Soccer "Season"

At West Side, many middle school students are busy with soccer season. But in P.E., all middle school students are busy with it! This year, we have many different sport seasons rather than units. This type of teaching is part of the Sport Education Model. Teaching students responsibility, team camaraderie, discipline, and competitive spirit are all part of this model.

Students started out the season by creating teams. This can be done in many different ways. The way that worked best for us was this:

1) Each student pairs up with 1 other student who displays the same soccer ability level as him/her.
2)That group of 2 pairs up with another group of 2 equal in playing ability.
3) Then, each group of 4 numbers off 1-2-3-4.
4) Then (surprise!) I split the teams into 4 teams, all the 1's are together, 2's are together, etc.

This method of splitting up students helps create even teams and helps all students excel as they compete against those closest in ability to them.

Once teams are established, students pick their individual responsibilities (team manager, referee, trainer, etc) and the season begins. We have practice days, team competition days, and mix in full class game days. Students are still getting used to mixing it up in all these different ways each day they come.

The 3rd and 4th graders are also busy getting the soccer units underway. In addition to practicing many different soccer skills, drills, and lead-up games, they have been learning how to be Stretch Leaders and have learned the "West Side" chant (also a great abdominal and upper body strength workout)!

Our 4th grade class received their first reward day, for earning 3 "Thumbs Up" days. Their day included 7 different sport stations that they were able to visit while listening to music. We are still deciding what this day should be called -whether Sport Stations, Sports Center, Sports Olympics, or something else. Any ideas?

Our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade class just began learning about locomotor skills. When I asked my second graders what locomotor skills were, one student said, "Learning how to move your body in different ways." To add to that, having your feet move your body from one place to another. Students are always good at walking and running, but what about jogging, sprinting, hopping, jumping, leaping, skipping, and sliding? We are working together to understand the differences and practice and improve our movements.

Many people part of the West Side community have stopped to peek in the gym after hearing our class music. Music helps in so many ways. Younger students are very rhythmical, so using music allows them to better express themselves, motivates them to keep moving, and helps provide cues for many activities.

Just a reminder:
Middle School Students have this last week in September to complete their monthly activity and eating log.
The Soccer Quiz for middle school students will be next Wednesday, October 3.

Happy Monday!

1st Week

What an AWESOME first week at West Side Christian.

So far, I have been able to meet 1st, 3rd, and 4th graders and all middle school students. Every class was enthusiastic, polite, kind, and fun to have in class!

It will always be a great memory to have my first class be a class that I was able to open with devotions and prayer.The eighth graders were slightly surprised by my excitement- and I was thankful I could explain to them the fact that I was not able to open in prayer ever before as a teacher. I encouraged them to not take it for granted, as I had, in my K-12+ personal Christian Education. I believe God gave me the experience in a public school to give me a heart of gratitude for all that I can now do with my students! I'm so thankful He did.

The first day in P.E. can be a ROUGH day... since it is a time filled with learning expectations and introductions rather than activity. Fortunately, every class was able to learn a lot the first day- AND got to be active!

Every class learned about my 3 guidelines:
1) No matter what the activity, try your hardest.
2) Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.
3) T.H.I.N.K. before you speak: Is what you're about to say True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, and Kind?

Many classes got to test out the Fitness Circuit, set up in five different levels so that each student has the opportunity to challenge themselves. It included bicycle crunches (what's a crunch, Mrs. Verkaik?), jumping jacks, push ups, jump rope, wall sits, and sprints. Students tried to make it around the entire circuit in a matter of 3 minutes. If they made it, the next time they come they get to move up a level.

First graders were introduced to three super heroes: Kid Cardio, Miss Muscle, and Mr. Flex through a tag game called Superhero Fitness. Third and Fourth Graders got to know each other through Link Tag, Rock Paper Scissors Tag, and Group Juggling. Middle School students already completed the Mile Run for the Fall and did an outstanding job working their hardest and encouraging others. I had fun running the 'wrong' way and encouraging them. Although they were happy it was done, they weren't so happy that I surprised them with it (why tell them beforehand and have them dread it?) :)

I am looking forward to starting Intramurals, meeting my kindergartners and second graders, and continuing to build relationships with all the students at West Side!

P.S. I love the fact that I can share the I Corinthians 9 verse about running the race for an eternal prize with my first graders, and that they can explain to me that we are running for Jesus! :)