When thinking about physical education we think about playing games, playing sports, being active. Not many of us think of literacy during gym time. Yet the article "Habits of Practice" proves that disciplinary literacy can be prominent in p.e. The article even listed examples of literacy that physical education teachers can include within physical education standards, "...designing a new game, describing basic principles of training and fitness, developing realistic personal fitness goals, and monitoring progress toward those goals" (page 76).
Reading that was interesting because it made me think back to p.e when I was in primary and secondary grades. I remember the first time literacy was incorporated into p.e was in fourth grade when we had to fill out worksheets at the end of every sport unit. Once I reached high school that is when we started coming up with real fitness goals and, depending on the type of p.e class, designing fitness routines for the whole class. Those activities required cognitive thought like writing, reading, and sense making.
All in all, gym class is not all about kinesthetics and fitness but also "...goal is to get students to be thoughtful and deliberate movers" (page 77).
Some questions to think about
1. Was disciplinary literacy incorporated into your p.e. classes growing up?
2. Do you see disciplinary literacy in p.e. at your placements?
3. How would you incorporate literacy into p.e. if you had the opportunity?
I connected this to my p.e experience when we had exams at the end of the semester.
ReplyDeleteYes me too.
DeleteYes, I had gym tests and written coursework that was incorporated, nothing too complicated.
ReplyDeleteI do see it a little bit at my placements, the gym teacher got very offended when I referred to him as such and corrected me by saying he was the "physical education" teacher.
I would incorporate it by having students review our activities by taking written notes on the games that we would be playing throughout the year.
That is interesting that a gym teacher got offended but I understand him. I would also have my students review games and such.
DeleteWhen I was growing up there were times when our teachers gave us tests at the end of certain units that we had done with the class. In high school a lot of the times they were for the rules of a sport that we had been learning about and participating in for however long. I think I would try and do the same thing. You could also incorporate readings to go along with whatever you are trying to teach the class during your time with them. It can also make it easier sometimes for a student to learn the topic to not only have a teacher explain it but to have it in front of them to clarify when they leave the classroom (just like any other subject).
ReplyDeleteI agree incorporating reads is a good way for students to review on the game or workout.
DeleteJoanna,
ReplyDeleteYour blog post was very interesting. Disciplinary literacy was incorporated into my physical education class by having a mini test after each type of exercise we learned. For example, cardio and what that does for you or what sorts of exercises go along with cardio. In terms of my placement, I am sure that disciplinary literacy is incorporated because I know that my students had a project for P.E. I briefly read it when I had to pass out the intro to P.E. letter that the teacher had me give to my students. I know that they learn about different exercises because my students tell me about cardio and what it means to them. I would incorporate it by having little articles or videos to go along with the different exercises that I will teach them. I can have a little unit on the heart and have different activities that integrate disciplinary literacy.
Great post Joanna,
Resilda
Thanks Resilda, I like that you connected my post to your placement
DeleteThis is a great post Joanna! You also took my thoughts and words right out of my mouth! I had the same experience with P.E. when I was in primary and secondary school! I did a lot of worksheets in middle school and high school because we had to set goals and also take tests that would be done at the end of the unit. It was mainly getting tested on the rules or information about a certain unit/sport. I personally don't see any disciplinary literacy in the P.E. classes at my placement because they go on Mondays to the gym. If I had the opportunity to somehow incorporate literacy in my P.E. class, I would do what my teachers did when I was younger. Give the context/background of the sport or during health, and be able to practice play the sport or using the muscle. Then at the end of the unit, test them on the body parts or even test them on their knowledge of the rules/background information about the topic or sport that was done for the unit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda! I also dont see what my students do in gym because it is on a monday
DeleteHi! Besan! I do see disciplinary literacy in PE at my placement. Before the class start, students need to do some warm-up activities. However, teacher didn't give instruction but play music and post instruction on the smart board. Students have to read the specific term while they are exercising. I think it's cool because students no only get to know professional terms but practice their focusing ability.
ReplyDeleteHi Bing thanks for replying but this is Joanna. I like how your teacher incorporates the smart board
DeleteHi Joanna,
ReplyDeleteThroughout my elementary years, I can't recall any disciplinary literacy in my physical education. Most of the time we would just have free time to do whatever we like. It was like an extra recess. :) As for my fieldwork, I was never given the opportunity to see my kids at gym since they have it on Mondays.
That is interesting Van! I dont get to see the students interact during p.e. because it is on monday too.
DeleteGreat job Joanna! I did see disciplinary literacy when I was in gym. We would have worksheets usually at the beginning and ending of a unit. We also had to create goals when we would have fitness tests and were responsible for recording our progress. I have not been in gym with my students so I do not know what they do but I am now more interested in asking them what they did when they come back from gym in the morning. I would incorporate it by including articles, videos, worksheets and other materials when starting a unit. I think having the students create a game with a set of rules would be a great activity to get them to better their literacy in a not boring way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim. Incorporating articles is a good idea since there are alot of articles out about fitness.
DeleteHi Joanna!
ReplyDeleteIn my own personal experience, there have been literacy components incorporated into my P.E. classes. Most of the time, it consisted of worksheets and tests. One time, in my high school P.E. class, we got into groups and had to choreograph a dance. We were given a specific theme to follow and the dance had to accurately convey that theme. I think my group's theme was happiness/joy, so we had to pick a song that sounded happy and create dance moves to go along with the song.Although it didn't involve much obvious literacy, we had to use our knowledge of music and dance to come up with an appropriate dance. I have yet to go to P.E. with my students, but I know my teacher makes a point of calling it P.E. instead of gym so that the students take it more seriously. If I had to teach P.E., I wold definitely incorporate something like the dance project I had to do (probably for older kids). For the younger kids, I would try and just teach them about the importance of being healthy and active.
Choreographing a dance sounds so much fun! I like that you would incorporate that into your p.e. class if you had to teach p.e.
DeleteHey Joanna!
ReplyDeleteI personally didn't have literacy components incorporated in my physical education until I was in college. I took a personal fitness class and it was very interesting because I went in with the expectation to just be told how to work out properly but instead we were given many components to being healthier from how you should stand up to your posture before we were actually allowed to start working out.
Interesting! I like that you did not like disciplinary literacy in p.e. until much later.
DeleteHi,
DeleteIn school we did a lot of worksheets and learned about our bodies and its importance. In my placement students are doing a lot of learning about their bodies and how fitness is important. It is important for everyone to understand that fitness is a way of life. this way of life is a life process and should be practiced so students are healthy. I think those words and ideals are important how do we become experts of our bodies and heart? how does that involve literacy and physical education?