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WALK A MILE IN THEIR
SHOES...
As physical educators most of us had a broad and successful childhood
experience with sports, exercise, and physical activity. Most
would agree that this type of background would be an advantage when
teaching physical education. I would like to consider some
ways that having a successful background with sports and movement
could be a disadvantage when teaching physical education.
Athletic children rarely experience complete frustration and/or
failure at sports or recreational activities. As a result,
athletic teachers may be impatient or unsympathetic with 'slow'
learners. We need to remember that some students may need
more time, practice, or modifications to be successful.
Athletic children rarely feel embarrassed to try a new motor skill
because they have the underlying ability to accomplish most physical
tasks. To empathize with unathletic students, I sometimes
have my undergraduate PE majors come to the front of the room
and model a tennis backhand for the class. Then I have another
student sing a song for the class. We then discuss the anxiety
and frustration that people feel when they are asked to complete
a task that they cannot perform or that they perceive as very difficult.
Let me suggest four ways for you and your athletic students to gain
a different perspective:
- To simulate obesity, wear a heavy body suit, hand weights,
or ankle weights while participating in physical activities.
- To simulate vision problems, wear a blindfold or an eye-patch
while engaging in physical activities.
- To simulate mobility problems, sit in a wheelchair while
participating in physical activities.
- To simulate coordination problems, use your non-dominant
hand while engaging in physical activities.
Bart Cagle
Coaching Section Editor
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Check out healthtouch.com
for use as an on-line resource guide for information on topics
such as medications, health, diseases, vitamins and supplements.
The health area contains many topics from A-Z, such as exercise
and health, depression and suicide, and drugs and alcohol.
The format is fun and age appropriate for high school students.
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One of the best secondary PE programs has added something new
to its website. La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin has
added PE web-quizzes for its students. This was selected as
a blue-ribbon best practice by PE CENTRAL. Web-quizzes
allow students to measure their knowledge of sports, activities,
and fitness using the internet.
The web-quizzes cover a variety of physical activities including
dance, soccer, football, frisbee, track and field, gymnastics and
more. Upon completion of the quiz, the student can email it
to the teacher.
Another activity for students at this website include activity web-sheets.
This is a cognitive-based homework assignment where students use
another resource-based website to answer questions regarding physical
activities and sports. Students can email the assignments
to their teacher when finished.
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ORIENTEERING
This website features many activities for the beginning hiker
or person involved in orienteering. Some of the links include
using a compass, compass/map interaction, and a picture gallery.
This site also has specific learning activities for high-school
aged students. Check this out for more information on this
great outdoor activity.
SI FOR KIDS
One of the best features of Sports Illustrated for kids is the
ability to search for articles relating to sports, athletes, and
other sport-related information. This could be used as extra-credit
or make-up work and it also reinforces the concept that reading
is important. Students may be more motivated to read if
the content is interesting to them.
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| If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or
questions about particular topics, please email one of the following
Secondary Section Editors: |
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WEIGHT-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG ADOLESCENTS
This article,
which was published in the February 2002 edition of Pediatrics
and Adolescent Medicine, describes the weight-related concerns
and behaviors in a population-based sample of adolescents and compared
these results against the subjects' gender and weight status.
One of the most surprising results from
this study involved the extreme weight control practices of overweight
adolescent boys and girls. The weight control practices that
were considered extreme included: taking diet pills, laxatives,
or diuretics or vomiting. The study indicated that 18 percent
of overweight girls and 6 percent of overweight boys reported using
one or more of these extreme weight control practices.
As physical educators we need to be aware of the emotional as well
as the physical burden of obesity. Most overweight adolescents
are seeking solutions to their obesity and the physical education
program should be set up to encourage and assist these students.
SHAPE UP
As mentioned in my previous edition, I want to continue an examination
into another component of the website shapeup.org. The link
that will be examined in this issue is the Bodyfat Lab.
In the section, students can learn the value of knowing and tracking
their percent of body fat. This section also includes basic
terms, a body fat I.Q. quiz, several measurement tools, and ways
to take action.
Check out this section for a great teaching supplement on the subject
of body composition.
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Questions to Ask, or
Thoughts to Share?
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| Looking for an activity for your PE program so that you can take
advantage of the warm spring weather? Then take a look at
thebackpacker.com .
This website is a good place to start if you are considering a unit
of hiking, outdoor adventures, or backpacking. There are several
valuable sections which include beginners, gear, trails, pictures,
place, links, and articles regarding hiking. |
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