Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
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SPARK is a research-based program of San Diego State University Research Foundation (disseminated by School Specialty, Inc.) dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness.
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
1y ago
What are standards and why are they a critical component of physical education? Standards establish well-defined and measurable objectives that encompass the skills and knowledge that students need in order to maintain a healthy and physically-active lifestyle. Standards provide consistency and guidance to teachers in developing programs, and when assessing grade-level outcomes, provide evidence of effective instruction. Standards-based assessment communicates evidence of student progress to students and parents, and provides accountability and transparency to administrators on program effica ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
1y ago
Teaching students can be a joy, but each day can present different challenges. You’ll require a certain set of skills to handle these day-to-day tasks, with communication being one of the most important for any teacher. How can PE teachers communicate more effectively with their students?
Any instructional communication requires a specific tone, and especially for younger students, it can feel frustrating when they don’t do what you ask them to do. You also need to be available for questions for most of the school day – this is a unique challenge that comes with working with students, and as s ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
1y ago
As a teacher, you only have your students for a short amount of time each day, but your influence can last a lifetime. The start of the school year is the best time to begin modeling positive behaviors and encourage healthy habits in students. Here are some things to think about sharing with students in your classes.
Be the leader they need.
If you’ve never particularly considered yourself a leader before, it’s time that you started. By refining your leadership skills, you can showcase many ideals, such as integrity, motivation, and respect. Remember, being a great leader means doing the thing ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
1y ago
We are in the season of summer camps and group activities and it is a time for fun and games for kids of all ages. I thought this would be a good time to share some strategies for youth leaders who may not have the same experience working with kids as physical education teachers do. Although all of these strategies are helpful to teachers as well!
Maintaining Appropriate Behavior
When providing activities for kids the goal is to maintain appropriate behavior so everyone has a fun and enjoyable experience. The goal is to build a community where kids feel safe, are able to take risks, try new th ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
1y ago
Everyone should think about their own mental health, just like they do for their physical health. Students, as well as teachers, can use some extra support to maintain good mental health. Anxiety and depression are surprisingly common in children, and the rates have increased over time. But despite the statistics, many schools do not have adequate resources to address the mental health needs of their students.
This is where teachers have an opportunity to step in. Teachers are in a unique position to support the mental health of their students. They see their students every day, so they get to ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
2y ago
Think back to your elementary P.E. class. Did you learn about your physical health, mental health, or social health? More importantly, did you learn about WHY you need to take care of your health? If you did, that’s amazing! Unfortunately, most of us did not have that experience. According to many research studies, early health education can have a positive impact in preventing chronic diseases and improving health outcomes for children and adolescence. The CDC states “providing health education as early as possible can help youth to develop positive well-being, academic success, and healthy o ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
2y ago
According to this guide on current health and wellness trends, workplace wellbeing refers to “the ability to feel supported and valued in the workplace, and to be professionally content”. It’s important to promote wellness in the workplace and amongst staff to not only support their personal well-being but also their performance in the workplace.
Focusing on wellness in the workplace can:
Increase productivity
Reduce burnout
Reduce staff turnover
Improve morale
Decrease the stress of staff
Create a positive environment
Neglecting the mental and physical health of your staff ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
2y ago
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing good eating and physical activity habits. National Nutrition Month® started in 1973 as National Nutrition Week, and it became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing interest in nutrition.
Some PE teachers have the opportunity to teach health classes along with their PE classes, others try to integrate nutrition concepts into their PE lessons as they do not have ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
2y ago
Think about how you feel when you are outdoors enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and being active – Open-air living. Regardless of the activity choice, we all feel better when we spend adequate time outdoors. Scandinavian countries have their own term when referring to the benefits of outdoor education and Open-air living – Filuftsliv. Many people worldwide, believe strongly that enjoying nature through outdoor activities without disturbing or destroying the environment promotes well-being. Research indicates that Norway Kindergarten children spend up to 70% of their ti ..read more
Spark PE | Physical Education Curriculum
2y ago
The world changed in early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, and countries struggled to respond effectively to reduce transmission, disease, and death. One of the many aspects of life affected was physical activity. Across the globe, efforts to promote social distancing directly affected physical activity of youth by closing schools, which affected physical activity opportunities including physical education, recess, after-school sports and activities, and walking and biking to school. All in-person recreation was closed, including youth sports, dance, martial arts, and exercise classes. I ..read more