Oh, the places you'll go in my world!

Oh so much to talk about! 
              Last week I attended the 2015 KAHPHERD Winter Workshop in Olathe.  A lady by the name of Jo Bailey (@LovePhyEd) was the keynote speaker.  She is a Google certified teacher, and did quite well explaining Google EVERYTHING!  That lady knows her stuff.  In addition to learning new stuff, one of the highlights of the workshop was meeting people!  I finally got to meet face to face with Jo and another awesome KS PE Teacher named Mike Bohannon (@mikebohannon4).  Both of these were people I had connected with on Twitter.  Mike is the Author of a book called "No, we do not play dodge ball in PE.  His tweets had caught my eye several times, so I asked him to bring a book for me to purchase.  Good stuff for sure!  Also, I got to meet Vicki Worrell (@KAHPERD) who is the Executive Director for KAHPHERD and also a professor at Emporia State University.  She and I are collaborating to have me Skype into her ESU Phys Ed. classes to talk about my usage of technology in PE!  When I arrived at the workshop, I quickly found a seat and begin looking at the people to see who I recognized.  Quickly I realized I was setting among several Shawnee Mission School District PE teachers.  In March, I am going to present "imove, icreate, ilearn in PE" to all of the PE teachers in this district.  It was exciting to meet a few of them and share a few things with them. 
   Also last week, I received an email telling me I had been selected to receive a Container Garden grant through KSDE.  So, my 4th graders are going to grow a garden this spring.  I'm pretty excited to connect this to our PBL project (SUGAR.....IT's EVERYWHERE)! We are going to grow and eat our own produce!  Exciting stuff!
   Last week on my way home from the workshop, (my awesome hubby was driving) I participated in a #1to1ipadchat, that was being moderated by our districts awesome Tech Coach- @ksujayne (don't worry, I don't hold the KSU part against her).  While chatting along, I came across tweets about google maps.  Light bulb's went off in my head.  Fast forward to last Friday/Today and we are on a journey at Linn!  Our awesome secretary created this array of flags and a globe in front of our office.  We are celebrating cultures/heritage across our district. 

 

 

     Starting today, my kids are going to visit (virtually of course) each country that we represent at Linn.  We are going to "walk" to each country.  This will be done during our warm up time and if the students choose, at recess.  When we "arrive" at our destination, we will participate in a game that is native to that country.  In addition, we will track our progress using Google maps, my ipad, the air server, and the NEW projector that was mounted in my gym.  The students can add miles at recess and drop them in a class I created using the SHOWBIE app.  The kids were pretty excited today, as I introduced the concept.  We are going on a journey, and it's going to be an good one!

 

 

All those twitter accounts I mentioned in this blog, yeah, you should make sure you are following them! 

 

 

Have a great week!!! 

What a world!

   It's been too long since I checked in!  Can you tell I've been a little busy?  It's good thought, truthfully I think I work better when I am busy.  I have to be more efficient, therefor I am.... :)
Last Friday we had a Winter Sports Clinic for my students.  In the past I have switched up my schedule and only offered this for 3rd-5th grade.  This year, I decided to give it a try for all grade levels.  It was fantastic.  I really feel like these clinics are so much more than a "sports clinic." Sure, these positive role models (they get up early on their day OFF of school) come out to the school and teach their sport.  They also come out and show my students what it takes to be part of team, what kind of attitude you have to have, and of course the amount of work you need to do.  I think this is so important as these kids grow up.  In addition, many of my students are simply not exposed to the variety of activities that are available.  You know, things that will keep them healthy as they grow older.  This year the high school Cheerleaders, bowling team, and wrestling team came out.  This kids were fantastic with my Linn Lions.  I couldn't have asked for an better student/athletes.  I am so happy I teach in a school where my principal allows me to continue to have these type of opportunities for my students.
 

 

 

       Also this week, we begin our Jump Rope unit.  I enjoy I teaching this unit, and the students love it!  We conclude this unit at the end of the month with our Jump Rope For Heart Celebration.  Lot's of fun for all, and of course it does our body good! One of my favorite activities so far has been Jump Rope 4-square. (That's what these awesome 2nd graders are doing in this picture).  It's played just like regular 4-square, only you jump rope.  Our focus word on this day (key word) was endurance.  *Disclaimer: I did not make this game up, I found it on....wait for it.....TWITTER! Because I have the best PLN ever, and you can too.  Sorry, a little off task!  The kids make a square, with the 5th and sometimes 6th person in their group standing outside of the square.  The person in the designated "square" was in charge of saying "start."   When this person said this, everyone on the square begin jumping rope.  The first person who messed up, was "out." and then everyone rotates.  The person who is out, always rotates to the #1 position.  Kids loved it.  So did I!  I have talked about allowing my students to "chat," this was no exception.  You see, I want them to improve their reading skills, and language skills have to improve for that to happen.  (A very wise lady once told me that).  Why not help out in PE, not to mention they are going to have an overall better grasp of what is being taught.  So, we did the activity for about 5 minutes, then I had them drop their ropes and chat with their team.  The question to chat about "What are you working on when your doing this jump rope activity?"  Answers varied, teamwork, jumping, rhythm.  All great answers, but I was looking for endurance.  Eventually I got the answer (or helped them out).  This lead them to a NEW focus word.  We pointed to the all and talked briefly about what endurance meant.  Success.  They moved, their hearts were racing, they laughed, they used a new word, they saw a new word in action, you may even say they felt a new word.   

 

 

New exciting things happening in my world.  They are installing a cordless (ha, ha) projector in my gym.  No more dragging out an extension cord and cart!  Excited.....you cannot imagine! 

 

 

Twitter.  Do it.

 

AB