Landon Mitchell Blog: Week 1 Jan.8-Jan.11

Day 1 Jan.8
-Today was the first day back for all the students. Each semester each student starts a new schedule. With all the students starting a new class schedule the teachers also have a new set of kids in each class.
-1st hour, I started of the day in freshmen P.E. The freshmen class will go a semester of health and a semester of P.E. and vice versa. My cooperating teacher and I met the freshmen in the north gym and went over the expectations for the next few weeks. We lashed out how the semester will proceed and revealed the first unit as swimming for 6 weeks.
-2nd hour I have a prep period, I was able to see how my co-op. teacher interacts with his student and he went over the syllabus and exceptions semester.
-3nd hour is a soph.,jun., and sen. class that focuses on team sports. The syllabus/polices and procedures packet was handed out to all students and we went over in packet in detail. Some students raised their hands and asked about the rental service for shirt and shorts, and they also asked about why they have to make up and excused absence. It was explained by using a math quiz example: if you miss a math quiz you still need to make it up at a later date, Reavis offers a 25 min class at the end of the day if students need to make up work. In P.E. students are able to make up excused absences to receive full points. While in team sports class students will learn the rules and regulations of each sport unit, fundamentals and skills, and team play at the end of the unit. The team play will be in either a king court or tournament style play and students will be assessed during that time.
-4th hour is a soph., jun., and senior weight lifting class.  We went over the polices and procedures just like the last class. In weight training class the students are to perform the exercised that are written on the wall in the weight room each day. On Wednesday the students will be in the fitness center working on their target heart rate zone throughout the semester. After a three week period we will offer for students work out in the weight room on their own provided they send us a detailed work out regiment.
-5th hour 5A lunch 5B “home room” or study hall supervision. Students are allow to work on any material and I they do not have a thing they are allowed to use their phones.
-6th hour I switch to my other cooperating teacher for the last two periods. This class is a soph., jun., and senior fitness class. We went over the policies and procedures for the semester. I was able to introduce myself and let everyone know what I am looking forward to in the 9 weeks that I am at Reavis.
-7th hour was very similar as 6th hour. This fitness class is based solely on fitness based activities. The class will be doing most of their activities in the fitness center which is filled with 5 different types of machines: elliptical, treadmills, stair master, ski elliptical, and stationary bicycle.
- the last 30 min. of the day is classed Ram period “ for Reavis Rams”, this class allows students to make up work. For P.E. this period is used for making up classes missed or no dress points. This class I think is a great opportunity for students to catch up on work and if they do not go to any class or location for Ram period, students are allowed to leave.

Day 2 January 9th 2019
This day we had full P.E. classes and students dressed. This day I was still observing the students as my cooperating teachers taught their class. I was able to ask them questions procedures during specific situations. What happens if a student acts out? If there is an emergency am I able to leave the class with the student leader? What are the responsibilities of the student leaders? I was also able to help out with the freshmen swimming class. This class is a combined freshmen class, there are two PE teachers in the pool and two full classes.

During the last two hour of my day I was with the fitness classes. I was able to ask questions about grading and the computer system that all the teachers use for attendance, grading, etc. My co-op teachers helped me create assignments in the grade book and taught me how to score each student. I learned how to keep track of information so if a parent contacts me I can give them the comments or concerns that I had on that particular situation. My co-op teachers really believe in respecting the students and the students will give the respect back. As we spoke in our orientation, the relationships you create with the students is different then normal life. You can be friendly to the students but you are not their friend. I have been meeting as many teachers as I can but it can be difficult with all the names to remember.

19.A.5b Participate daily in moderate to vigorous physical activity while performing movement patterns in a variety of activities. I picked this state standard because of the type of activities that  I will be teaching. In fitness class we usually use heart rate monitors to see if they students are hitting their target heart rates. But all the students were not in attendance so we will wait for everyone to get their heart rate straps and so we can put them in the computer system. We focused on performing an activity assessed them on the old fashion sweat test and and breathing patterns. They needed to keep moving the entire class period and show that they were working to the best of their ability.

Day 3&4 Thursday Jan. 10th & Friday Jan. 11th
Today was a lot more fast pace than the past two days. I was able help students learn a little about swimming, basketball, fitness, and weight lifting. Students were given a task to work out in the weight room and perform the 5 exercises that were posted on the wall. Before they started working out, videos of the 5 posted work outs were shown the students so they are able to reference good technique will lifting. The videos were pre-loaded onto the laptop so my co-op teacher can click play for time purposes. There is always some kind of set up or plan for each day to allow progression throughout the unit. I keep asking simple question about what to do when I start teaching the lesson. My co-op teachers answer right away and help me with anything I need for the next 8 weeks I am at my placement. I was informed on how to use a different part of the computer system to help with absences or no dress individuals. This could be used during all my class periods that I will be teaching. This specifically will come in handy with the swimming unit. Some students sit out of the pool due to religious reasons or if they are on their menstrual cycle. There is a specific assignment for the students that cannot swim they will be out for religious reasons. They are to create a 12 slide power point about swimming, there is a rubric so the students know what is expected.

I learned how the rental system works the students, but the first 3 weeks Reavis will not be handing out rentals to the students. They are able to but a uniform at the Ram store before school and during lunch. This is a new thing that the PE department is starting so that students are bringing their uniforms everyday and not renting.

Throughout the day I was informed on how to use the computer system and what is a good time to fill out the attendance, grades, and any other comments or students. The computer system that Reavis uses allows students to see in real time their grades and comments that are imported by each teacher. The way I was taught how to input attendance and grades seem to be very effective. I could use the methods that both of my cooperating teacher taught me, input everything either right after each class or import everything during Ram period.  This will be helpful so I do not fall behind on any grading or attendance. 

I thing that has most taken me off guard is in freshman swimming. There are some swimmers that are choosing not to swim, but there are also others that are not swimming because of their menstrual cycle or out for religious values. I should not say that I am feeling uncomfortable but it is a different viewpoint Then what I have experienced in my life so far. My background is in swimming and most of the kids I coached enjoyed it so you saw them in the appropriate swimsuits for their age. But with Reavis’s demographics of having a high population of Arabic students, they are on able to swim due to religious reasons. This is tough, because I believe all students should know how to swim because it is a life skill. And whether or not the students are choosing to swim or not to swim could be hurting them in learning a life skill.