2. Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge

Artifact: 

• Extended Journal Response

Rationale: 

This assignment was a research paper that talked about how different disciplines read, or more specifically, literacy in physical education. The discipline of PE reads in a much different way than most or all of the others, but there are similarities and ways that they can be connected, transferred to help students in other areas of life. 

Even though there are a lot of differences between literacy in different disciplines, there are many ways that they can be intertwined. It's important for teachers to identify these connections because they can benefit students in a big way. If a student is good in math but struggles in science, connecting some of the literacy from math to science will help them understand better. 

Something that I think is important from writing this paper is that there is a distinct difference between literacy in the disciplines. Teachers need to be able to read in all disciplines, regardless of what they teach, so that they can help connect their connect to others for all types of students. 

Artifact: 

• Fitness Room Equipment 

Rationale: 

These are photos from the fitness room at my second student teaching placement. There are cardio machines, weight machines, and body weight/free weight benches. There are enough machines in there for every student in every one of my classes, which is great for working on fitness. 

Having a full fitness room available during 6th to 8th grade is an exceptional benefit to students, even if they don't realize it. They are learning how to use these machines and different equipment at an early age, which will give them the tools to be active as an adult - lifelong movement and activity is a big goal of physical education. 

I know that a lot of students may not see the benefit in fitness rooms or fitness days, but it's important that we remain steady is teaching these aspect of movement because it will prepare them to be active into their adult lives.