Self Regulation Techniques featured in CBC article.

When I teach as a TTOC in different classes, I notice a variety of strategies used for DPA (Daily Physical Activity) and also Self Regulation. This article looks a bit at both and I love some of the ideas teachers are using in their classrooms.

I have tried some of the ideas like childrens yoga cards to go to use on the quiet carpet to stretch out, or a bell that signals "leaping lizards" or some other energetic exercise.

One school has "pole to pole" runs where students can go run from one end of the school to the other when they need a break. Another class I was in had regular "brain breaks" with choices of activities such as chair aerobics.

At Cindrich elementary school in Surrey, B.C., 10-year-old boys are putting themselves to bed earlier, an enthusiastic girl in Grade 6 takes herself for a run when she’s feeling hyper, and a diminutive boy who is still learning English tells his teacher he will do better work if he sits on a special cushion. 

It is all part of self-regulation, a philosophy of education that is moving into public schools in British Columbia.

Self-regulation ultimately hands the job of taking charge of their learning and their behaviour back to the kids. Teachers look for what is stressing a child and making them unable to  pay attention, lethargic, or hyper sometimes to the point where they are out of control. It might be too much noise in the classroom, too little sleep or too much junk food in their lunch. Then the teachers help the child recognize what they need to do to make themselves calm and productive in class.

Stuart Shanker, a distinguished research professor of philosophy and psychology at York University, is the pied piper of self-regulation in the schools. He maintains that Canadian kids do not know what it is to feel calm any more. There is too much stimulation in their lives. 

Read the rest of the article here

BIG BASE BALL

I was teaching at Middle School Friday and we had Community PE, which is once a week when 4 classes share PE. The teacher I was in for had taught two classes a new game that week so we split into two groups of two classes and taught the other two classes the new game called "BIG BASE BALL"

I loved it!

I can only describe it as a mix of california kick ball, soccer and baseball, all in one.

Bare with me as I try to explain how to play...

1. Two teams. One is on the bench, the other in the field.
2. Everyone on the bench gets a turn then the teams swap bench/field.
3. There is a net (or cones) set up beside the "home plate"
4. There are 4 GIANT bases. In the gym it was the yellow semi-circle/3 point lines at each of the 4 baskets  (not end baskets for a full gym game)
5. One player goes up and kicks the ball (like California kick ball, but no pitcher they just kick from home plate)
6. Player can run as many bases as they want as long as they are ON a base before the field team throws the ball into the net.
7. When the ball goes into the net, any bench team player NOT on a base is out. Field team can throw, kick, or walk up and PUT the ball into the net to stop play/get players out.
8. Each BIG BASE can hold as many players as they wish. Players can pass others, share bases, stay on a base or choose to run a base or more during any play, but they may not steal or come off the base early.
9. If the kicker's ball is caught by any field player the kicker is out.
10. If the kicker's ball hits the back wall of the gym it is a home run/grand slam.
11. We set up a "foul zone" which had two purposes. First, if the kicker did not kick it out of this zone, they were out. Second, the field team could not enter this zone until the ball exited this zone frmo the kick. This prevents field team from hovering and stopping kicks.
12. Kicker's could kick behind them, to the side, anywhere, as long as the ball made it past the "foul zone" line. Some even kicked/punted so the ball slowwwwly moved toward and finally outside the foul zone.
13. Once everyone has had a turn the teams switch (bench/field)
14. Each person who runs into home is one point.

Let me know if any of these instructions don't make sense or if you have any questions leave them in the comments and I will explain further. I will also try to post diagrams if I can.

This game was so much fun! I can't wait to teach it to more students!

Action Schools! BC Resources for TTOCs

Action Schools! BC has a lot to offer teachers and some great things for TTOCs who wish to include some Daily Physical Activity or healthy lessons into their days with different classes.

The first cool thing I discovered was that they have established really cool activity Circuits for most schools in BC here. You can click your district, find a school, and load the map of the schools playground/field area for suggested activities/circuits to do with classes.

Besides that, they offer many FREE workshops. At the BCTF New Teacher's Conference, a rep told me they could do one for TTOCs and everyone gets some super handy supplies and lessons they can take with them into the classroom!
Their website has Tons of Resources including downloadable worksheets, handouts, posters, and activities about healthy eating, excersize, and more.

I always love the resources the schools have from Action Schools! BC - but was thrilled to see all the online resources and workshops available for teachers not attached to a school. I hope to book a workshop for our TTOCs next year!