Our growth in coming to understand the topic of Physical and Health education seems to be very similar. Like you, I was also mainly focused on the fitness aspect however throughout the course I came to also appreciate the other aspects that are involved as well. Although I was that physical competence, confidence, and motivation influence ones overall physical literacy due to a Physical literacy course I took last year, touching on this topic again really helped to solidify its importance. Ultimately if one of these components is missing, this has the potential to act as a significant barrier to ones involvement in engaging in physical activity and other health promoting activities affecting ones lifelong health and well-being. I think it is so exciting and motivating to know that as educators in this role, we hold a significant amount of power in addressing and promoting each of the components that make up ones physical literacy!
Response Post #7
I think your point about incorporating problem based learning to provide practice for dealing with conflict in the real world is a great point! I think this is certainly an aspect that should be focused on more especially in education. Putting theory to practice is a critical skill that ultimately defines one success in life. Exposing kids to real life challenges prepares them to have the tools to tackle any challenges they may face in the future and give them confidence to do so. I also like how you touched on the importance of encouraging students to ask questions and letting students explore and research the answers themselves rather than just giving answers right away. It will certainly help them develop their critical thinking skills and they will certainly remember and understand the information better. I hope to incorporate both of these suggestions into my own classroom one day to develop more well rounded and inquisitive students.
Response Post #6
I like your ideas related to inplementing the SSDL model within your teaching environment. Providing students with guidelines but the freedom to explore topics and create projects that align with their own interests and passions. This ensures that students will stay engaged as they get to dive into topics they are interested in learning more about. Getting students to present and lead activities on their topics is also a great idea so that can share their knowledge and passion with the rest of their classmates as they get to create something they are proud of and motivated to work on.
Allowing for independent learning also prepares students for the real world. Someone is not always there to hold your hand, so it is important that educators teach students from an early age to take initiative of their own learning and development, seeking opportunities to further their understanding and explore their interests.
Response Post #5
This post was one a I could really relate to. Physical literacy is certainly an integral stepping stone and crucial component to laying the foundation for giving one the confidence and confidence to partake in physical activity for life. I read an interesting by Sports for Life that discussed the importance of developing physical literacy in a wide range of environments. They emphasized how in exposing kids to a variety of activities in different spaces and playing fields as opposed to just the typical PE gym, this helps to support kids to get involved in diverse sports but also helps develop their skills to navigate other potential risks throuhout their lives. I completely agree with this statement as growing up my parents made sure to encourage me to participate in a variety of sports such as swimming, gymnastics, soccer, field hockey, basketball, skating, and track and field. Although I find myself specializing in soccer now, I believe that each of these activities taught me fundamental life skills that have certainly made me the player and athlete I am today. For example, track and field taught me proper running technique and developed my sprinting speed that directly transfers to my position as a striker. I completely align with what you said about how in specializing with a sport and playing at a high level, it gives you confidence that can be applied to other dimensions of your life too. For me, soccer is a big part of my life and makes up a significant portion of my identity and I find that I definitely lean on my sport and past accomplishments when other things in my life seem to be going wrong. It certainly gives me peace of mind to know that my ability as a soccer player can never be stripped away from me and like you said if something happens, at least I know that I am good at something. I would be interested to see what people feel is the biggest proponent to developing ones physical literacy. I think physical and health education programs are certainly major components in kickstarting ones physical literacy, and look forward to the influence I will be able to have on kids’ development pertaining to this topic as a future teacher myself!
Response Post #4
As someone who has grown up in the BC education program all my life, I am familiar with the BC curriculum however never really took the time to appreciate or understand the various components that comprise this comprehensive model. Just like you I am excited to work on applying these principles in my profession as an elementary school teacher and finding unique ways to meet the core competencies and big ideas expected of my students. I really liked how you touched on the fact that this model also has applications within coaching, and the sectors of health and wellness promotion working to develop various health skills to support students throughout their lives. In taking a holistic view, the BC curriculum has managed to provide something that can be applied in both the education world and beyond. I am curious to see the models that other provinces are using within their education systems and whether or not they are proving to be successful.
Check out the Alberta K-12 Curriculum and the Guiding Frameworks that They Use
Response Post #3
I also touched on the 24-Hour Movement behaviours model! I agree that it is a great way to highlight the importance of incorporating balance into ones daily routine. I wonder if there is a similar guideline that is more applicable to adults as I feel the older we get the more sedentary we become simply due to the professions we work in and activities we turn to in our free time. For example, at the end of a busy work week it is common for adults and parents to choose more relaxing activites such watching a good movie or going out for dinner and drinks with friends. However, kids tend to lean towards more physically active activities on the weekend such as going to play at the park with friends or going for a bike ride.
I also believe DPA is a great way to facilitate physical activity within the structured school day. I touched on this in my blog as well as this is a policy my elementary school teachers implemented at my school. At that age I did not neccessarily understand the reason for DPA other than the fact that it was an opportunity for my friends and I to beat the boys in soccer. However being in EPHE I have come to realize that the reason for this runs so much deeper than that.
Response Post #2
Really liked how you dove into the concept of early specialization in sport. This is a topic I can personally relate to as I have been a member on many different competitive sports teams and have witnessed friends who have suffered from specializing too early. Before graduating I played on our Island’s competitive rep soccer team run through PFC. This was a highly competitive team that travelled every second weekend to play teams on the mainland. I had the opportunity to join this team in Grade 7. However, my parents were very aware of the consequences, such as burnout and overuse injuries that were outlined in your post. Therefore, I ended up staying to play for my local Bays United Club team for the following 2 years before deciding to commit to playing at this high level in grade 9. Thank goodness I did as my friend who decided to commit during the first intake year was unable to play any middle school sports due to the demanding training schedule of the team. I remember her telling me many times that she was disappointed to be missing out on the experience of playing other middle school sports and felt like soccer was consuming all of her time. The year after I joined the team I also saw three of my teammates quit the team due to not enjoying the sport anymore and my friend who always aspired to play collegiate soccer is not involved in the sport at all. To this day I believe I would never have committed to playing University soccer either had I joined the team when my she did. I completely believe that the promotion of multi-sport participation is critical to facilitating individuals to develop a diverse range of athletic skills and capabilities to promote greater physical fitness along with reduce the risks of early specialization in sport.
Response Post #1
Glad to see someone else also recognizes that the sport-centric approach is a barrier preventing those who are less confident in competitive sporting environments from engaging in physical activity. Ultimately, it is these kids that we must cater our approaches to as it can be assumed that those who are not as athletically and competitively inclined are at a greater risk of discontinuing physical activity altogether. Providing an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive is integral in ensuring that those at risk continue to stay active without the pressure that comes with competitive sports. I also liked how you highlighted the connection that physical activity has on the mental health and well-being of individuals. I read an article published by the National Library of Medicine that echoed this very point. It found that over 3 years, kids who engaged in physically active lessons increased their academic performance by 6 percent, whereas those who learned in a more conventional and sedentary classroom environment saw their performance decrease by 1 percent. This is just one of many articles that continue to present evidence supporting the connection between physical activity and academic performance and completely agree that we must work to help educators become more knowledgable about the need for physical education. Have you considered ways in which we could do this?