Happy Holidays!

Well, it is just before the break. We have been busy doing all sorts of stuff. We just wrapped up our basketball unit. I thought it went pretty good. We were able to cover some solid basic skills. We also mixed in a few semi competitive games here and there. Dribble tag was a big hit, as well as all of our shooting games.

This week we are taking some time for some large group activities. We are trying to burn off a little of this newly found holiday energy, but it's tough. These guys and girls are sure pumped up for the break!

When we get back we will be jumping head first into our dance and rhythms unit. It should be a fun one. We will be teaching your little ones all sorts of dances and movement activities! After all, we have to get them ready for the Sock Hop!! Yes, the Sock Hop. It will take place January 31st during school hours! It should be a blast!! We will most likely be looking for some parent volunteers to help out. If you are interested shoot one of us an e-mail!

thanks, and have a healthy and safe Holiday Season!!
Coach Jones

Just after Thanksgiving!

Just 3 weeks until the holiday break! This past week we started up a new unit with all grade levels- Basketball!! So far this unit has been a ton of fun. The kids always love this unit. Obviously, are adjusting the content to be age appropriate for each grade level. We are going to try to keep it simple:

1- Dribbling
2- Passing
3- shooting
4- some basic strategy (for the older students)

We even invented our very own shooting game. The 4th and 5th graders have tried it...and they all seem to love it. Ask them about it. Ask them how in the world do you incorporate decks of playing cards into shooting basketballs. It is a blast!

Thanks for all the support for the PE program!

Just Before Thanksgiving...

Fitness testing is finally over, and now we are moving on. We gave the students a couple of days of fun large group games before starting up our next units. Up next is....well, some different things depending on what grade you child is in.

K & 1st Grade:

We are continuing with basic skills. We are working on striking. We have been working with tennis rackets, hockey sticks, and wiffle ball bats. The kids have really been doing some great work. We have been doing some small group/station work, and the students are really showing some great improvement in their skill!

2nd & 3rd Grade:

I know that fitness testing is over, but fitness never stops. We have been going through a series of fitness mini-units. Mrs. Lawson took us through 2 days of yoga! It was really cool. The kids really seemed to like it. Next up I am in the process of taking the kids through some dynamic movement exercises. Ask them to show you the Frankenstein or the knee hug. They are really having a good time with it!

Our next mini unit is going to be tae bo. Although, we are waiting for our tae bo for kids video to come in! We ordered it about 12-13 days ago. Hopefully it will come in in time. If not we will save that for after the Thanksgiving break!

4th & 5th Grade:

Everybody's favorite...Flag Football!! Of course we modified the game a bit, but the 4th and 5th graders are really enjoying themselves! We are playing in small teams (6-7 players) so they are able to get a bunch of play in!

Thanksgiving break is just around the corner. We hope you have an awesome few days with your children. Look for another PE update after the break!!

Thanks for all the support,
Coach Jones

Wrapping up fitness testing

We have been finishing up our fitness testing over these last few days. We were able to test all the 2nd -5th graders on the following fitness tests:

Sit and Reach
Pacer
Curl-ups (abdominal crunches)
Pull-ups (or if they weren’t able to perform a pull up they could do a flexed arm hang)
Trunk lift

For a complete explanation of these tests you can visit the fitness gram web site by clicking HERE.

Since the students have been working so hard on their fitness tests we have decided to let them have a little fun for a few days. Over the next few days in PE we will be playing some large group games. Now, these large group games are a blast for the students, but while they are playing they are reinforcing many different PE concepts through their play.

As for the K & 1 students- they have been steadily working on our basic skills of throwing, catching, and kicking. Up next is striking! That should be a ton of fun. We will be working with everything from hockey sticks to tennis racquets!

Thanks for the support for PE!!

Getting Ready for Fitness!

Sorry for missing a couple of posts. We have been doing some awesome things in PE over the last few weeks.

2-5th grade:
- Kicking
-Punt, Pass & Kick Competition
- Fitness testing introduction
- Fitness Testing

K & 1:
- Locomotor skills
- Learning the “Partner Pacer” which is a modified version of part of the fitness testing they will be participating in during the upper grades.
-Intro to kicking

This week we are in the full swing of fitness testing. 2nd grade through 5th grade will be participating in the Fitness Gram fitness test. For more information you can visit the fitness gram web site by clicking here. We came up with a new way to track data that will allow students to track their fitness growth from year to year. It is running smooth so far!

The younger grades will not be officially fitness testing. However, we will take them through a modified version of some of the tests and introduce some basic fitness concepts. For now, we will be sticking with some more kicking skills this week for the 1st grade and kindergarten classes. We focused on dribbling last week. This week we will be covering kicking for both short and long distances.

Thanks for the support!!

We're Just Kickin' it...

This week we are moving on to the last of our basic skills, kicking. As you can see on our blog, we have already covered: throwing, catching, and striking. The students are doing a great job with these skills. Mrs. Lawson and I have seen great progress throughout this skills review. We hope to see the same hard work through our kicking section of the unit as well.

We will be covering short distance kicks, long distance kicks, punts, and we’ll probably even break out the football tees! Our plan is to offer students (who are old enough) a chance to compete in the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick competition. This is a great way for the students to put their skills to good use. The PPK competition measures both distance and accuracy! For more information follow this link: NFL’s PPK Info!

Thanks again for all of your support!!
Coach Jones

Cooperation: The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to work successfully alone, with a partner, and with a small group.

Manipulatives: The learner will be able to demonstrate progression of skill development using manipulatives.

Respect: The learner will be able to demonstrate understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activity settings.

Skill Performance: The learner will be able to identify and apply concepts to improve performance in fundamental and selected skills.

Personal and Social Responsibility: The learner will be able to demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. Learner participates in establishing rules, procedures, and etiquette that are safe and effective for specific activities.

More Skills Review (week 6 overall)

So, last week we squeezed in a ton of striking! The students all seemed to really enjoy it. The weather cooperated, and we were able to get outside for a few days. Ms. Patsy even got up on the roof and threw down all the tennis balls that found their way up there, I swear there must have been 40 of them!

This week we are planning on putting those throwing, catching, and striking skills to work. We are going to play some large group games that focus on those skills. Once the week is over we will hop right back into our skills review…kicking will be next up!

Just in case you are wondering the kindergarten and first graders are still working on throwing and catching. We like to get the younger students a little more work on the basic skills. So, while the older grade levels are spending one week on a skill, the K and 1 students will have 2 weeks! If you have a K or 1 student ask them how many different objects they have been throwing in PE!

Here are some of the GPS’s we will be covering this week:

Manipulative Skills The learner will be able to demonstrate basic manipulative skills of throwing, catching, kicking, and striking.

Manipulative Skills The learner will be able to demonstrate progress toward mature throwing, catching, kicking, and striking skills.

Skill Performance The learner will be able to identify and apply concepts to improve performance in fundamental and selected skills.

Cooperation with Others The learner will be able to share space and equipment with others.

Behavior The learner will be able to identify appropriate behavior for participating with others in physical activity.

RESPECT The learner will be able to demonstrate understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activity settings.

Week 5 is Underway!!

Last week we were able to get some great throwing skills packed in. This week… it is time to move on to striking! We will be working on striking with various implements (bats, tennis racquets, hockey sticks, and paddles).

We started off yesterday with our stations. It went great. The best part of it is the weather! It is actually cooling down enough for us to get outside! We are still keeping an eye on the heat index, but yesterday went very smooth. The rotations we are using get the students out for about a 10 minute period. Then they are right back in the air-conditioning working in the gym!

A few of the GPS’s that we will be covering this week are:

Skill Transition: The learner will be able to recognize similarities and differences between movement skills and transfers appropriately from one to the other.

Manipulatives: The learner will be able to demonstrate progression of skill development using manipulatives.

Relationships: The learner will be able to demonstrate the body's relationships to other objects, individuals, and groups when meeting/parting, mirroring/matching, leading/following, or moving over, under, behind, and alongside.

Personal and Social Responsibility: The learner will be able to demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. Learner participates in establishing rules, procedures, and etiquette that are safe and effective for specific activities.

Cooperation: The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to work successfully alone, with a partner, and with a small group.

Thanks for all your support!!

Week 4 Begins!

I hope everyone had a great long weekend! This week we are starting our first official unit. We are starting with our basic skills review! Our skills review is made up of 3 components:

-Throwing and catching
-Striking
-Kicking

We will be looking at each of these topics in depth over the next few weeks. Each week will be focused on a skill. For example, this week we have started reviewing throwing and catching. Ask your child if they can remember the key points for both the over hand and under hand throw? Now see if they can remember the keys to catching!

Here are just a few of the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS’s) we will be covering this week:

Manipulative skills- The learner will be able to demonstrate progress toward mature throwing, catching, kicking, and striking skills.

Behavior- The learner will be able to identify appropriate behavior for participating with others in physical activity.

Weight Transfer- The learner will be able to apply concepts of weight transfer in a variety of ways.

Cooperation- The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to work successfully alone, with a partner, and with a small group.

To view the complete list of GPS’s visit:

http://picasso.cobbk12.org/cobbcurriculum/curriculum/ParPEINDEX.HTM

Thanks!

What a crazy end to the week!

If you dropped of your child this morning you saw it…4 fire trucks, the fire chief’s SUV, and a cop car or two. I just wanted to throw up a quick post to update you all on the events of this morning.

A few minutes before busses started to arrive this morning a small amount of smoke was spotted in one of the classrooms. The fire department was called immediately, and was here in no time flat! As it turned out, there was a malfunction in one of the air conditioning units on the roof. A motor in one of the units burned out, and produced the smoke that was spotted. The fireman checked, double checked, and triple checked the building. Once they determined it was safe the students were brought back in, and headed off to their classrooms. From then on out…it was school as usual!

Thanks for being so cooperative and supportive while dropping of your child. It sure is nice to have such an understanding group of parents!

Have a great 3-day weekend!

Week 3 Update!

This week we will continue to introduce a couple more of our large group games. These are games we may use on a fun Friday or on a rainy day. The students love playing these games! As the students are playing they are actually covering many of our Georgia Performance Standards (GPS’s) for physical education.

You can find a list of the GPS’s for Cobb County at: http://picasso.cobbk12.org/cobbcurriculum/curriculum/ParPEINDEX.HTM

Just click on your child’s grade level and you will see what skills are covered by the GPS’s. This is a great site!

Here are just a few of the standards (for 3-5) we cover through large group games:

5th Grade:
PE.5.4.1 Mature Movement Patterns The learner will be able to demonstrate mature performance of all basic skills: locomotor skills, nonlocomotor skills, manipulatives, transfer of weight, spatial awareness, and relationships.

PE.5.6.1 Personal and Social Responsibility The learner will be able to demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. Learner participates in establishing rules, procedures, and etiquette that are safe and effective for specific activities.

4th Grade:
PE.4.4.1 Movement Skills The learner will be able to demonstrate the beginning skills of a few specialized movement forms: sports, gymnastics, and dance.

PE.4.6.1 Locomotor and Nonlocomotor Skills The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to combine mature forms of locomotor/nonlocomotor skills into repetitive patterns with and without equipment.

PE.4.6.2 Skill Performance The learner will be able to identify and apply concepts to improve performance in fundamental and selected skills.

PE.4.8.1 Rules and Procedures The learner will be able to demonstrate responsibility for personal and social behavior in physical activity settings and follows activity-specific rules and etiquette.

3rd Grade:
PE.3.6.1 Manipulatives The learner will be able to demonstrate progression of skill development using manipulatives.
PE.3.6.3 Locomotor and Nonlocomotor Skills The learner will be able to identify and demonstrate mature locomotor and nonlocomotor skills with and without equipment and apparatus.

PE.3.8.2 Cooperation The learner will be able to demonstrate the ability to work successfully alone, with a partner, and with a small group.

PE.3.8.1 Rules and Procedures The learner will be able to design and follow class rules and procedures.


Feel free to stop by the site and check out some of the other GPS’s. We really do cover a ton of them in class! The ones above are just what we hit on in large group games. There are others that we hit every day through our fitness warm-ups!!

Thanks for the support!

Is your child ready for PE??

I have bus duty every morning at Davis. I stand outside with my trusty clipboard and check the buses in. Sounds like fun huh? Well can I just tell you…it's really one of the most enjoyable parts of the day! I get to see the students right when they hit the ground at school.

Some of the children still look dead asleep. Their eyes barely open. Their hair disheveled because they got up to late to brush it…or they just don’t care. They pull their neat little rolling book bags (some really cool ones have lights on them), and they make their way to their class.

But then, I get the student who jumps off that last step of the bus, comes right up to me and blurts out, “I have PE today, Coach Jones!! I’ll see you there!!” I love this enthusiasm for Phys Ed! It is truly awesome!

Parents, I just have one small request!!

Please check your child’s schedule, and find out what day they have PE. Once you get their schedule…please….help us make sure they wear the appropriate shoes to school on their Physical Education days.

I know it has been as hot as the Sahara Desert lately, but we are seeing way too many flip-flops, crocs, and sandals. These types of shoes are not appropriate for Phys Ed. Please follow our guidelines for what makes a “good” PE shoe:

1- the shoe should completely cover the toes
2- the shoe should have a soft (rubber) sole
3- the shoe should have a full heel

We would really prefer a lace-up athletic shoe.

Thanks for your help!!

Week 2...

Well, the first week is gone! I think it went very well! Every class has been divided into squads, and all of the 2-5 students have learned our warm-ups. We even had time for a little game called- "Everybody's it Tag."

Here is what is on the schedule for this week:
Grades 2-5
o Review warm up walls
o Introduce partner pacer (this will tie into our fitness unit, which will be coming soon)
o Introduce large group/rainy day activities that we may be using periodically throughout the year
K & 1
o Remembering our squad colors and routines
o Introducing warm up walls
o Review/introduce locomotor skills
o Start our basic skills review: throwing, catching, striking, kicking…

Hope your child has enjoyed PE so far!! We have a ton to cover this year!!

Thanks

Coach Jones

How hot is too hot?!?

Before you go running around outside be sure you know what you are getting into. We will most likely be staying inside a little more than we want to in PE! Hopefully this heat wave will break soon!!

First day of School!!

WELCOME BACK!!

This week we are beginning by reviewing PE protocol. We will be making sure each student has been introduced to the following:

-Physical Education Class Rules
-The Bug Rules (what to do if another student is bugging you)
-Safety Drills:
Fire Drill
Duck and Cover Drill
Code Red Drill
-Introduction to basic playground rules

After we have completed all the safety guidelines we will jump right into our squads. At Davis we divide each classroom class into four squads. Your child will be in one of the four following squads- East, West, North, or South. The squads will be set for the entire school year. They enable us to move more quickly from instruction to activity, and they allow us to divide the children up quickly for skills work or large group games. Ask your student what squad they are in!

As soon as the squads are set we introduce the students to our warm ups! Everyday your child comes to PE they will take the first 4 to 5 minutes and run through a quick fitness warm up. We have four categories to focus on during warm-ups: muscular strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and speed & agility! The warm ups will be changed every 6- 8 weeks, but we will always focus the warm-ups on our four fitness categories!

Once the squads and warm-ups are set we are ready to get some serious physical activity in! We will be starting this year by introducing/reviewing some of our large group activities! These are games and activities that we might use on a fun Friday or a rainy day.

Looking forward to next week!!

Welcome Back!!

Dear Davis Parents,

Mr. Jones, Mrs. Lawson, and Mrs. Georges are looking forward to another great school year. We are always looking for new ideas and ways to improve our Physical Education Program. Our program will include movement skills, rhythm, dance, games, and physical fitness, as well as traditional sports. We want to offer your child the best Physical Education possible.

We want to have a way to communicate with you better this year and have created a BLOG for Davis Physical Education. http://davisphysed.blogspot.com We will keep the site updated with current Health and Physical Education information for you and your children.

We expect all students to participate on a regular basis. We also expect students to wear athletic shoes for their safety. It is suggested that girls wear shorts under dresses on those days they wear a dress to Physical Education. Your child’s grade will be determined by his or her behavior and willingness to participate. The results of our fitness tests will not hurt your child’s grade in Physical Education. If your child is ill and unable to participate in P.E., please send a note. If your child has a serous illness or injury and cannot participate for an extended period of time, please send a doctor’s note.

The first two weeks of school, we will be collecting old athletic shoes for the NIKE Reuse-a-Shoe program. This recycling program takes the old shoes and grinds them up to make playground surfaces for underprivileged schools. For more information, check out www.nikereuseashoe.com. The shoes can’t have any metal in them. Please drop them off in the gym. Recycling is a small way to help our community, but everything we do can make a difference. We look forward to meeting new students and parents. We will continue to teach your children a variety of FUN fitness activities. We want your children to LOVE going to gym and expect a fabulous school year.

Sincerely,


Bryan Jones
Stephanie Lawson
Jenny Georges