Connection
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Back to school with the 2020 National Teachers of the Year By Larissa Brickach
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elected from an impressive group of state and district Teacher of the Year award recipients, SHAPE America’s National Teachers of the Year represent the “best of the best” in health and physical education. Here they share what “back to school” looks like for them in 2020 — and offer their top tips for getting through the upcoming year. For all, the key will be making meaningful connections with students in whatever way possible.
“If I was to say what the silver lining has been – especially with my elementary students – it is that I have parents who never knew what their child could do and what was challenging for their child, other than what they learned in an annual meeting,” says Chase. “Now they’re having the opportunity to play with their children and see what their child can do. They can motivate them and do the physical activities with them – and that’s pretty inspiring to see.”
Adapted Physical Education
CINDI’S TOP TIPS:
Cindi Chase Vintage Hills Elementary (CA) @ChaseCindi
Although Vintage Hills Elementary is her primary school, adapted physical education specialist Cindi Chase actually teaches at four schools in California’s Pleasanton Unified School District — including the middle school and high school. So, when her school district began the new academic year on August 11 using distance learning, Chase was able to connect with her students in multiple grade levels. “It was exciting to see the faces of my middle school students joining in on my Zoom class. I shared our class agenda and we performed our routine warm-up along with a dance. I taught two of my secondary classes and then connected with my elementary special day class (SDC) teachers to help coordinate my APE schedule with theirs.” While last spring was more of a “dress rehearsal” for distance learning — In this video, APE specialist Cindi Chase teaches since students her students a beginner activity for crossing the were encouraged midline in a sitting position. to turn in work and complete tests but grades could not be lowered — in the new school year everything is more formalized. “I am working to set up class time with everyone, which will include teaching the whole class, small groups, and one-on-one,” says Chase. “We are expected to fulfill IEP requirements for every student, work on progress on goals, and test and assess students.” Chase will offer live on-campus assessment testing for parents who prefer it, or test through Zoom or FlipGrid as needed. 12
Momentum • Fall 2020
• Create a supportive class community where all students feel welcome to learn and successfully participate with respect, empathy, and trust for everyone. • Create routines — from the warm-up routine to the agenda to the structure of the lesson plan. Incorporate a lot of visuals to help students know what to expect. This is especially important for students with autism. • Communicate to students using multiple learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic). • Find a way to make a connection with each one of your students. This requires more effort and intention in a remote setting, as well as when you are in person, yet restricted.
Dance Education Christine Kiernan Fisher Eastern Guilford Middle School (NC) @chriskfish
Students and teachers at Eastern Guilford Middle School began the new school year remotely, but dance educator Christine Kiernan Fisher is looking forward to teaching “live” — even if it’s still virtual rather than in school. She can’t wait to connect with her students in the moment. “Now, more than ever, I am thrilled to be teaching anything that gets students up and out of their seats to move their bodies,” says Fisher. “I am proud to be In this video, dance educator Christine Fisher, joined part of an activity by her husband, provides instruction as part of a that is helping remote learning unit called “Back Deck Ballet.”
to maintain relationships in the home. I heard from so many students that their family members were dancing with them!” As Fisher explains, dance education has many benefits which are especially important for students’ social-emotional growth and well-being. “Dance celebrates diversity, builds self-esteem, and encourages camaraderie,” says Fisher. “It’s also the perfect place to reinforce 21st-century skills because they are built right into the curriculum! It teaches students to make meaning (think critically) and solve problems creatively — and collaboration is always key.” CHRISTINE’S TOP TIPS: • Nothing can replace you the teacher. Showing up, going live, and having interactions are most important right now. We all know that there are a ton of resources to be shared but personalize it and make it yours — your students want to be with you, the person they know! • Share and collaborate with your colleagues. We have an opportunity to build resources for one another that will complement our teaching when we return to face-to-face learning. • Be gentle and prioritize comfort and connection. Students are way harder on themselves than we think. Respect boundaries and allow students to learn in a way that is productive for them. They may not be comfortable with their camera on at home. Find ways you can support them individually. • Manage your class online the way you would in the classroom, by building mutually respectful relationships. Give them freedom to make choices. There are no mute buttons or remote controls in our classroom in real life, so don’t use them online either. Set your expectations and your students will meet them!
Health Education Jessica Napier Lee County Middle High School (KY) @NapierJess
After teaching health and physical education to grades 6-9 for the past 18 years, Jessica Napier is now stepping into an administrative role as assistant principal at Lee County Middle High School. School began in August following an all-virtual model, but with several modifications in place from last spring. Teachers have received training on several new platforms and are prepared to use various methods of instruction. In addition, students will be held more accountable. “We have ensured that every student in our district has a device to use at home,” says Napier. “For those with no internet connectivity, we have also put lessons and assignments on a USB flash drive to be used on their school-issued device.
These will be picked up and dropped off weekly. The importance of meeting the needs of each student has remained the same, as well as meal delivery and weekly check-ins either by phone or video.” Looking ahead, Napier is most concerned for students’ mental, social and emotional health, but says the National Health Education Standards can empower students when taught within a strong skills-based health education curriculum. “Health educators hold a valuable, much-needed skill set that our students cannot go without,” says Napier. “The quality of their lives depends on it.” JESSICA’S TOP TIPS: • Connection. Connection. Connection. Students need connection to teachers now more than ever. I highly suggest communicating with them face-to-face as much as possible either via live group meetings or live individual meetings. Spend some of that time getting to know your students while also allowing them to express their needs. • If you have students without internet access, call them on the phone or share videos of yourself that they can watch without being connected. Let them hear In this Self-Management Unit, health educator your voice and see Jessica Napier addresses topics such as mask your face as much wearing, hand washing, social distancing, and more. as possible. Find a way to connect with all your students in meaningful ways. • Prioritize health education skills that focus on communication and mental/emotional health. Students across the nation are experiencing isolation and stress they have never dealt with before so now is an opportune time to put those skills into practice.
Elementary PE William Potter Serendipity School (CA) @MrWillPE
Will Potter — known as “Mr. Will” to his preK-5 students — has been teaching elementary physical education at Serendipity School since 2005. The school began the new year with 100% distance learning, but once in-person instruction resumes, (continued on next page) Fall 2020 • Momentum
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C O N N E C T I O N B E F O R E C O N T E N T (continued) they will also provide synchronous and asynchronous virtual instruction for students whose families have elected to keep them home. “Last spring I threw massive amounts of content at my students during distance learning,” says Potter. “Starting in early August, I began to look at my program and really focus what my goals were. By becoming more precise with my outcomes and expectations, I am hopeful that my students will learn and grow more efficiently during this round of distance learning.” Potter worked with his administration to stretch his budget and purchase bags of equipment for each of his students. “Students will have their ‘go bags’ at home when we are required to be distance learning, allowing equity of access and making my job easier because of uniformity of equipment,” says Potter. “When we return to inperson learning, students will keep their bag Elementary physical educator Will Potter shares with them at resources, printable activities, and downloadable their desk and content for teachers and parents on his website. then bring it to their designated outdoor learning space. I also packed a bag for myself that will include the same equipment for demonstrations.” WILL’S TOP TIPS: • Be kind. Not just to others but also to yourself. It sounds simple, but we are all struggling to overcome this situation and do what is best for our students. • Remember that connection comes before content. No matter what instructional model you are using, time spent connecting with your students is never wasted. They want to know you care, and the more you can show them that they matter to you, the better. • When I go back to in-person teaching I will be wearing a mask, so to make sure my students can see my face I will wear a photo badge with my smiling face on it. That way my students can see who I am underneath the mask. • Consider the concept of honoring failure. I always ask my students: “What’s your favorite mistake?” Calling it a favorite mistake changes your mindset to focus on what you learned from the experience or how you grew from it. When I reflect on my teaching practice at the end of a week, I also write about these for myself. Now looking back, I can see how I have grown and improved as a teacher.
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Momentum • Fall 2020
Middle School PE Todd Stoddard Mashpee Middle High School (MA) @StoddardPhysEd
After spending the last four years at Lakeridge Middle School in Lake Oswego, OR — where he helped develop a standards-based physical education program — Todd Stoddard recently moved across the country with his family to Mashpee, MA, where he will be a wellness teacher for grades 7-8. The school will begin the new year using a hybrid model where students are split into two cohorts: Cohort A will learn in person for one week while cohort B uses distance learning. The next week, the cohorts will switch, with cohort A learning from home and cohort B coming to school. “As a teacher, I am expected to create one lesson that I will teach to my in-person learners while my distance learners follow along synchronously just as if they were in the building with me,” says Stoddard. To make this method of instruction as engaging as possible for all his students, Stoddard is modifying most of his lessons and activities using Pear Deck, which will make his Google Slides interactive and allow his distance learners to respond to class discussions, share their opinions, and interact in real time with their in-person classmates.” “I am hoping this will help build a positive classroom culture where all my students can get to know one another and work with each other, regardless of which cohort they are a part of,” says Stoddard. TODD’S TOP TIPS: • Focus on the students and their experience during these strange times. While we as teachers are under tremendous amounts of stress, this year should be about each student’s educational experience. • Check in with students regularly and do everything possible to support them. If students are feeling frustrated, anxious, or disconnected it can lead to them developing negative feelings toward school and education in general. • Join Twitter and start following all the amazing HPE professionals out there! There are so many talented people in our profession who are willing to share activities, resources, and advice — or who will just act as a sounding board for you as you think through your own planning.
High School PE Brian Hull Bruce Randolph High School (CO) @BrianHullPE
For physical educator Brian Hull, the new school year began 100% virtually — with live, synchronous teaching on Zoom. Hull was ready for this possibility and feels more prepared for distance learning than he was last spring. “I have made many modifications from last year,” says Hull. “I will have daily Do Now forms and Exit Ticket forms for my students to complete via Google Forms and Pear Deck. Also new this year, I will have my students complete weekly activity logs and weekly heart rate monitor reflections.” Hull worked hard to secure heart rate monitors for each of his students to use at home. After each physical activity session, they will be able to upload their workouts so Hull can give them feedback. He also plans to incorporate many of the health standards into his lessons and activities while teaching virtually. “When we go back to in-person instruction, in order to make social distancing feasible and make my lessons safe, I plan to do a lot of units that relate to the net/wall and classes resume in-person, high school physical target games units in Until education teacher Brian Hull will teach on Zoom the TGFU model, using a virtual classroom to engage with students. such as badminton, pickleball, archery, biking, wellness walking, and individual fitness activities,” says Hull. A huge fan of routine, Hull makes his teaching and learning environment as predictable as possible — and his students thrive on that predictability. Those routines will continue to be important in the months ahead. “The future is very unpredictable for all of us,” says Hull. “We all need to breathe and realize everything will be okay. Our students just need to see us!” BRIAN’S TOP TIPS: • You need to be prepared — therefore, take your planning seriously! If you have a good lesson plan coming into a live lesson, there are great chances you will be very organized as well! We must all be organized and have our lessons internalized during these challenging times. This is very difficult for all of us! • This is a challenging time for all of us — so remember that nobody has ever done this before! There is no right way or wrong way to whatever approach you decide to take, whether you are doing remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. • Consider prioritizing certain standards during the lesson planning process and of course, think of your students and what is best for them.
ToyTalk Tuesday is a biweekly series of interviews about topics in health and physical education from SHAPE America’s Teacher of the Year Partner Network. Each episode features tips and actionable resources from SHAPE America’s National and District Teachers of the Year. EPISODE 1
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Social-Emotional Learning Presenters: Allisha Blanchette 2020 Midwest District Health Education Teacher of the Year Jessica Napier 2020 National Health Education Teacher of the Year
Key Standards During Hybrid or Remote Learning Experiences Presenters: Todd Stoddard 2020 National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Amber McLane 2020 Eastern District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year LaDonda Porter 2020 Southern District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Daniel Tennessen 2020 Midwest District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year
EPISODE 2 Building Relationships & Connections During Hybrid/ Remote Learning Presenters: Will Potter 2020 National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Megaera Regan 2020 Eastern District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Adam Metcalf 2020 Midwest District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year
EPISODE 3 Adapted Physical Education and School Reentry Presenters: Ashlie Beavers 2020 Southern District Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Cindi Chase 2020 National Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Jennifer Hill 2020 Eastern District Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year
EPISODE 5 Best Practices: Teaching Health and Physical Education With Physical Distancing in a Virtual Setting Presenters: Brian Hull 2020 National High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Allison Relyea 2020 Eastern District High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Eric Davolt 2020 Western District High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year
Subscribe to SHAPE America’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss an episode. Fall 2020 • Momentum 1 5