It is my goal as a Physical Educator that all members of our learning community will be life-long learners with the skills, knowledge and desire to be healthy and active participants in a “global” society. All of my focus and energy is directed toward this goal. I feel that this ideal is best attained by addressing all student needs through skill-based instruction with an emphasis on learning, maximum participation and personal enjoyment.
My instruction is guided by standards. I use both the NASPE “National Standards for Physical Education” and the “North Carolina Healthful Living Standard Course of Study and Grade Level Competencies” to plan instruction. These documents allow me to confidently teach a broad range of skills that are foundational for all life-long healthy, active learners. They help me to focus on skills that learners can apply in a variety of ways in numerous settings throughout their lives. When students experience many ways to use and apply one skill, they begin to understand that physical activity is so much more than simply participating in sports: it is a part of everyday life, a source of personal enjoyment and satisfaction and/or a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle.
I would be remiss if I did not also use assessment data to guide my instruction, for using the curriculum alone does not ensure that I meet ALL students’ needs. My focus on each student and his/her needs is perhaps the most important part of my philosophy. Only through meeting student needs can I hope to ensure learning. Through formal and informal assessments, collaboration with other professionals involved in a student’s life, rapport with each student and communication with students’ families I plan and implement instruction that allows all children to learn and experience success.
I can not overstate the importance of success. All learners, regardless of age or ability, must meet with some success to continue to be engaged in the learning process. Student success results from addressing student needs. I know that all students are different. Thus, I provide maximum time on task, a variety of equipment with which to practice and modifications to activities that address all learning needs and styles. My instruction is differentiated so that all students can experience success.
Finally, I recognize that being successful is fun! I want my students to enjoy Physical Education and physical activity. I want them to enjoy learning through and with movement. I know that personal enjoyment will probably go further towards establishing healthy active lifestyles than anything else I do. It is important to me that my teaching be positive, energetic and fun. Couple this with success and students can’t help but love Physical Education and physical activity.
I hear it almost weekly from the parents of my students: “My child (or children!) love PE!” “I wish I had PE like this when I was in school.” Of course it is always nice to hear such kind words, but my goal remains – to create healthy, active, life-long learners who contribute to their communities in positive ways. Kind words are not enough, success and learning for ALL students is what matters.