The student teaching experience can be a time of application and learning for the student. The purpose of this study was to investigate the types of interactions student teachers had during their elementary physical education teaching experience. The subjects were three senior physical education majors that had completed all of their class work…

Basketball bowling was developed after students in the authors' physical education class participated in a bowling unit sponsored through Bowl America. Basketball bowling is a lead-up activity for elementary-age students that incorporates basic skills from basketball and bowling. The general object of this activity is to be the first team to roll…

This article summarizes the themes which emerged from a year-long study of effective elementary physical education teachers. Themes include: the paradox of professional status, seriousness toward the profession; the politics of inclusion; professional isolation; lack of power; the expansion of teachers' scopes as they gain experience; and outside…

Explains the importance of performance assessment in physical education, addressing two questions that physical educators must consider. The first, what to assess, involves locating and identifying student achievement targets. The second, how to describe performance, includes identifying and describing a vision of success. Two examples from the…

Field experiences in the training of preservice teachers (PTs) play an important role in most colleges of education. While some concerns have been expressed about the effectiveness of field experiences (Feiman-Nemser & Buchmann, 1986), the benefits, as summarized by McIntyre (1983), support the need for these experiences. One of the benefits is…

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…

The optimal place to accentuate a sound physical fitness program for children at the elementary level is within a well-designed playground. The playground can offer natural fitness development and within this setting the physical education teacher can be the most influential with all children, not just with those who are physically active and…

This study gives an overview of the organization, scope, and content of the school physical education programs provided for boys and girls at primary, intermediate, and secondary school levels around the world. Part 1 contains information supplied by respondents in 81 countries on the following points: (a) major objectives of physical education,…

This book presents ideas for constructing and utilizing homemade recreational equipment for elementary school children. Each chapter deals with acquisition of materials, construction of equipment, and developmental objectives and activities for using the equipment with children. A chapter called "Save Your Junk" gives instructions on how to make…

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…

Findings are reported from a study which investigated how seven elementary physical education specialists developed rules, managerial routines, and performance expectations at the start of the school year. Routines and rules are identified, and instructional techniques are discussed. Comparisons are made based on years of experience and grade…

Findings are reported from a study of two beginning physical education teachers. Successful and problematic experiences are identified; relationships with administrators, peers, students, and parents are discussed; and the experiences of these two teachers are compared to the experiences reported by veteran teachers and classroom research…

Results are reported from a study which compared attitudes of fourth and fifth grade children (N=414) toward physical activity in classes taught by specialists (N=4) versus those taught by nonspecialists (N=7). Findings suggest that teachers play a minimal role in children's attitudes toward physical activity. (IAH)

The purpose of the study was to examine the ecologies of two teachers and the extent that each teacher's agenda aligned with instructional activities and assessments for each unit of instruction. Data were collected in four ways: (1) videotaped record of each lesson, (2) live observation field notes and expanded field notes from the videotape, (3)…

This study investigated the effects of an intervention--audio-cuing--on teaching behaviors of a male elementary school physical education teacher with five years of teaching experience. The audio-cuing intervention was applied by way of a micro-cassette recorder that was concealed in the teacher's clothing. Cues were prerecorded and could be heard…