Describes interpretations of one preservice elementary physical education teacher, who preferred received knowledge (i.e., coming to know by listening to others) to experiences in reflection (lesson and unit instruction, dialogue journals, and class discussions) that occurred during a methods course. Only slight changes in reflective abilities…

Describes Ohio's Westgate Alternative School of Academic and Physical Excellence which focuses on physical education. Westgate's philosophy is based on educating the total child--physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Physical education, critical-thinking skills, health, self-concept, self-esteem, the writing process, and lifetime learning…

Study examined relationships between the amounts and types of teacher behavior directed toward individual students. Researchers observed six experienced elementary physical education teachers. Teachers interacted differently with students who displayed different characteristics. Results suggest teachers unconsciously react to student…

Through cooperative games and play, children learn to share, empathize with others' feelings, and get along better. The article makes suggestions to physical educators on how to design games to teach students cooperative behaviors and how to incorporate them into class, noting four important game-design principles. (SM)

Examined preservice teachers' ability to use component-specific feedback to positively influence elementary students' performance on overhead throw. Researchers developed an instrument to record teachers' verbal behaviors concurrent with student performance. Analysis of videotapes indicated teachers had content knowledge but limited ability to…

Schoolwide events to promote healthy lifestyles include fitness field day; family-fitness night; geography run; school health fair; morning and evening stretches and workouts; Jump Rope for Heart, Hoops for Heart, and Step for Heart; All Children Exercising Simultaneously; holiday classics; neighborhood fitness trail; morning and evening workouts;…

Examined the practices and experiences of three elementary-level physical education teachers as they attempted to provide quality learning experiences to large classes of students. Data from lesson observations and interviews indicated that while the teachers provided high quality instruction, they were working under considerable hardship and had…

A coordinated school health program has numerous mutually reinforcing components: a healthy environment; comprehensive health education; physical education; health services; counseling, psychological, and social services; nutrition services; staff health promotion; and family and community involvement. Program implementation steps are outlined. A…

Believes that Emile Jaques-Dalcroze is not the only person who has affected movement-based instruction. Highlights the history of movement-based instruction in elementary music education by addressing the influence of Isadora Duncan and modern dance, the efforts of Francois Delsarte and Rudolph von Laban, and the role of remedial perceptual-motor…

When screening potential physical education teachers, principals should be aware of curriculum changes. Today's curriculum encompasses a balance of skills, concepts, games, educational gymnastics, rhythms, and dance experiences designed to enhance the cognitive, motor, affective, and physical-fitness development of every child. Teamwork and…

Used FITNESSGRAM fitness standards to compare passing rates of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) students with passing rates of National Children and Youth Fitness Study participants, examining body mass index (BMI) and 1-mile run (OMR) rates. The groups had similar BMI but differing OMR passing rates. There were gender- and age-related BMI and OMR…

Discusses the use of haiku as a stimulus for creative movement experiences, describing how physical education majors at one South Carolina university use haiku in this manner. The haiku activity promotes development in all three domains of learning (cognitive, psychomotor, and affective), and it addresses the skills included in South Carolina's…

Elementary students want to play traditional games like kickball. Teachers want them to learn developmentally appropriate skills. To meet everyone's needs, physical educators should build games progressively using the "Children Moving" approach, which satisfies all principles of developmental physical education using invariant, dynamic,…

Investigated the collaborative-research process between an elementary physical educator and a university researcher, describing what the process meant to each during their long-term collaboration. Data from participant observation with an autobiographical component indicated that there were two major themes: shared privilege and shared…

The movement meanings of students (n=19) in one fifth-grade class during a creative dance unit focusing on effort (force, time, space, flow) are investigated using a perspective grounded in transcendental phenomenology (Husserl, 1931). Data were collected via videotape, journal, and homework documents and semistructured interviews. Analytical…