Mrs. Roberts| Grammar School Physical Education  |  

Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado

ABOUT ME

I'm a proud mom of three, a full-time teacher, and a CrossFit enthusiast who runs on coffee, grace, and God's goodness. I love Jesus deeply and strive to reflect that in every part of my busy, beautiful life. Whether I'm in the classroom, at the gym, or wrangling bedtime stories at home, I cherish the little moments—especially time spent with family and friends. Life is full, but it's also full of joy. 

EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY

In the classical tradition of education, the Grammar Stage forms the foundational years of learning, typically encompassing students from kindergarten through sixth grade. This stage is marked by a child's natural ability and inclination to absorb knowledge, memorize facts, and imitate. In physical education, this stage is essential not only for the development of physical skills but also for instilling habits of discipline, virtue, and joyful participation in the good of the body.

At its core, physical education in the grammar stage is formative—designed to lay the groundwork for a life of physical stewardship, self-discipline, and an appreciation of beauty, order, and effort in bodily movement. Our aim is not merely to develop athletic skill, but to cultivate the virtues and habits that prepare students to live well as whole persons: body, mind, and soul.

Purpose and Principles

1. Cultivation of Virtue Through the Body

   • Physical education provides a unique opportunity to train virtues such as prudence, justice, courage, friendship, moderation, responsibility, and wonder. Students learn to follow instruction, try again after failure, and pursue excellence with joy and gratitude.

   • Games and activities are guided by principles of fair play, cooperation, respect for others, and responsibility.

2. Imitation and Memorization

   • Just as students in classical classrooms memorize poetry and historical facts, so too do they learn physical movements and sequences through repetition and imitation.

   • Mastery of fundamental motor skills—running, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing—is pursued with structured practice and clear demonstration.

3. Order and Discipline

   • The body is trained alongside the mind in order, rhythm, and self-control. Physical education classes are structured and purposeful, emphasizing orderly conduct, attentiveness, and respect for authority.

   • Students are taught to obey commands promptly, to move with coordination, and to participate with full attention and effort.

4. Joyful Formation, Not Entertainment

   • While physical education includes games and play, it is not reduced to mere recreation. Joy is found in rightly ordered activity, not in distraction or novelty.

   • Activities are chosen for their formative value, not solely for their popularity or excitement. Physical games are time-tested, often classical in origin, and aim to build character and community.

5. Integration with the Whole Person

   • Physical education is not detached from intellectual or moral education. The training of the body supports the training of the mind and soul.

   • Classical educators recognize that the paideia—the full formation of a child—requires the harmonious development of every faculty, including the body.

Goals for the Grammar Stage Student in Physical Education

• To develop mastery of foundational motor skills through structured, repetitive practice.

• To grow in attentiveness, obedience, and self-control during physical activity.

• To experience joyful effort, and to take pleasure in movement and physical excellence.

• To learn the rules and etiquette of traditional games and physical discipline.

• To understand the body as a good gift from God, to be used for His glory and the service of others.

By grounding physical education in the classical tradition, grammar school students are formed not only into skillful movers, but into virtuous, disciplined, and joyful persons, ready to serve and flourish in body and soul.

What am I Reading...?

As a busy mom, my reading list is wonderfully eclectic—ranging from the rhythmic rhymes of Dr. Seuss to the timeless words of Shakespeare, and just about everything in between. Whether it’s bedtime stories, middle-grade adventures, or sneaking in a few pages of a classic, reading has become a shared experience in our house—chaotic, cozy, and full of surprises. And at the center of it all, we always come back to the Bible - for wisdom, grounding, and a little peace amidst the noise.