Mrs. Rush's P.E. - About Mrs. Rush

What Students Learn in PE

❤️ Social & Emotional Health

In PE, students learn much more than games and sports. They practice teamwork, communication, empathy, self-control, resilience, handling mistakes, encouraging others, and asking for help.

💪 Their Bodies

Students learn how their bodies move and grow through running, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing, fitness, coordination, and body awareness. They also begin to understand how movement helps keep their bodies healthy and strong.

🧠 Their Minds

Students learn that movement can help with focus, emotions, stress, and self-regulation. PE helps children understand that taking care of their minds is just as important as taking care of their bodies.

⭐ Their Confidence

Students build confidence by trying new things, practicing skills, learning from mistakes, and seeing their own growth. In PE, success is not about being the best — it is about being willing to try and keep going.

My Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy of physical education is centered on the whole child. I want every student who walks into my gym to feel loved, welcomed, safe, and like they have a place. Not every child will be the fastest, strongest, or most naturally athletic, but every child should have the opportunity to feel successful and know that movement belongs to them.

I love elementary PE because I get to teach so much more than a skill or a game. I have the opportunity to help students build confidence, try something they were nervous to try, learn how their bodies work, practice being a good teammate, handle frustration, solve problems, and discover ways they may want to stay active for the rest of their lives.

Social-emotional learning and mental well-being are a major part of how I teach. PE gives students a natural place to practice teamwork, communication, self-control, resilience, handling mistakes, encouraging others, and asking for help. I use emotional check-ins, teamwork and self-esteem activities, regulation strategies, reflection, and relationship building throughout my lessons. I want students to know that the gym is a safe place to make mistakes, try again, and talk to a trusted adult when something feels too big to handle on their own.

I also believe students need to know that I see them as individuals. Sometimes that means changing equipment or an activity so a student can participate successfully. Sometimes it means giving a student a quiet place to reset. Sometimes it means noticing that a child who is normally excited is having a hard day and simply checking in. Those moments are just as important to me as teaching a student how to throw, jump, dribble, or ride a bike.

My goal is for students to leave elementary school with physical skills and health knowledge, but also with confidence, positive memories of movement, stronger relationships, and the understanding that taking care of their mental, social, emotional, and physical health all work together.

You vs. You

Be a little stronger, a little braver, or a little more willing to try than you were yesterday.

Mrs. Rush's Schedule 26-27