaii.  His experiences in teaching have taken him from Pre K, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and to the University level.  Physical Education, Health Education, Adaptive PE, & Weight training are his main focus.  He is also the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach who trains and services all the athletic sports at Kahuku High School.  In the midst of this he still finds time to teach at Brigham Young University Hawaii as an adjunct faculty member.  He is a firm believer that managing students is the key to unlocking their potential to learn.     Brian Hull taught secondary physical education for 10 years in Denver, Colorado (in Denver Public Schools). All of Brian's experiences have been in high needs Title 1 schools. In 2018, Brian received the SHAPE Colorado High School Teacher of the Year award. Additionally, in 2020, Brian was named the SHAPE America National High School Teacher of the Year. In July 2021, Brian transitioned out of teaching and joined the SPARK and Gopher Sport teams. Brian firmly believes in the "education" aspect of physical education.

Welcome to the P E Express Podcast, powered by Gopher! As the school year winds down and summer approaches, we know it can be tough to balance getting everything done with making the most of your time off. That's why we're here to help with tips and strategies to recharge and push yourself during your summer break. This article was written by Matthew Bassett. Matthew has been teaching Physical Education since 2001. He is a Nationally Board Certified and an adjunct professor. He is active in both the Elementary Physical Education Workshop and CAHPERD. You can find him on Twitter at phys ed apps.    Don't miss an episode and be sure to subscribe to stay updated!     Welcome to today's episode where we'll be discussing 5 tips to help you prepare for the upcoming school year. Let's dive right in!   Number one on our list is to learn something new. Take a class. Read an educational book. Watch a webinar. Do something that is not work/subject related. Disconnect from your teaching brain by learning something new. Put yourself in an uncomfortable situation to learn something new that you do not already know. You will enjoy the change of pace and your brain will change as the result of this challenge.   Next up, number 2, seek out professional development opportunities. Summer is a great time for you to learn something inside of your profession or subject. Going to a workshop, conference, or work-related webinar is a great way to hone your teaching skills. My favorite is the K through 8 Elementary Physical Education Workshop or E PEW. Not only do I get to learn from some of the best #physed teachers around but I'm immersed into the experience. I'm able to be around like-minded individuals from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep. We eat, learn and play together. Sometimes the best interactions happen when a small group goes out to get some ice cream during the evening. These interactions drive me. I set myself up for the best possible start for the coming school year when I join these experiences.    Number three is all about getting some rest.  During the summer I'm able to rest a lot more. The first few days are normally spent taking a lot of naps and sleeping in. I love being able to get up a little later during the summer and not before the sun gets up. I am also able to spend some time sitting on the couch binge watching a TV show or catching a movie. I can catch up on Star Trek or rewatch Star Wars. I struggle with getting rest during the school year as I seem to be always doing something from teaching phys ed to one of my college classes. The summer I find the change of pace difficult but necessary. I use the summer to let my aging body recover a bit. I also make it a priority to get away. My kids are getting older and only have time for a few more family adventures. Some years we stay more local and experience a lot of day trips. Other years we plan a big trip across the country. Travel helps me to learn and grow but also gives me time to unwind and disconnect from my computer. I also try to get away with my wife for a few days. The time to reconnect is important as our daily life seems to be work and shuffling the kids around from point A to point B. Ideally, if I had the funds and time, I would attempt to get away for at least a few days after I get out for the summer and also a trip before I have to go back. I find myself getting more anxious as I get closer to returning to work and having the time away helps to minimize those feelings.   Our fourth tip is to complete any necessary time-consuming tasks ahead of time. Spend some time during the summer completing those time-consuming tasks that eat up your life when you start teaching again. Maybe you need to revamp your curriculum? Maybe you wanted to overhaul your roll sheets? Maybe you need to create new Plicker cards? Maybe you want to make new peer assessment worksheets? Take the time to update your playlists so they are ready to go before your first class. These are things that aren't difficult but take time. Having these items off your to do list as you start back up frees up time to work on something else.   Last but not least, take some time to reflect on the previous school year. Maybe the most important part of the summer, REFLECTION! If you want to be a great educator, you need to think about what has happened during the previous school year. Reflection should probably come sooner rather than later during the summer but it can occur at any point. What can you do to make yourself better? What worked this school year? What didn't work? How can you deal with conflict/difficult situations or off task students better than you did last year. What if you change the order of your units? What if you developed a new team building activity to mix it up for you? Thinking about where you have been can help you take a different path for the future. Teaching the exact same thing, the exact same way will just get you to be bored. After 22 years of service, I'm still tinkering with the things that I do on a daily basis. At the core of this is reflection. Without reflection I would be repeating the same mistakes year after year after year.     In today's episode, we discussed some key ways to improve yourself, professionally and academically through learning, resting, and finishing important tasks, including taking time to reflect on the past academic year. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe for more tips and teaching strategies to help you become a better P E professional. Thanks for listening, we'll see you next time on the P E express podcast, powered by Gopher, your resource for all things physical education.

Keeping an inventory equipment list and sharing it with your principal demonstrates that you value and care for your equipment. It also clearly defines your equipment needs and helps you share a clear and consistent vision for your PE program. If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at the PE Equipment Calculator. This is a free resource that gives you an essential inventory list that you can use to monitor your equipment needs each year. After you complete your inventory, this calculator matches your program's equipment with SHAPE America National Standards and Outcomes and calculates which outcomes can be taught with the equipment available. Share this calculator with your principal or PE leader to strengthen your ask for additional funding and equipment.

Making a Difference – Artie Kamiya's Long and Storied Career Artie Kamiya has held a wide variety of jobs and titles over his career. First of all, he was Mr. Kamiya, elementary physical education teacher. Then he was demoted into administration and was Artie Kamiya, Physical Education Consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction. Then demoted further to the Chief Consultant for K-12 Healthful Living for the same state agency. In 2001, he left to work with Wake County Public Schools as the Senior Administrator for Health & PE. In 2005, he retired from public service having put in enough time to earn his 30 year pin. From 2005 – 2018, he worked for Great Activities Publishing Company. Finally, after messing everything up to the best of his ability, he became the Executive Director of NC SHAPE where he gets to work with some of the most amazing K-12 health and physical education teachers he knows.

Tune into the PE Huddle to hear about how to make personal changes in your teaching practice to make your profession personally rewarding. Topics such as emotional and physical safety, off-task behavior, modeling desired behavior, and efficient planning are just some of the topics to be discussed. As one of our speakers puts it, "The art of a tough few weeks of consistency to create a well-oiled machine" is a good place to start. Holly Aungst is a Professor and Administrator in the Health Sciences Department at Northern Arizona University. She prepares teacher candidates to deliver appropriate instruction that is physically and emotionally safe for all learners. With nearly 15 years' experience, Holly shares her expertise often by presenting at state and national conferences. Theresa Freas has taught Health, Physical Education and Yoga for 24 years at Coconino High School in Flagstaff AZ, (her Alma Mater). Theresa has served as Department Chair for 15 years, was a Link Crew Coordinator for 15 years and coordinated the Alternative to Suspension program. Theresa earned her bachelor's degree in Physical Education, Health Education in addition to Athletic Training at Southern Utah University.

Join the PE Huddle for a discussion about the what and why of physical literacy. Physical literacy has been defined in many different ways and has often polarized teachers. It certainly isn't universally accepted by the profession and much of that may be due to a lack of understanding of what it is or isn't.  Tune in for a discussion that is down to earth and easy to understand as we discuss it in terms of you and the profession as a whole.  Gary Lemke has emerged as a leader in blended learning for health and physical education. As a curriculum developer, he helps teachers and schools with new strategies and technology tools to achieve physical literacy and health literacy. He is a past president and executive director of INSHAPE (Indiana) as well as a past member of SHAPE America's health literacy task force.

Kick off the school year by tuning in to the August PE Huddle with a focus on "A New School Year: A Game Plan for a Successful Start". Join our guests Shannon Irwin, Bill Jones, and Richard Edgar as they discuss preparing for the start of school. The start of the school year has a large impact on how you feel about your classes and teaching in general throughout the school year. This month's speakers have differing amounts of teaching and leadership experience so there will be something for everyone regardless of grade level and experience. This will be a "nuts and bolts" discussion as we discuss faculty issues, working with staff and administrators, and effectively meeting, managing, and teaching your students. Bill Jones is the Director of Physical Education (Preschool-8th grade) at the University School, serving 870 boys in Junior Kindergarten to grade 12 on two campuses in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. He received his M.S. in Physical Education from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He has taught and coached for the past thirty-five years at independent schools. He was awarded the Chilcote Chair in Applied and Innovative Learning in 2011-2013 and the Donald C. Molten Chair in Athletics in 2013 – present. Shannon Irwin has 17 years of experience in Physical Education, pk3-8th grade in both public and Catholic education. She served as an athletic administrator at Saint Andrew Catholic School in Fort Worth, TX and recently was named the Athletic Director for the Catholic Diocese. Shannon regularly shares her expertise by presenting at local, state, and national levels. Richard Edgar has taught Physical Education in Arizona for 5 years. Richard earned his bachelor's degree in Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science from Arizona State University and his post-baccalaureate teaching degree from Rio Salado. Before joining Mesa Public Schools, he started the Physical Education program at Eagle College Prep.

In this episode of the PE Express podcast, Darci Mick Beversdorf shares how she uses PE to help her students understand perseverance and grit. Connect with Darci on Twitter @DMickBeversdorf.

This month the PE Huddle will focus on "Promoting Lifetime Activities in Secondary Schools." For the past 40 years, physical education professionals have talked about the importance of graduating students who will be physically active throughout their lifespan. We will discuss and analyze why this important goal has not taken hold in many of America's schools. Join us as Brett Fuller, Past President of SHAPE America, and Maria Corte, Southwest District High School Teacher of the Year, offer perspective and advice for personal and curricular changes that will help assure we graduate students who know how to stay active and healthy. Maria Corte attended Arizona State University and University of Phoenix where she earned her Physical Education bachelor's and master's degrees.  Maria has been teaching at Mesa High School for 28 years and at Arizona State University for 8 years.  Maria was honored with the SHAPE Southwest District High School Teacher of the Year Award.       Brett Fuller is a Past President of SHAPE America and the Curriculum Specialist for Health and Physical Education within Milwaukee Public Schools; Wisconsin's largest district which supports 175 health and physical education teachers. His career spans over three decades, and in that time his philosophy has centered upon the ideal of teaching students to be healthy for a lifetime.

View all of Gopher's free resources at https://www.gophersport.com/freeresources Join our speakers for a PE Huddle that will bring a fresh look and perspective to our profession. Tom and Guy will discuss how social media and technology can improve your instruction, help you develop advocacy campaigns, and create videos that can serve as homework. Beyond the gym, social media and technology offer teachers a chance to learn from other teachers and share your best ideas. Join us as we offer ways to reach beyond "face to face" instruction in the gym.  Guy Danhoff brings together a solid background in communications and marketing applied to professional organizations, community programs and university systems.  His skill in strategic planning based on digital and social media applications has helped professional organizations have a deep impact on their market and with members.  His detailed attention to analytics guides decision-making, allowing organizations to effectively track progress in meeting goals. Thomas Gelardi has been teaching Physical Education for over 16 years at the Elementary level in NY. He attended Manhattan College and Graduated with a BS in Exercise Science and a Master's Degree in Physical Education from Adelphi University. He presented numerous PE workshops at NYC Zone, Nassau Zone, and NYS, AHPERD conferences. He also presented PE workshops virtually all around the world including United States, England, Thailand, Turkey, and India. He created a YouTube channel called Coach Gelardi's "PhysEdZone" to support all Elementary PE teachers and programs with over 4 million views as well as providing Tips for PE Teachers on "Coach Gelardi's" TikTok account with over 25k followers. A father of two beautiful daughters and a son.

This podcast provides a detailed description of the purpose of the dynamicpeasap.com introductory activities. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Aaron Beighle on Twitter at @AaronBeighle.  

This podcast provides a detailed description of the purpose of the dynamicpeasap.com introductory activities. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Aaron Beighle on Twitter at @AaronBeighle.  

In this PE podcast, Dr. Robert Pangrazi shares why it's important to focus on creating group cohesion in class where every student feels part of the solution. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Dr. Pangrazi @rpangrazi.    

In this podcast, Aaron Beighle describes the guiding principles behind the development of the dynamicpeasap.com assessments. If you enjoyed the podcast, be sure to connect with Aaron on Twitter @aaronbeighle.

In this episode, Jessica shares how to use a Bingo style card to review content knowledge and have students work with a variety of partners in completing activity challenges. Connect with Jessica on Twitter @JessicaShawley!

Social-emotional learning and character development have long been a point of focus in education. Great teachers have always worked hard to help students mature into caring and positive adults. This month's PE Huddle will examine why physical education is often an important environment for developing positive character traits. Join us as we chat about practical ways to integrate reflection, self-control, caring about others, and grit into physical education. If all the issues with COVID have helped create rage and anger, we as teachers can help students learn to cope and even prosper in these difficult times. Join our guests Chris Nichols and Leigh Anderson as they share their efforts to teach social-emotional skills within a successful physical education setting.

In this episode of the PE Express podcast, we're joined by Scott Williams. Scott is a former PE teacher and the US OMNIKIN Coordinator. If you have any questions about OMNIKIN or would like to connect with Scott, feel free to reach out by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @PEScottWilliams. 

Flag football can be an excellent way for kids to learn and better understand the skill set required to play football with limited risk. We know about concussions now; it might be best to have your child play flag football if unsure about playing tackle football. That way, they can gain confidence. Here are some ways you can get your students ready for your flag football unit. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Chris on Twitter @tamez209

Join Marci Pope and Maria Corte as they share many thoughts, ideas, and techniques for creating a positive environment for students with disabilities. Marci Pope was an adapted physical education specialist for many years and is currently training teachers at California State University, Chico. Maria Corte is a high school physical education teacher at Mesa High School in Arizona. She has created and implemented a successful inclusion program for high school age students. Both instructors have years of experience and will offer practical and sensitive advice to physical educators teaching students with disabilities.  

This podcast discusses the importance of curriculum planning in physical education. Are you looking to plan intentionally? Want to focus on student learning? This episode will give you some step-by-step instructions on how to plan using the backward design principles. Connect with Collin Brooks on Twitter @CollinBrooksie.

In this Physical Education podcast, Dr. Robert Pangrazi shares how you can build a positive learning environment. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Dr. Pangrazi on Twitter @rpangrazi.

This podcast will share 2 easy back-to-school icebreakers to help students get comfortable again with socializing, meeting new people, and most importantly having fun!

Join PE Supervisors Deb Pangrazi and Billy Noble for a PE Huddle that will help you get ready for the start of the school year. As we plan to return to face-to-face instruction, it is an ideal opportunity to adopt new teaching strategies and approach the year with renewed enthusiasm. We will discuss the relationship between curriculum and the learning process. Learn about the new and improved DPE-ASAP with instructional signs, videos, and assessment tools to make planning quick and easy. Deb and Billy will share how they assure their teachers are prepared and ready to start classes on the right foot.  

This physical education podcast describes two strategies, getting to know your students and establishing class values as you re-enter post-COVID Connect with Aaron on Twitter @AaronBeighle.  

Physical education is more than keeping kids busy, happy, and good. A look at what a comprehensive program is and how it should be presented. Connect with Dr. Pangrazi on Twitter @rpangrazi.

This interview provides an overview of how Jordan Manley uses project-based learning in physical education at the STEAM Academy Connect with Aaron Beighle on Twitter @AaronBeighle. Connect with Jordan Manley on Twitter @STEAMWellness

In this episode of the PE Express podcast, Mike Graham shares how you can make your PE program more visible within your school and district.

In this podcast episode, Chris Nichols shares how he got started providing professional development and the struggles he had to overcome. Connect with Chris on Twitter @cnicholspe!

This podcast provides a brief overview of the Dynamic Physical Education textbook and how the dynamicpeasap.com website is an extension of the book.

Change is a word that often stirs concern and worry. Even if you are told that it will make things better, you have a bit of resistance because it is coming from an external source. How many times have teachers been asked to expect a new approach or curriculum after summer break? I have often observed that school systems work on a 3–5-year plan. Teachers are given a new curriculum or a schedule, receive a lot of training in the "new" method, and work hard to master the new approach. Then after 3-5 years, another administrator or school board takes over and proposes a new approach which starts the cycle over. That is forced change and you often have little say in how it will be implemented. That is a way of life as a teacher. However, I want to discuss self-motivated change; personal improvement that you take responsibility for and set personal goals to help you improve as a professional.   If you are going to change, you have to have time to think and contemplate. It is impossible to change much during the school year because you are not in a personal growth mode. During the school year, you come to school, plan your lessons, deal with faculty meetings, supervise recess, clean your equipment room, and oh yes, you teach all day. Then, after school, you may coach or do afterschool activity programs. Where, oh where, are you going to find time to change? That is why I feel that when we get close to the end of the school year, it is prime time to think about personal and professional goals you want to make. If you wait until the end of the summer, all the angst and stress you felt about things at school will be forgotten. Now is the time to make a list of a few key things you would like to do differently. This will give you time to make plans, develop small incremental goals, and implement your changes next fall. There is an old saying in education that some teachers have taught for 20 years but only have one year of experience. The point being that if you don't change and grow from your teaching experiences, you are bound to repeat the same mistakes over and over. Once you enter the teaching activity area, very little feedback comes your way. In fact, most experienced teachers are only evaluated and offered strategies for instructional improvement once or twice a year. Self-improvement is the cornerstone of great teaching. You have to want to be better today than you were yesterday. So, let's look at a strategy for change: Decide what personal changes you want to make. If you have specific outcomes, you have talked or contemplated for some time, those are probably a good place to start. Here are examples I have often heard from teachers. The best things to plan on changing are those that are unique and important to you. Self-growth is about you, not what someone else wants you to do. Write and develop some new lessons and units. Develop ways to work with students in a more constructive manner. Create a monthly newsletter to students and parents about PE and the need for physical activity promotion. Find ways to raise funds for physical education equipment. Change the way I plan and structure my classes, so I am not teaching the same way I did last year. Take classes to better understand the needs of my students Focus on a specific issue such as bullying, social-emotional issues, or health/activity issues. Create your plan for self-improvement. Pick a major change you want to make and then break it down into small goals. This is where SMART goals are useful. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and within a Timeframe. Smart goals have been around for many years but recently have enjoyed a renaissance. A couple of books might be helpful to you. I would recommend How to Change by Katy Milkman or Atomic Habits by James Clear. Clear's subtitle is "An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones". Both books recommend plans and examples of how to accomplish personal goals. Manage your time effectively. It is easy to say, "tomorrow I am going to start developing my personal goals". Remember that tomorrow never comes and it is always a day away. The hardest part of making any change is getting started. We can sit and contemplate for hours and never accomplish a thing. Set aside time each day and force yourself to sit down and start writing down the steps you want to take to accomplish your personal changes. Break it down into chunks and small steps. A large overarching objective will stop you in your tracks – it will seem so big that it intimidates you and makes it appear to be an impossible task. Small chunks will seem within reach and something that you can do over time to accomplish your larger outcome. It is very much like fitness. If you want to get fit and lose some weight, it will require a plan that takes many workouts and days of effort. The hardest part of losing weight is getting started. Measure your success and celebrate. If you have chunked your major outcome into smaller goals, make sure you know when they have been successfully accomplished. Set aside time to work on your goals whether it is taking a class, exercising, seeking funding, or writing new instructional materials. Monitor and record each time you find success and celebrate yourself. We often spend too much time getting after ourselves when we fail or don't reach a goal. Turn it around and decide how you are going to celebrate each time you make some progress toward your personal goals. There is no greater satisfaction than accomplishing personal change and reaching meaningful goals. External pressure to change doesn't feel nearly as rewarding as changing because you want to change. The most satisfying accomplishments are those that are driven by your internal drive and motivation. Great teachers are self-motivated to become the best they can become. No one can push you to greatness. It comes from that intrinsic motivation to excel. Now is the time to get started!! Thanks for being teachers. Believe in yourself!

In this episode of the PE Express podcast, Karen Burnell, Dallas ISD health and wellness coordinator, joins Chris Nichols to talk about how you can encourage the entire family to get active this summer.    

In this episode, Jessica shares her top tips when searching for grants and finding funding for your program. Connect with Jessica on Twitter @JessicaShawley!

A quick look into why teachers use pedometers in their classes. It's much more than what is accomplished in the classroom. Connect with Maria Corte on Twitter @CortePE

Join us as we converse with three outstanding teachers who bring us a wide range of experiences and diversity. From New York to Minnesota to Arizona, these teachers have excelled in different environments. Critical issues for teachers such as equity, bullying, character building, and class management will drive this Huddle. Covid 19 and the impact it has had on the teaching process has changed the teaching profession. Will this be the end of virtual instruction now that schools are more open to face-to-face instruction? These issues and more will be discussed as we near the end of another challenging school year. Join us for an uplifting session that will make you think and reflect on your own personal strength and grit.

In this PE podcast, Maria Corte addresses a few reasons why teachers are essential...in person!

In this episode, Jessica speaks to the novice grant writers about how uses the 3 Phases of Grant Writing to help her focus her time and energy on her grant writing journey.

In this Phys Ed podcat, Darci Mick Beversdorf speaks to how she uses her last unit of the school year to excite and encourage students to be active throughout the summer.

With schools being closed for almost a full year we have seen the mental health of students affected. Here are four ways physical activity can help boost students' mental health. If you enjoyed the podcast, connect with Chris on Twitter @tamez209.

Getting local businesses like coaches, summer camps, retailers, and exercise studios involved with your school's fitness event can build community partnerships that benefit schools, students, as well as the businesses. This podcast will give examples of meaningful ways businesses can be part of your fitness event - whether that's sports day, fitness week, or a jogathon - and school community. Connect with Lucie on Twitter @RunKidsRun!