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Welcome! Hi, I'm the new guy. Since I am new I feel like an introduction is warranted. My name is John Williams. I teach at Ayden Elementary School. It is a K-4 school in a small town rural area in eastern North Carolina. My main interest within the field of physical education is gymnastics. My biggest hobby right now is gathering and presenting information on the history of physical education and gymnastics. I have been married  24 years to the same wonderfully patient woman and have a 17 year old daughter who is an athlete, an honor student and the apple of her daddy's eye. We would like your input, so please feel free to email any of the section editors below to share comments, internet sites, ideas or more with us and the other professionals around the globe! Being as I'm the new kid on the block, I need all the help I can get. Thanks. John Williams Section Editor

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Here’s to the crazy ones. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.  The round pegs in the square holes.  The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,  disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.  Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward. Maybe they have to be crazy.  How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?  We make tools for these kinds of people.  While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. From: www.apple.com/thinkdifferent

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Thinking different I would like to encourage you to start taking some of the things you do in physical education and look at them with a different perspective. As adults we sometimes find this difficult because of all of the preconceived notions about things we do or should be doing. Children on the other hand don't have this standing in their way. They can take anything you throw at them and be creative and use it differently than it's intended use. So, start looking at some things from a child's point of view rather than the adults version of what a child's point of view should be. An example of this is something I do when I teach throwing and catching with K-1. Years ago (don't ask) before nerf and gatorskin balls, I noticed my younger students were afraid of a playground ball and spent more time chasing than throwing and catching. They would close their eyes and turn their heads while holding out their hands or just plain duck. Why? In asking, I found that most had older siblings who essentially used them for target practice. So, they came to the logical conclusion that these balls would hurt them. Not a bad conclusion - self preservation is a powerful instinct. In playing with my daughter about the same time I noticed something she was never afraid of. She would throw them, catch them, and never minded when she missed, if they hit her she might even giggle. Ding, ding, ding!!!! The bells went off and I gathered up all of the extra ones she never used and took them to school. What do you ask were these magic objects? ! Stuffed animals ! That's right! Now I use them for all of my K-1 classes to introduce throwing and catching before I move up to gator skin and foam balls, bean bags and playground balls. These are a non-threatening object that most children are familiar with. They will gladly reach out and try to catch them and never mind if it accidentally hits them in the face. If they drop it it doesn't roll or bounce away from them. So, now my students spend more time throwing and catching and less time chasing and ducking.  Try it, you'll like it.

 

Questions to Ask, or Thoughts to Share?

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From PE Central

PE Central Challenge Don't forget that the 2002 PEC Challenge is soon due! You will find all the information you need to join this motor skills challenge here.

Brain based research indicates that we, as physical educators, can be crucial in helping the development of the whole child. One of the key areas is in critical thinking skills. Here are a few lessons on creative games that might help. Creative Games #1-uses creativity and cooperation Creative Games #2- uses creativity, cooperation and deductive reasoning. Includes a printable worksheet Creative Games #3- continuation of #1 and #2 using familiar items. Pictures at the bottom Creative Games #4- 4th lesson in the series with unfamiliar objects. Pictures are included. Creative Games- games created by students.

 

Sites for All

Are you a Layered Curriculum Teacher? Kathie Nunley's Layered Curriculum help and information. Layered Curriculum is the practical solution for teachers with more than one student in their classroom. This easy-to-implement teaching method accommodates a mixed-ability student population, encourages higher levels of thinking and holds students accountable for their own learning.   Miscellaneous Still want something different? What about learning how to jump rope but, without the rope? Try this lesson using odd items that encourage your students to learn the skills necessary to become better jumpers. Included are directions on how to make two of the objects needed. Oddball Jump Rope Stations

Contribute YOUR Ideas

If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Elementary PE Section Editors:

	Gerry Cernicky
	John Williams
	Tom Winiecki
	Marina Bonello