It has been a busy and fun filled couple of months. It has been awhile since I have posted a BLOG and I have much to fill you in on. February was busy, not only for the students, but for me as well. Early February found Mrs. Voss, Mrs. Choren and I traveling down to Lake Forest Country Day School to hear Rae Pica a leading expert in movement activities for early childhood. Her presentation was inspiring and solidified some of the activities presently done with our students at USM. I had the honor of being the assistant coach of the U16 team that participated in the Disney Showcase Field Hockey Tournament in early February. Eight of the players (16 total) were USM students that I had coached in the Middle School and had previously coached at the U14 level. We had our best showing at the tournament, however we still need to grow the sport here in Milwaukee. At the end of the month I attended the DuPage Physical Education Conference at Naperville, IL with Mrs. Margie Voss. We have gone to this conference a couple of times and are always pleased with the sessions and the wonderful speakers. We go primarily to learn more that can be used in our morning Brain Gym Learning Lab. This year didn't disappoint. Now I am looking ahead to spring break where I will serve on the committee at the National Physical Education (AAHPERD) Convention where we will select the National PE Elementary Teacher of the Year. I am sure the process will be exciting to be a part of. I am also looking forward to attending a number of sessions after this responsibility is complete. I hope you have an enjoyable spring break with your child.
Senior Kindergarten
Students finished their ice skating experience with a fun obstacle course created by Mrs. Herbst. It allowed us the opportunity to watch the students perform the numerous skills that they learned during their SK skating experience. You should have received your skating assessment at conferences from your child's teacher. Please remember that ice skating is a lifetime activity and that the skills require further practice. The Pettit Ice Center is a good place for you and your child to continue honing their skating skills. Maybe consider having your child doing Mrs. Herbst summer program right here at USM. Both Mrs. Herbst and I were so pleased with the SK students progress on the ice.
We have begun work on the overhand throw. In Senior Kindergarten we begin to help the children know the steps of the throw. Side to the target, elbow up, step and twist, throw and follow through. This is a challenging skill for lots of kindergarten children, especially the turning sideways part. It will come, however will need LOTS of practice. If you are going away to someplace warm, you might consider taking a ball along to play a little catch and throwing outdoors!
Our final lesson prior to break will be lots of fun games to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I guess with a teacher with the name of Keily, we need to have a little bit of Irish integrated into our PE lesson!
1st & 2nd Grade
Fitness, throwing and catching and long jump roping have filled our weeks leading up to Spring Break. During our Fitness unit we participated in activities that really got the heart rates up. We talked about Cardio Fitness where the concentration was trying to get our heart rates up and realizing how to pace ourselves through activities. We also learned some new exercise activities to strengthen and stretch our muscles as well.
During our throwing and catching unit we continued to work on and refine our overhand throwing skills. Catching was also a big focus. The students showed some real progress in their abilities on both of these skills. If you will be going somewhere warm over break (just as I suggested to my SK parents), take a ball along and do a little practice of throwing and catching with your child!
We finished our Long Jump Rope unit today. Students worked on being a good turner of the rope as well as jumping. We worked as a class to see how many times the class members could jump in each class along with each student recording their personal scores of jumping in the long rope. This rhythmic activity is a challenge, not just the jumping but the turning of the rope. We talked about working with our turning partner to make the rope go at an appropriate speed or tempo to allow for the jumper to be successful in there jumping. I worked with the children by being a turner to help them get the rhythm down. It was fun to watch their progress not only with their increased number of successful jumps, but how they became better turners! Ask your child about their classroom's high jump rope total.
3rd & 4th Grade
Basketball, Winter Olympics and Flat Stanley and PE Central Challenge has kept the 3rd and 4th graders busy during February and leading up to spring break. Basketball skills were worked on in both 3rd and 4th grade. Third graders worked on strengthening their dribbling as well as dribbling and passing with a teammate. The third graders were introduced to proper shooting technique for the set shot. I am really looking forward to next year in our new gym when we will have adjustable basketball hoops. Students will be able to use proper technique at an age appropriate height! We played lots of little games that worked on shooting, dribbling and passing. In the 4th grade students worked on putting their basketball skills together to begin playing 2 vs. 2 games and 3 vs. 3 games. This is just an introduction and it was a struggle for some. Again, having lower hoops would have been a big help, however, our fourth graders pressed forward and rose to the occasion and did their best!
The "projects" each grade level worked on were always fun. I was just amazed at our 4th graders wonderful and thoughtful work they demonstrated in our Winter Olympic Wiki pages. Students had a sport that they researched and then put key information onto the wiki to share with their peers and a little bit for our 3rd graders. Then students checked out each other's pages and made comments to compliment one another on their "jobs well done."
Third graders have been mailed away, well, their "flat version." Our intent is to find out what adults do to stay physically active once they leave school. We discussed the importance of being physically active throughout our lifetime to stay healthy. Students then created a miniature version of themselves and then decided whom they would get sent to. Now we will await their return to USM to see what adventures they went on and see how others stay physically active.
The PE Central Challenge is an opportunity for the 3rd and 4th graders to practice skills we work on in PE and work toward earning a small pin. The six challenges are balance shuffle, paddle strike, volley up, throw and catch, jump that rope, and hula hoop. Students worked with peers to either complete a challenge, time or count for one another. Students that successfully completed four, five or six of the challenges will receive a pin in late May or early June.
Health
1st Grade - Nutrition - this past week we looked at the Food Guide Pyramid and learned about the five food groups and portion sizes from each group. When we return from break we will look at the importance of why we need foods from each group and why these groups help keep our bodies healthy.
2nd Grade - The Eye - we finished our unit on the eyes by discussing and doing some activities that may fool our eyes - Optical Illusions.
3rd Grade - The Nervous System - our last lesson the students used the netbooks and discovered more information about the nervous system by doing activities on Brain Pop.
4th Grade - students are finishing up on GetURFacts, on drugs. It has been a long haul, however, I think the students have enjoyed the on-line health information on this subject.
Have a GREAT Spring Break!!!
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