Physical Education Update

Lead Teacher Workshop

We had a successful 3 ½  day workshop in the holidays, with a total of 25 participants from schools all over the Southern Group. We covered a range of ways to change the competitive culture in our schools to move away from a Sports focus in PE, and focus more on the Education part, where teaching Essential Skills in PE, such as Problem Solving, Communication Skills, and Social-cooperative skills, leads the focus away from competition and winning.

A new teaching approach was introduced, ‘Teaching Games for Understanding’ (TGfU), which is a model that fosters tactical awareness and skill instruction, moving away from our skills only based teaching that we have in the Cooks.

Teaching Games for Understanding

The TGfU approach is most effective when it is student-centred and game-centred, which we believe will work well in our schools over here.  It’s main focus being on the teacher asking the right questions, to get the student thinking about why they did something, what they should do, and how can they do it to make the game run smoother, and achieve the objectives.

The aim now is for our Lead Teachers to try these new approaches in their own classes, and pass on the knowledge to the rest of their staff in time, and shifting the focus from winning the inter-school sports tournaments during the term, to adding new things to the year overview, and creating a more inclusive, positive learning environment for all.

Aitutaki Teacher Workshop

Our lead teachers over in Aitutaki held a workshop for the remainder of their staff to introduce the TGfU approach.  Moeroa covered Target, Rere and Terangi covered Invasion, Tuaine did Net/Wall and Mataio focused on Striking and Fielding.  It was also awesome to see they used some of the Team Building activities we covered as Warm Up activities.  Well done Aitutaki, and what a laugh!

Mangaia Teacher Workshop

The teachers in Mangaia are now pro’s at Unit and Lesson planning for PE after our workshop one afternoon, and have a good idea for some assessment activities and checklists too.  They have also had a small workshop run by myself and Nancy to introduce TGfU, and Target Games.  Keep up the good work Mangaia!

Mauke School

Although there are only two teachers at the school that teach PE, Mauke’s Lead Teacher Teata has taken the entire staff through a TGfU workshop, introducing the concept to them.  It has been used in all classes at all levels, and the kids and teachers are really enjoying it.  Awesome effort!

Pilot School Project

The purpose of this initiative is to upskill the teachers in teaching PE by holding practical workshops.  This is then followed up by myself modelling, and observing classes, with the hope of teachers gaining more confidence when teaching PE, thus meaning both teachers and students are active and having fun.

This term we have looked at Fitness and Athletics with the help of Ake Hosea-Winterflood.  Here are some photos of the three schools involved Nikao Maori, Takitumu and Rutaki.

Mitiaro Healthy Lifestyles Week

An awesome week in Mitiaro, Lead Teacher Thomas went back this term ‘inspired’.  Not only to introduce TGfU to the rest of the staff, but to raise the profile of PE and Physical Activity in general.  We had whole school Jump Jam sessions, with the community invited to join in, a school trip to the Airport where we took part in walking to the end of the runway and back (thank you to the mayor for allowing us), even a whole school dress up day, where students and teachers had to dress as a sport/sportsperson.

Highlight of the week however was the Correspondence class and their teacher (Thomas), accompanying me on a half-marathon walk around the island of Mitiaro.  What an awesome effort by everyone, and a huge pat on the back for such an achievement!  May this long continue. J

Rarotonga Schools PE Lead Teacher Meeting

Date: Wednesday 21st October Time: 2.30pm Venue: Avatea School

Thanks to those who got back to me about this and I have made an executive decision.   As Lead Teachers you are required to attend this meeting. I will need to know numbers for the afternoon tea please, so make sure you let me know if you can/cannot make it.  I think it is important that we all get together to re-group and reflect on Term 3, and also plan for the future.

‘Something to Ponder’ - Linking Sport to Positive Behaviour

Physical activity has a motivational impact on children, increasing their self-esteem and general well-being.  It has also been found that PE and sport helps children to develop essential social skills such as concentration, self-discipline, cooperation and an awareness of the need to think of things and people other than themselves.

• Provide activities at break times and lunchtimes
• Make sure there is enough equipment available
• Encourage adults to support positive play
• Give pupils roles of responsibility
• Use team-building and cooperative activities

Andrews, C. www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/linking-sport-positive-behaviour 18/08/2009

Let’s aim to get more schools in next term’s edition of the ‘PE Profile’, by including me in your PE programme.  J