After receiving my undergraduate degree in 1995, from an excellent physical education teaching program, I was motivated to teach quality physical education. I wanted to make a difference for all of my students.

Within my first five years I realized I needed curricular help. During this time I had read curricular books, had attended various conferences and presentations, had talked to peers and mentors, but I still felt adrift in the sea of curricular choices and progressions. I wanted to know what specifically I should be teaching my students. Today, I’ve found the simple solution: Teaching to standards.

In 2001, I joined the Washington State Health and Fitness Grade Level Content Expectations Team that had the task of developing and implementing standards throughout the state of Washington. This committee was formed in part because of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. The timing could not have been more appropriate.

To myself, and to my peers, whether in side-talk conversation or when presenting, I continually voice the charge of standards-based education reform: Physical educators should be teaching what students should know and be able to do. Our state and national standards (should) guide what students should know and be able to do.

Since 2001, I have attended sessions, discussed, developed, and presented on standards-based education. Under NCLB we continually heard about professional educational challenges: the need for academic integration, having too many students, and not enough teaching time. In response, I developed a powerful solution: The Puzzlewise™ PE/Health Program. The Puzzlewise™ PE/Health Program prepares students to increase their fitness and health literacy, while meeting both national and various state standards.

Specifically what is Puzzlewise? Puzzlewise is a standards-based 5th grade physical education and health student workbook containing a variety of interdisciplinary activities that integrate physical education, health, reading, and writing.

The Puzzlewise™ series is aligned with both National NASPE and Health Standards, along with various state standards such as California, New York, Texas, Washington and others. Puzzlewise™ PE/Health books feature 16 three-page article lessons, five pre- and post-fitness assessments, five skill challenges, five assessments, and six classroom-based teaching activities that help kids rapidly increase their physical education, fitness, and health knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

This 2nd Edition book builds health and PE literacy, vocabulary, grade-level fitness skills, and features:

• A yearlong supplemental program that inspires students to WANT to learn (It’s FUN and kids love it)
• 13 crossword puzzles that build PE and Health vocabulary
• 16 application pages with assessment-like questions
• Students build and reinforce logical reasoning, critical thinking, and peer collaboration and communication
• Pre- and post-fitness assessments
• Teacher guide, student/parent contract, answer keys

Key Elements of the PuzzleWise™ Program:

• What teachers like:
   • Constant review and constant preview of grade level skills
   • Students understand and apply concepts and procedures
   • Students communicate knowledge and understanding
   • Students develop critical thinking skills
   • Students share problem-solving strategies with peers
   • Students learn to reason logically and make connections
   • Teachers facilitate students’ self-motivated development
   • Parents get involved, improving the school – home connection

The Puzzlewise™ PE/Health program helps me to teach what a child should know, and be able to do, in both the physical education and the health classroom. It’s a standards-based program designed to specifically develop your student’s physical education and health literacy. Teachers in grades 3-6 can use this 5th grade workbook and within the next few years books for other grade levels will be published. A sample lesson from this program can be viewed HERE (get answer key).

(For more information on the Puzzlewise™ PE/Health program please contact Dan Persse ( dcpersse@gmail.com). Dan was the 2008 NW District Elementary Teacher of the Year. He currently teaches physical education at Blaine Elementary School – http://www.blaine.k12.wa.us/bes/bespe/)

(pelinks4u home)