| HOLIDAY
GREETINGS FROM PELINKS4U
This September, we began our 7th year as an  online
professional journal. What started as a simple page of links for
undergraduate PE majors has grown into a monthly publication viewed
by more than 2100 readers daily. PELINKS4U now includes seven separate
sections, each one focused on the special interests of teaching
and coaching professionals. Responsible for PELINKS4U are more than
30 volunteer editors from universities and public schools nationwide.
And "PE News," our emailed digest of PELINKS4U information
is currently being distributed to nearly 18,000 readers monthly.
It's been another year of growth, and this month we'd like to highlight
some PELINKS4U features that might be new to you. For those already
familiar with the PELINKS4U format, thanks again for your ongoing
support and for sharing information about our publication with your
students and colleagues.
Physical Education Monthly News Update
Visiting the "News" section on our home page updates you
on what's happening each month in the PE world. It's a great way
to stay current with news about grants, fund raising, awards, special
events, health data, teaching tips and resources, NASPE news, surveys,
and much more. Only PELINKS4U offers this comprehensive monthly
news resource for teaching professionals!
Professional Calendar
At the bottom of our News section (and featured in the top menu
bar), is a link to our NEW professional calendar. This year we revised
the format and added several useful new features. Most importantly,
YOU can now add events to the calendar! If you organize events,
or present your own workshops, please be sure to add these activities
to the calendar. Adding events is easy (once you've done it!) and
there's a link if you do need help. The PELINKS4U calendar can be
searched by event, presenter, date, location, etc. Please make use
of the calendar by adding events and letting your colleagues know
about the calendar.
PELINKS4U's Top Menu Bar
At the top of every page are several tabs and links that new readers
sometimes miss. Clicking one of the top tabs takes you directly
to one of our seven section pages. The pages are set up to open
in new windows.
Below the top series of tabs are four more tabs to additional PELINKS4U
features. The first tab entitled "PE Links" opens a window
that lists approximately 20 separate pages. These pages contain
dozens of links to web sites of professional interest. We try to
update these regularly and are selective about the web sites featured.
The next tab is to the "NASPE Forum" described in detail
below. The tab to the "PE Store" takes you to a location
where you can order "No child left on their behind" buttons
and shirts, national standards clipboards, and also to a series
of instructional videos featuring many of the professional leaders
in physical education teaching. The final of these four tabs, "Contact
Us" provides an easy way for you to contact us with feedback,
questions, and suggestions.
Below these tabs, on the left side is a link entitled, "Submit
idea or
experience." We recently added this link to highlight our interest
in
reader contributions. The quality of PELINKS4U depends on reader
support and your willingness to share teaching ideas and experiences.
We invite all readers to share news and information with PELINKS4U
colleagues. Next to this tab in the middle of the page is a click
down
menu to our many other "links" pages. Finally, there's
a link to our
professional calendar on the right of the menu bar.
NASPE Forum
PELINKS4U, in cooperation with NASPE, now hosts the "NASPE
Forum." This forum was designed to compliment the NASPE Talk
listserv. While the listserv is well suited for daily messages and
questions, ongoing conversations, debates, and information storing
are better located on the forum. Rather than constantly revisit
topics on the listserv, the forum offers a one-stop record of discussion
in an easy-to-follow format. The forum frees the listserv from repetitive
messages and discussions - an obstacle that deters many teachers
from joining listservs.
The NASPE Forum is organized by sections, each of which offers
readers the chance to post or respond to messages. Another great
feature, once you complete the free subscription to the forum, is
the ability to receive e-mail notification of any messages added
to a section that interests you. We invite you to visit the NASPE
Forum and discover its potential to address issues of personal interest.
PELINKS4U Sections and Section Editors
As noted earlier, the sections posted on PELINKS4U are the work
of a wonderful group of volunteer editors from schools and universities
in North America. Most sections have four editors, each person taking
a turn to prepare the section every 4 months. Recently, we've been
attempting to change the focus of PELINKS4U. When we started we
mostly pointed out other web-based resources that we found interesting.
Today, we are trying to increase the number of original contributions
from our editors and readers.
We are also trying to limit the size of each section so that the
ideas shared do not become overwhelming. The names of our editors
are included on each section page and you are welcome to contact
them with questions and ideas for future articles. We believe that
all readers have experiences that others could learn from, and encourage
your contributions. We also are very thankful for our volunteer
section editors. Please consider thanking them if you enjoy their
sections.
PE News Subscription Box
One of our goals is to broaden an awareness of the information available
through PELINKS4U. Although you are probably already subscribed
to receive the monthly e-mailed "PE News" many of your
colleagues are not. We estimate that there are probably more than
400,000 health and physical education teachers nationwide. We are
pleased that 18,000 currently receive PE News, but clearly there's
a long way to go to get everyone more professionally connected.
Please help us out by inviting your colleague to subscribe through
the PE News subscription box on the home page. There's no cost,
it's only a once-a-month mailing, and we don't share our list with
anyone! Also, if you teach in a professional preparation program
have your students subscribe. It's a great way of starting them
out professionally connected.
Book Reviews and Book Reviewers
Each month PELINKS4U tries to feature a review of a professional
publication. You can find these reviews on our "Book Review"
page link on our main home page. These reviews are conducted by
independent, volunteer reviewers - readers like you - willing to
read a book and craft a detailed review. In return, our reviewers
get to keep the book they review. If you are an avid reader and
- more importantly - can meet deadlines and provide us with a quality
review, please contact us. We are always looking for reliable and
conscientious book reviewers.
New and Continuing Site Sponsors
PELINKS4U is a non-profit organization affiliated with Central Washington
University's Foundation. We are fortunate to receive wonderful university
support for computing, web page building, and page production. Additional
expenses for equipment and various promotional activities are supported
by PELINKS4U Site Sponsors. There's a list of site sponsors on our
home page, together with logos linked to the site sponsor web sites
on all pages. PELINKS4U is extremely grateful to our site sponsors.
If you enjoy our publication we encourage you to show your appreciation
by supporting the sponsors whose contributions make PELINKS4U possible.
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