Demo Slam of the Day: How I Teach Pushups

Authors Note: The Demo Slam is a quick way to share an instructional tip, strategy, or tool. Its origins are outside of the PE world, but I do think Collin Brooks and I may be responsible for popularizing it with the PE community at SHAPE America National Convention in Seattle in 2015. The purpose is to crowdsource ideas quickly so think of it as a tip of the day. 3-2-1-SLAM! I absolutely LOVE teaching students how to do pushups. It seems pretty basic, but it’s something I’m very mindful and passionate about because…I… Read More

Things I Think the Pandemic Taught Me: Rethinking When Students are Ready for Partners

Authors Note: This set of microblogs will cover a wide variety of instructional practices that the pandemic has either made me think about them differently or has led me to question them all together. The working title of the series is “Things I Think” because they are based on my perceptions and experiences and are subject to change. These posts should be looked at in the context of reflecting on teaching elementary physical education in person during the pandemic from January 2021 – June 2022. “I will know you’re ready when you’re elbow… Read More

What is your play personality?

At the end of November, Andy Milne and Justin Schleider organized the #slowchatgiftx, a holiday gift exchange for health and physical educators in the US. Approximately 30 teachers signed up and agreed to send a surprise gift (with a $20 limit) to another educator. I received the book, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Dr. Stuart Brown, from Terri Drain. According to Brown, “people have a dominant mode of play that falls into one of eight types,” which he calls play personalities. “No one is a… Read More