FIRST DAY !
The first night of lab, was almost like the first day of school. The teachers and students were getting to know each other and start basic activities. Since it was the first night, the teachers and myself wanted to get a foundation of where the students level and skill base was currently at. Using a TGMD 2 rubric, we assessed the students in a variety of skills. The skills ranged from locomotor to using an implement. The teachers and myself used the teaching style stations. Students rotated around the gym to complete each activity. At my station, students showed their ability to dribble a basketball with their left and right hand. Each student got two turns on each hand, and were checked off on our assessment accordingly. We were looking for the students to be able to push down on the ball using their finger tips, keep the ball at their side, and to maintain control. After the basketball, students then showed how well they could slide step from one orange cone to another. The students were allowed to go with their partner or go individually. During the slide step we were looking for the students to keep their body turned and aligned, a minimum of four continuous step- slide to the left and right, and finally to see a step sideways with a lead foot followed by a slide of the trailing foot to the point next to the lead foot. When the students were done with our station, they rotated to the left to the next station. Many of the students were really well behaved. When I was speaking to them or another teacher, they listened and were able to follow instructions. For example, after the stations we had about thirty minutes left of class. Our instructor came over to me and asked " can you come up with three activities to end the night with?" On the spot, I used a signal of attention, and got the whole class to have eyes and ears on me. Right where the students were standing I said " if you can hear my voice clap once, if you can hear my voice clap twice. Alright everyone take a seat right where you are" Within , 1 minute all of the students were ready to transition to the next activity. When questions were asked to the students, they responded with excitement. For our closing activity, I had the students do some stretches and then we brought " it in", everyone put their hands in the circle and together we said " teamwork" Having 20-25 students cooperate, with out any melt downs, or any major issues was awesome. Their behavior as a group was very impressive.
While working with the students, it was really important to give feedback of all kinds. Since there were so many students with different ages and abilities, each needed individualized feedback that was meaningful to them. One little boy who was in third grade had a really high skill level in basketball and sliding. Some of the feedback that I gave to him was " that was really great, now I want to see you slide step even faster." For basketball my feedback was " You can dribble on your right and you can dribble with your left hand, now I want to see you cross over the ball and dribble with either hand" This student was really advanced and needed a challenge to keep him interested in the station. On the other hand, there was a little girl who was seven years old, she was very tiny, and did not speak much. Having smaller hands and a smaller frame, her equipment was modified to a volleyball trainer, so that she could bounce it with both hands, and then I would catch it. When she bounced the ball she would say " wee" and clap her hands. When I saw that, I knew that if I clapped my hands that she would understand my feedback of excitement. After we were done, she gave me the sign " more" so she really liked our activity and wanted more of it. My interaction with the students was very high. From the moment they walked in, I was helping them get to a station. At the stations I was talking to many of the students and learning about them. Many of them love different types of sports. Some love music, and dancing as well. One form of interaction, that I realized that was so important, was physical. Giving high fives is a great way to interact and be friendly with the students. With the younger ones they wanted to high five after almost every activity, which was okay with me. In one way, I think to them it was a way of saying " I have accomplished a task, and I am proud of it".
After seeing all the students, I think it would be safe to say that one improvement goal would be to have the students recognize self space. Many of the students were rolling over one another on the matts. Some of the students are very young, but learning to be aware of their surroundings will help them to have better balance and awareness in the physical education environment. A second goal, would be to have everyone understand how our classroom will function. Meaning, we always want safety, respect, and routine. Safety is so important, as teachers we want to give students the best environment that we can. To have the students learn safety and to make it natural will be very helpful. We want all the students to respect themselves and the equipment that is given to them. If we have a routine set up, it will help with organization for the teachers and students. The students will le the students know that when they come in, they sit on the black circle, and at the end of class, we do our wrap up activity and then bring it in together. My last improvement goal would be, to take the assessments that we did on the first night, and to look at them throughout the program to see if we are taking everyone's skill level at least one step higher then when the students first came. It would be really cool to have each student improve physically but I also hope that each student cognitively knows more and affectively feels more. Having these improvement goals can make the whole experience a peaceful and safe learning environment.
Overall, this whole experience was eye opening. As much as the students were learning, I was learning from them as well. All the students were able to participate and be active the entire class. In one hour I was able to talk with most and if not all the students, and get to know their names. It was a really fun first night. Seeing their excitement encourages me to become and even better teacher. I know there might me nights were it will be rough and things might go wrong. At the end of the day, the students will want to be there, and this whole program is a learning experience. As Brad Henry once said " A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning" The quote sums up what I hope to take away from this program. Even after student teaching, I have a really strong desire to get better at my craft and to give students a learning environment where they can be their unique individuals.
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