The Importance of Variety
‘They’ say that variety is the spice of life. I’m not sure who ‘they’ are but I believe it is our duty as teachers to make this a reality for our students in physical education. We never know what sport, activity or exercise might grab them. We never know what experience might shape their future. It might be a favourite game they learn in class or perhaps they see an athlete’s performance that sparks their desire to try a new sport.
This year we are expanding on the phys ed staples and giving students a crack at ‘new-to-them’ activities such as speed skating, skiing, snowboarding and inline skating. We are bringing our grade 5 and 6 students to the Tim Hortons Brier to experience Canada’s best in men’s curling. Classroom teachers are learning new fit break activities they can use in their class on a daily basis as quick energizers to spur learning.
As elementary teachers, we don’t always see the fruits of our labour immediately in our students. Ideas, learning and habits often need time to percolate. A few years ago I had a former student receiving a school award for excellence in floor hockey. In his speech he thanked me for teaching him not only the skills of floor hockey, but for teaching him persistence and determination.
You never know what will grab your students or when it might take hold, but without variety they may never find that something that keeps them active for a lifetime.
Michael Vahaaho teaches a little bit of everything at Catherine Nichols Gunn School. He is a sports enthusiast who has more superhero t-shirts than a grown man should.
This year we are expanding on the phys ed staples and giving students a crack at ‘new-to-them’ activities such as speed skating, skiing, snowboarding and inline skating. We are bringing our grade 5 and 6 students to the Tim Hortons Brier to experience Canada’s best in men’s curling. Classroom teachers are learning new fit break activities they can use in their class on a daily basis as quick energizers to spur learning.
As elementary teachers, we don’t always see the fruits of our labour immediately in our students. Ideas, learning and habits often need time to percolate. A few years ago I had a former student receiving a school award for excellence in floor hockey. In his speech he thanked me for teaching him not only the skills of floor hockey, but for teaching him persistence and determination.
You never know what will grab your students or when it might take hold, but without variety they may never find that something that keeps them active for a lifetime.
Michael Vahaaho teaches a little bit of everything at Catherine Nichols Gunn School. He is a sports enthusiast who has more superhero t-shirts than a grown man should.
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