Is your child Physically Literate?

Physically literate is not a "catch phrase."  I suspect the majority of parents have the sentiment of, "it's just gym."  Let's face it, physical education has changed dramatically since you and I were kids.  Heck, when I was in Catholic grade school there wasn't even a formal PE class (unless you can count the days St. Francita put on her black Ked tennis shoes and took us to the gymnasium to play games)!  It is not the subject of old - dominated by athletes and centered around sports.  We don't play dodgeball or let captains pick teams.  Kids don't stand around in long lines waiting for turns with limited equipment.  We don't put students on display to embarrass or humiliate lesser skilled movers and we don't just "play games all day."  And to be honest, the gym is WHERE physical education takes place; it's not called "gym class" anymore.

So what is the shift in Physical Education all about?  Well, Physical Education is now defined as an academic subject that provides planned, sequential, K-12 standards-based program of curricula and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for healthy, active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence. Now that's a mouthful!  There is a national governing body (SHAPE America) that has developed the primary group of physical education standards. The Archdiocese does its best to address some of these standards on our report cards, ones that would have a major bearing on a child's physical literacy.