Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Letter to the super

Dear Dr. Superintendent

I am writing to you today for many reasons, as you know our students need more physical and mental stimulation while in there physical education class. I feel I can accomplish this goal by adding in a step aerobic unit. Step aerobics has many positive benefits, such as, social interaction, increased heart rate, increased flexibility and stamina. Also while performing step aerobics students can burn up to 300-500 calories in just one class. Also while doing the step aerobic routine the students have to think what foot goes on the board and what moves come next. This constant cognitive stimulation will help the students react faster. Step aerobics has been around since the 1990’s it is a minimal impact activity that increases the heart rate. There are many opportunities for students to partake in this activity such as using the Wii, taking classes or purchasing DVD’s. All these item’s cost money, so the students are un interested, I feel if we offer step aerobics during class students will understand the importance of this activity.
There is minimal cost in this step aerobic unit. What would be needed to purchase is step boards, these step boards range anywhere from $9.00 to $46.00. There is no need for the school to create a special room for this activity either. The students can set the step boards up before class and put them away after class. There is no need for videos or DVD players because I am a trained step aerobic instructor. I have created routines and activities for about 3 years now. All we need are step boards and a boom box. This activity is very feasible, not only does it help the students with there physical endurance but it helps them socially and mentally.
Not only can we offer this activity during school, we can use the step boards and run after school work out programs for students that are interested. Also we can run programs that faculty and community members can pay and sign up for. This way we can get a little bit of money back to pay off the step boards. Not only are we creating healthy students but we can create a healthy community. This is an inexpensive and creative way to give back to the school.

255 daily burn






III. I really don’t like the daily burn. It is very confusing I don’t know what they want me to put in and what I should be looking at. I don’t feel I need to track when I work out or what I eat. I am already at a healthy fitness zone, and I know what to eat how much to eat and when to eat. This program would be good for a person who need’s out side motivation to watch what they eat and how to work out.

iv. I would use this website as a guide line for all students. I wouldn’t tell them to lose weight or to gain weight. I would have this website for them to look at to see for them selves to get into a healthy fitness zone. Some students maybe more interested in building muscles or cutting carbohydrates. This website will serve as an outside source for information. For them to have there own outside the class room motivation this website will help. The students can have a constant reminder and assistance all on line.

V.I think one tool that would be most reliable for the LS#1A would be pedometers and heart rate monitors. These’s are the most accurate tool measuring the students fitness in the class room. Out side the class room students can make up there data and the calorie intake. Also the students will be able to track there step count. There are some wonderful sites that track step counts. Everyday they can log in there step counts and see how far they are walking across the United States or the wall of china.

255 final

1. The website is from CBC.ca, North America, Canada, Saskatoon

2. I think it’s really sad how the students are being sent to this school, not knowing how to read and write when in 8th grade. It is interesting that the study shows that when they are physically active they are able to get a mental work out too. It refreshing to see administrators and principles behind this findings. I don’t know if I agree with the physical fitness in the classroom, because most teachers are not as educated in physical activity as we are.

3. The teachers are putting the physical fitness in the classroom, totally getting rid of physical education in a gym. I feel that minimal physical activity in a classroom would be appropriate. But the bulk of there physical fitness should be in the gym. Being a physical education teacher we are trained to teach physical fitness.

4. Students that participate in physical activity in class are easier to deal with. The behavioral problems drop and the teacher can actually teach. I feel like the old physical education will not have these outcomes but the new physical education that we are trying to get into will have these same benefits and outcomes if the teacher actually cares abut there students. The NYS standards are pushing toward these goals but they don’t give you the proper material, they are just guide lines to follow. The teacher can follow them or not, so the teacher is the main source of pushing the standards or not.

5. BDNF, is a protein also know as brain derived neurotrophic factor. This protein help’s with the growth of neutrons. The more neutrons we have the faster our reaction time and mental capacity increases. Two books that talk about BDNF are : Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey and
“Nature's Ritalin for the Marathon Mind” by Stephen C. Putnam

Monday, May 10, 2010

Show your self off


Today I went to the portfolio showcase. It was really cool to see how everyone did there portfolio, some where done very clean cut and boring. While others had bright colors and cool cut out which really brought out there personality. The one girl I talked to was very nice, while iI was looking through her portfolio I realized we had taken some of the same classes, so this gave me ideas for my own portfolio. It was also refreshing to hear there stories of how hard it was but they made it through. A lot of the people there kept saying save everything, everything and anything can go into your book. Everyone there was very personable and excited to show off what they had accomplished. I'm glad I went and saw what I need to strive to be. I have some work a head of me. But sooner or later I will be on the other end of the table showing off what I got.