"It's the happiest time of the year..."

As you read this, many of you are no doubt experiencing the chill of winter, and perhaps already shoveling some snow from your driveway. Living in Virginia, I get those same "joys," but typically our snowfall doesn't really hit until after the start of the new year.

As I am writing this, we haven't quite made it to Thanksgiving, but the holiday commercials have already begun and the shopping malls are in full buying frenzy. My two children are, of course, highly anticipating the arrival of Jolly Old Saint Nick. and can pretty much tell you every item they have requested, right down to the serial number and battery requirements.

And while my children have an understanding of what the holiday season means, and why it is rewarding to be the gift giver, they are still much happier being the gift receiver! Come to think of it, being a gift receiver is a pretty good deal!

That got me thinking a bit about what "gifts" all of us as teachers would enjoy receiving. Wouldn't it be nice, for example, to feel like teaching wasn't a second-class occupation? How many of us would gladly never again hear the comment, "those that can…do, those that can't…teach" ever again. Wouldn’t it also be nice to hear more often from a parent, "you know, my son/daughter really enjoys your class, and my spouse and I can really see how much better shape he/she is in and how they enjoy being physically active at home."

And finally, wouldn't it be nice to have a student come back after several years to let you know that all your hard work paid off, and they finally understand what you were trying to teach.

Now, obviously I am being a bit facetious here, and I know many of you have already received some of these gifts I mentioned above, but think about some "gifts" you could share with your students, peer teachers, and school community. We all know it is better to give than to receive…well, at least everyone but my kids know!

Jon Poole
Secondary Section Editor

Physical education's goal is to help students find at least one activity they really enjoy, help them develop adequate skill to participate joyfully at least at a recreational level, an understanding of rules and strategies, the ability to participate safely, and an understanding of how to get started, how to continue to learn, and how to stay involved and persist across their lives. - Dr. Leslie Lambert

Core strength describes the strength that can be generated by the large muscle groups located in the hips, thighs, and torso that stabilize the body, which affects performance on the field and helps prevent injuries.

Think of core strength as the foundation of a building. A good building contractor would never build an expensive house on a cheap, substandard foundation. If he did, damage would occur at the weakest point, the foundation, which would be very expensive to repair and weaken the entire structure. A lack of core strength is the most prevalent cause of poor athletic performance and can cause chronic injuries.

- Dr. Mike Gentry Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Virginia Tech Co-author, "A Chance to Win: A Complete Guide to Physical Training for Football."

	The difference between functional fitness and the typical workout.
	Information - The most common exercise mistakes you may make at the gym. If you work out regularly or are just beginning a fitness program, how do you know you're getting the most from the time you spend at the gym?
	Increasing Core Strength, Part 1 & Part 2
	Core body strength exercises.
	Core Strength Ideas - for an advanced core workout. Exercise caution. There are more core strength exercises to be found at spine-health.com. Here are some great core exercises that can be taught in PE.

Winter Exercise Both Inside and Out

My lovely spouse receives more catalogs than any human being should be allowed to receive. This is, in part, because she buys so much via catalogs and on-line shopping! And while I can't, off the top of my head, find anything positive about that, it does provide some interesting reading on a cold winter afternoon/evening. You could, for example, spend several hundred dollars on undergarments for running or cross-country skiing outside during winter months. You could also spend ridiculous amounts of money on heated socks!

As well as I could tell, we are in possession of several sets of cross-country skis, downhill skis, snow shoes, plus all the clothing needed to participate outdoors (my lovely spouse even has little foot booties that cover her road cycling shoes during cool mornings). What this means, of course, is that healthy lifestyle physical activity does not end because the weather changes. Sure it means some extra clothing, but no one said living healthy was easy.

Remember, that "freshmen 15" ('they' talk about) is a function of college students eating too much dorm food and exercising too little, most notably during the winter months. One option, of course, is to follow the advice above and purchase outdoor exercise gear. The other option is to look inside, and figure out how to burn some calories and maintain some interest in your personal fitness.

I know many high school teachers who use these winter months as "dry land training" for skiing in their PE programs. Students complete fitness circuits, jump rope, lift weights, and mimic movements associated with skiing. Students enjoy the program because they see the fitness benefits, and teachers enjoy the program because they see the link to leading physically active lifestyles.

Many exciting opportunities are available during the year to enhance knowledge, pursue some passion, or simply to revive tired minds. These conferences & workshops will be here before we know it.

	Southern District, March 1-5, Virginia Beach, Virginia
	Central District, March 2-4, Broomfield, Colorado
	Eastern District, March 1-5, Hartford, Connecticut
	Northwest District, March 18-19, Seattle, Washington
	National AAHPERD& Southwest District Convention, April 25-29, Salt Lake City, Utah

It's Cool to Be Grounded - More and more teens are finding out that the calming, centering practice of yoga can help them find self-acceptance and confidence.

Health Benefits of Yoga - Why yoga exercise is good for you. Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Read more information on yoga from 'Go Ask Alice.'

How to Yoga - Lots material to explain various yoga techniques. Very good site. See also: Yoga, Health & Fitness for alot more information and resources.

YogaFinder - Tlargestges yoga directory on the internet. If you are looking for a yoga class in your area, this is a great place to look.

Teaching Circus Skills: Alternative Activities For The "Other" Children or Something Different To End Or Start Off The Year

We all understand that football, basketball, baseball (softball), soccer, & volleyball form the foundation of many athletic programs, and young people are often provided many opportunities to experience those sports in out-of-school settings. We also know that by the time they reach high school, many young people have decided that these traditional team sport activities are not for them. Perhaps it is a lack of some inherent motor abilities (that ol' "effort without much talent"), or the lack of sufficient motivation (that ol' "talent without much effort"). Either way we see young people turn away from physically active living and seek fulfillment elsewhere.

In physical education, that might mean a look at outdoor adventure activities such as day hiking, backpacking, canoeing, etc. Another area of interest, I believe, could be more non-traditional activities such as learning to juggle, ride unicycles, balance plates, walk on stilts, etc. Yes, I am suggesting we teach "circus skills."

All teaching majors at Radford University, for example, must show the skill of juggling scarves before they receive a passing grade in our senior teaching methods class. A bit silly perhaps, but it makes the point that we (as teacher educators) expect our students (who are future teachers) to have the skills needed to teach non-traditional activities.

Personally I believe we should embrace skate parks at local schools. Just think how impressed we are when we see really skillful performers, and just think how impressed parents and peer teachers might be if we put on a "show" (an annual performance) that showcased our students performing some of these non-traditional activities. One small group might share a jump rope routine they choreographed all spring; another might show basketball dribbling routines that mimic the Harlem Globetrotters. Another might share in-line skating or skateboarding skills.

The point isn't really the performance. Instead the point is that every young person enrolled in a junior high or high school has some physical skill they can embrace and enhance. It is partly our job to help them develop those skills, learn tperseverancence needed to practice, provide them support when they feel like they are failing, and finally, being there to slap them on the back when they succeed at meeting some minimal level of physical performance within which they can take pride.

Cheating at sport and games - All kids know about cheating. You might know someone who has cheated, you might know about someone who has cheated, or you might think about cheating or cheat sometimes yourself. So what does it mean?

Cheating on a drug test; Can it work? - Drug testing began a rapid period of growth in 1986 with a federal effort to establish a drug-free federal workplace. As drug testing has expanded, so has the effort to sell products to people wanting to cheat drug tests. Read some extreme (and humorous) methods people use to cheat on drug tests.

Check this out - The Global Drug Information Database. Before consuming any drug, substance or medication product, athletes should always check the DID for its WADA Prohibited List status.

Holiday Safety Tips - From Youth Crime Watch of America: These tips can help keep you, your friends, and your family safe throughout the chaos and fun of the holidays. Unfortunately crooks and criminals don't take a holiday at this time of year. Follow these guidelines to help steer clear of trouble.

Do the Holidays have you jumping through hoops? Don't let crime complicate matters. Try Holiday Personal Safety & Security Tips. Also, advice from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.