The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that the size of physical education class be consistent with those of other subject areas (e.g. maximum 1:25 for ES, 1:30 for MS, 1:35 for HS) for safe and effective instruction. When students with special needs are included in regular physical education classes, their…

A well-designed professional development (PD) program serves to deepen and extend teachers' subject matter knowledge and extend and refine their teaching practices. However, professional development programs often fail to achieve sustained change in teacher practices and improvement in student learning. In this study the authors attempt to find…

Within Education Queensland's recent "new basics" curriculum initiative, Education Queensland developed 20 transdisciplinary learning and assessment tasks for Years 1 to 9, called "rich tasks". This paper critiques two of the rich tasks that were most closely aligned to knowledge and skills within the health and physical…

Objective: To present a model for an educational continuum that identifies entry-level to advance practice competencies and content for athletic training education. Background: Specific degree-level purposes within the context of higher education, in conjunction with professional needs should be addressed in athletic training education.…

The I CAN-Achievement Based Curriculum (ABC) program was designed to improve teaching and the quality of basic motor skill instruction in the subject area of physical education, the instructional levels of elementary through secondary, and for all children (handicapped and nonhandicapped) in mainstream and/or special education settings. The…

There is a growing concern from many sectors of our society that schools should get back to the "basics". One of the "basics" that is still struggling to survive is that of sound physical development coupled with a healthy attitude towards participation in a great variety of athletic endeavors. Makes the case for better, more participatory…

The article defines educational malpractice; identifies early cases; describes contemporary cases in special education, testing, and physical education; and summarizes elements for professionals to consider in program planning and curricula reform which will reduce the risk of a malpractice judgment. (CB)

The article outlines the occupational socialization perspective of the physical education curriculum by exploring 11 primary assumptions which call attention to the relationship among teachers, teacher educators, curricula, and social structure. (Author/CB)

A plan was developed to compensate for the lack of space for physical education activities. Additional space was found in the school lobby, hallways, and unused classrooms. Students were then permitted to select the course they wanted to take from a variety of new courses added to the curriculum. (JN)

Educators now understand that new methods of representing and reproducing knowledge are emerging. Using only a single mode of communication to teach may limit a student's ability to engage in the topic and remember what is being taught. Sign language is a visual language and it is also kinesthetic--two traits that make it especially useful in…

This report presents district guidelines and priorities for curriculum and instruction at four grade levels of a physical education program in the Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Arizona. Five basic terminal goals are stated: a) the student will develop the necessary motor skills for successful participation in a variety of physical activities; b) 100%…

The intent of this article is to inspire physical educators to reflect on their individual practices and to investigate ways to implement differentiation strategies in a learning environment that is not "one size fits all." They should know what differentiation is, and be familiar with numerous strategies that can be practiced in physical…

With growing concern over the "obesity epidemic" in children, schools have become the front line of defence in the "war against obesity". However there is a growing body of evidence of unintended harm associated with school-based health education programs framed as "obesity prevention", including body dissatisfaction,…

Teaching students the intelligent behaviors they need to succeed in school and later in life is much easier when you have this collection of stories and observations from teachers who have used the principles of ASCD's book "Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind" in their classrooms. Through these first-hand accounts, learn how the habits of…

The paper describes Project RISPE (Rural/Remote Interdisciplinary Special Physical Education) and its data-based psychomotor curriculum for profoundly/severely handicapped children ages 0-21. The curriculum, divided into five diagnostic/prescriptive areas (placement, baseline, instruction, post-test, and maintenance), includes over 300 specific…