Welcome

D"""Don't let 'good enough', be good enough"

Expectations of the students:

• To come to physical education class wearing proper attire (sneakers, comfortable clothing, no loose hanging jewelry-necklaces, etc.).
• To give their best effort.
• To play safe with one another.
• To follow directions the first time they are given.
• To respect each others feelings.
• To give compliments to one another and not insults.

My goals for the physical education program at Forest/Linden:

• To provide the students with a learning environment that will keep them safe inside as well as outside of the gymnasium.
• To develop within the students positive  character traits (good sportsmanship, etc.) resulting from a variety of experiences.
• To provide students with activities that will give them positive experiences as well as build their confidence.
• To provide a constantly changing environment so the students will always be curious about upcoming activities and not get bored with repeating activities.
• To provide the students with activities that will keep them active and minimize down time.

Skill themes to be covered during the school year:

• Locomotor skills (walking, running, jumping, hopping, galloping, sliding, skipping and leaping).
• Nonlocomotor skills (rolling, balancing, transferring weight from/to body parts, jumping and landing, starting and stopping with control, chasing, fleeing, and dodging).
• Manipulative skills (catching, underhand & overhand throwing, kicking, dribbling with feet, dribbling with hands, striking-batting).

Fitness concepts to be covered during the school year:

• Concepts- (effects of exercise on pulse rate, flexibility, strength, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, body composition).

Movement concepts to be covered during the school year:

• Space awareness (where the body moves):                            

           Location- (self-space and general space).
           Directions-(up/down, forward/backward,right/left,
           clockwise/counter clockwise).
           Levels-(low/middle/high).
           Pathways-(straight/curved/zig-zag).
           Extensions-(large/small, far/near).

• Effort (how the body moves):

           Time-(fast/slow. sudden/sustained).
           Force-(strong/light).
           Flow-(bound/free).

• Relationships:

          Of body parts-(curved, narrow, wide, twisted,symmetrical, nonsymmetrical). 

Types of activities the students will be participating in:

• Cooperative activities (for example, "Rolling River Adventure").
• Team sports (for example, soccer).
• Individual activities (for example, gymnastics).
• Partner activities (for example, throwing and catching various sized balls).

The following are just some of the many activities the students of Forest/Linden will be involved with:

Turtle tag.
Parachute activities.
Individual as well as partner activities involving scooters.
"Stomp and Catch" relay races.
Traveling on stilts.
Kickball.
Jumping a self-turned rope as well as jumping a rope turned by partners.
Use of the "Cup and Catch."
Traveling on "Roller Racers."
Dribbling a ball with feet.
Dribbling a ball with hands.
Soccer.
Striking a ball off of a cone as well as a ball that has been tossed.
Throwing and catching a Frisbee.
Use of the "Peaceful Playground."

*Not all of the above mentioned activities are done at every grade level.

**Relay races involve racing against time as a group, not against other students.

Events during the school year:

Field Day (at the end of the school year in June).
Jump Rope for Heart (usually occurs in April).

 Student assessment:        

Physical Education
-Demonstrates appropriate skills and movements (coordination, locomotor and motor).

-Follows directions, demonstrates cooperation, sportsmanship, and best effort.

 Monthly fitness tips (January):  

Family Fitness-Setting a good example:

If you lead a healthy and active lifestyle, your kids won't have much choice but to follow suit.  Family fitness is important in helping establish good fitness habits in children from an early age.  And don't think it has to be a regimented routine. Getting out for a family bike ride or a walk in the park all count. 

Here are a few tips to help you establish a family fitness routine: As a young child, I clearly remember spending my summers outside, playing with my friends.  I left the house shortly after breakfast, and didn't come home until it got dark.  Nowadays, children are leading a more sedentary lifestyle, and parents need to encourage kids to be  more active.

Younger kids can get quite a workout just by visiting the local playground.  Activities such as monkey bars and playing tag develop a child's strength, speed and agility; things like biking and rollerblading are great aerobic exercises. Parents may also want to consider a "Mommy and Me" class to get the two of you moving together-and provide some bonding time as well!        

As your child ages and becomes a teenager, the tendency to be even more sedentary exists.  Encourage your child to participate in team sports, but allow him or her to choose what activities to participate in.  If your teen is self-conscious about participating in team sports, encourage them to work out with exercise videos.  Parents may also want to make rules about how many hours per day their children can watch television, use the computer, or play video games. 

Parents also need to be aware that your children will follow your lead.  Try making small changes to your own routine like taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, or getting outside on your lunch hour and taking a brisk walk.  At home, plan activities that the entire family can do together instead of sitting in front of the television. 

Family activities don't have to be limited to conventional team sports like basketball or football:  Expand your horizons!  Try things like soccer, going for a hike, or rollerblading.  Consider having a family "game night" and play a game of twister!  Games like "capture the flag" or "Duck, Duck, Goose!" are fun and easy to involve the kids in.  Don't be afraid of acting silly Mom and Dad! 

Get up, get moving, get outside and have fun with your kids!  Not only will you be teaching them powerful lessongs about the importance of physical activity, you'll reap health benefits yourself, and strengthen your bonds with your kids.

The information listed above was taken from the following website www.kidsfitnesscentral.com. For other ideas, please feel free to visit their website. 

Monthly Fitness Tips (February):

When you're stuck at home: 

Maybe you can't go out because the weather is rainy or too cold.  But that doesn't mean you can't get some exercise while you're inside.

Turn on your favorite music and dance.  Invite your dog or cat to join in the fun.  Or grab a hula hoop and make up some hula-hoop dances.  If there is enough room, you can jump rope and count how many times you jump without missing.

There are basketball hoops with over-the-door hooks and basketballs made from soft foam that are meant to be played with indoors.  If you have them and there is enough room, set them up and shoot some hoops.  Have a tournament with everyone in the house.

More things to do when you're stuck at home:

• Do some tumbling if you have enough room to do it.
• Set up a scavenger hunt.
• Bat a balloon back and forth and try not to let it hit the floor.

And here's on thing not to do:  Try not to say, "I'm bored.  There's nothing to do."  As you just found out, there's always something to do!

The information listed above was found at the following website www.kidshealth.org. For other ideas, please feel free to visit their website.

Monthly fitness tips (March):

Fun Exercise Activities For Kids

What To Do When Your Kids Don't Want To Exercise:

Since the first Game Boy and Nintendo products hit the market, kids have been glued to their TV sets playing these games.  As a result, the only time kids actually exercise is during recess (or during physical education) at school.  Parents have been wrestling with this question for years: What to do when your kids don't want to exercise.  Here are a few tips to help you cope with this problem.

Set time limits on computer use.  Tell your kids they are allowed one hour on the computer each day; including Saturday and Sunday.  Instruct them to follow these rules, or the computer will be disconnected.

Go biking with them, or take them to the park.  Turn the walk into an interesting science or nature trip, and the kids will be more willing to go with you again.  Schedule regular sessions of playing where your kids are encouraged to be physically active by doing things like riding a bicycle (or tricycle), or even pushing a toy baby carriage.  You can assign chores, such as walking the dog or help with chores in the yard.  Include a small payment in return.  This teaches the child responsibility.  Purchase a basketball hoop; on weekends play a game with your kids or go to the park and teach your kids how to play baseball or football. 

Sports are a good way to get kids interested in physical activity.  However, not all kids are athletically proficient sports.  If there is a school little league, don't force your child to join.  Take it one step at a time.  Teach them how to play; take them to the games; eventually thay may want to participate.

Most importantly, keep it fun.  If you, as an adult, take pleasure in any form of exercise, your kids will follow suit; or they may come up with a new type of exercise.  Be open to suggestions.  Make it a family affair.

The information listed above was found at the following website www.kidsfitnesscentral.com.  For more information, please feel free to visit their website.

Conclusion:
This is my fifteenth year here at Forest (fifth at Linden) and it has been a pleasure teaching the children here at both Forest and Linden Avenue School.  I am looking forward to teaching the students of Forest and Linden for years to come.  If you need to get in touch with me, feel free to send me an e-mail. My e-mail address is rstomber@glenridge.org

Respectfully,
Robert Stomber
Forest/Linden Avenue School Physical Education