Want to see what other teachers in Johnston County are doing in their classrooms? Want to get innovative ideas from others across the district? In this section, we'll spotlight powerful practices and how teachers throughout JCPS are embracing the vision of JoCo2020. Subscribe to the blog to get updates directly to your email!
An Innovative Approach to PE
Relationships, Relevance, & Innovation are all great in theory. But how do those relate to areas like Physical Education? Is there really a way to innovate PE?
YES! Not only is it possible... it's happening right here in our district!
Cleveland High School's Physical Education department is turning the typical "gym class" on its head. Starting with the students.
"My personal goal as a PE teacher is to make PE enjoyable to ALL students so that each student is inspired to continue to be active long after our class is complete," shared Kenny Watkins, PE teacher and PE department head at Cleveland High.
Today, the PE department is currently comprised of...
Kenny Watkins - department head, team sports, personal fitness, Lifetime Sports
Shelley Johnston - Health & PE
Tim Evans - Health & PE
Jason Morris - Health & PE, team sports
Scott Riley - weight lifting
Brad Wilkie - weight lifting
Jennifer Collins - functional fitness (guest teacher for Personal Fitness)
Today, the PE department is currently comprised of...
Kenny Watkins - department head, team sports, personal fitness, Lifetime Sports
Shelley Johnston - Health & PE
Tim Evans - Health & PE
Jason Morris - Health & PE, team sports
Scott Riley - weight lifting
Brad Wilkie - weight lifting
Jennifer Collins - functional fitness (guest teacher for Personal Fitness)
"We are always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire students at Cleveland High School. Our 'So You Think You Can Dance - CvHS' was our latest new idea and it was a huge success."
What Coach Watkins is referring to is their recent dance unit. To best meet both learner needs and to use as much expert knowledge in the building as possible, they decided to collaborate with the Theater department. To build background knowledge, the theater department provided upfront instruction in a few choreography styles, like that of Bob Fosse and Fatima Robinson. With this in hand, students were tasked with choreographing 64 counts, then performing their routines to an audience.
The results were impressive. See some of the highlights below:
If you cannot see the video below, click here to view.
So, was this a one-time venture?
Not at all! In fact, on the day we visited, students were taking a new approach to the game of volleyball.
This is no ordinary game of volleyball. Taking a more student-centered approach, students created a new rule each time their team scored 3 points in a row. Because both teams had to follow the new rule, they had to think pretty strategically about what rules would help them both offensively and defensively.
Rules students created and enforced included:
- No boundaries or out of bounds. The entire gym was now the court. Ceilings, bleachers, everything.
- Tennis Rule (the ball could bounce one time before someone hit it).
- Play with a new ball (hence the giant "beach" ball in the video above).
- Unlimited hits per team (to replace the typical max of 3 hits per team).
- One person can hit the ball unlimited times.
There was a lot of debate when it was time to determine a new rule.
Wait, would that make a point for us? Let's think about this.
We shouldn't have done that. (when they decided to put boundaries back in the game)
Add push-ups. (Team Response: NOOOOO!! We are not adding push-ups, man!)
Students spent a lot of time analyzing which strategies worked best for their team. And in the midst, discovered why some rules were in place... such as having alternating hitters in volleyball.
"Students are much more invested and engaged because they have an opportunity to show their personality, show & develop leadership skills, and build teamwork without me - the teacher - forcing it."
We have to agree with Coach Watkins. Acting only as referees, the coaches provided very little guidance to students. It was up to teams to evaluate what worked for them, create new rules, evaluate the results, and repeat throughout the game.
Where do they get their ideas?
Along with a good bit of networking and thinking outside the box as a group, Coach Watkins mentioned they also use Voxer as a way to get ideas from other PE teachers across the nation. Capitalizing on the idea of teachers being better together, coaches gain ideas from a large scale PLN.
"Some of our Advanced PE classes have a final exam where students use skills learned throughout the semester to create new games, activities, and workouts. That's always exciting, and we've incorporated some of the activities designed by former students into our lesson plans."
Engaging teenagers in gym by handing the reins over, creating lifelong athletes, leaders, and collaborators - all through Physical Education.
Published in honor of the late Coach John Jacobs, Smithfield-Selma High graduate and long-time coach at Cleveland High School.
April 15, 1968 - October 24, 2017
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