Ms. Clemmer's Learning Experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Over the past few weeks I have had the chance to learn a lot about the Health and Physical Education curriculum strand. Prior to beginning this course, I had observed numerous HPE classes at my PD site, but I did not realize the amount of planning and precautions that need to be taken before beginning to teach. The most important aspect of planning and instructing in HPE is ensuring that you are providing developmentally appropriate, safe, and inclusive games/activities for the students to try. Participating in HPE should be a fun time of the day for students, and allow them to show their skills in a different context. The research I conducted for this website allowed me to really understand how important HPE is to the entire development of students. Prior to this course I did not have the knowledge I now hold about the emotional, academic, social, and intellectual benefits of HPE. From the reading I did, I am not knowledgeable about why HPE (including DPA) should be included in each day of the school-week. I have taken this information and shared it with my AT, and we have come up with a plan to incorporate DPA into the daily schedule so that students are getting the heart rates going, and the brain working.

 

        I have learned a lot about various games and activities that can be incorporated into HPE which focus on the development of fundamental movement skills, through a games-based approach. At my PD site I find that the students really enjoy cooperative games and activities (in the primary grades especially) and would benefit from learning their FMS in this way. I intend to incorporate a range of games and activities into my HPE program (through my placement) using this strategy. This is in-line with 'teaching games for understanding' so that students can come to enjoy the games we play, while still learning the skills they need to master.

 

        Planning for HPE is an important factor for teachers to consider; equipment, facilities, rules, groups, etc., need to be planned based on the needs of the individual classroom. Teachers need to alter/adapt their lesson based on the students in the classroom, and what they require to be successful. In one classroom there may need to be adaptations to account for locomotor, sensory, or intellectual which may be different from the needs in another classroom.