Lab C day two

Today we taught the second part of our lab C, it didn't go as well as I would have liked but there isn't anything I can do about that now except to do better next time. We were in the field house this time and Eddie went first. Eddie went over the classroom rules and then choking from the front and from behind. When it was my turn I was really nervous because today's lesson was on punching and I had not spent much time on it. I didn't go over the classroom rules because Eddie had just done so, and when I started teaching the polar guy was talking about the heart rate monitors and I got confused. I just stood there until he was done and then had to get my brain engaged. I talked with Russ before the lesson and made sure he was comfortable with punching and then had him volunteer to be my demo. Instead of me trying to show the techniques I wasn't completely comfortable doing, I picked someone who had done it before and had him perform the task and I simply told the class the important cues of his actions. Then I had the students line up across from their partners and punch switching hands each time... this was NOT what I had planned. My plan was to go through making a fist, and then one hand punching, then the five count punching, then alternating at your own tempo... I completely forgot the first three steps! As I was going through making sure everyone was using the right techniques I realized that a few of the students didn't quite understand, so I decided to back track. I wanted to make sure that I gave each individual person feedback but what ended up happening was everyone just standing there punching for the first five and a half minutes. Then I got out the punching pads. I should have skipped them! When you pass out the punching pads, you have each person come over and do a respect bow, this took too long, and once we got back out to the activities, time was up. It would have been a better use of time if I had just done my closure instead of getting them out... I could have used them as my hook for next class.

ULTIMATE!

The Ultimate game! Part of our 255 teaching experience is working with others. Our class got together to teach an ultimate unit, this was a very interesting assignment. As a class We created on Unit plan, this ultimate, Ultimate plan was on google docs, so we could all access it and make changes to it. Then our class taught the lesson, the first person taught the easiest skill and then each person's task got more difficult as the lesson went on. It was really interesting to teach. just a part of the lesson, you had to make sure that your part fed off of the person before you and set up the next persons topic. I taught the class how to catch the disc on the tip of your finger, catch behind your back, and how to set up the stack drill. It was fun showing the class how to catch the disc in different ways, both ways can be used when your trying to outdo your opponent to catch the disc and move your team forward. The stack drill is very similar to the stack drill in soccer and basketball, and just as in theses sports... it works! The teams all understood the drill and performed it correctly but when they were playing against another team they didn't use the play which made me wonder if they truly understood the value and purpose of the drill.
A copy of the transcript of this lesson.

Teaching Dribbling again

Basketball!
After teaching the first day of class I felt like I knew what I was talking about and I was confident in my abilities. Then I watched the video and realized that I had a lot of things to improve on. I was very excited when I learned that we were going to be able to teach our first lessons again. I felt that Michelle and I could do a really good job if we got another chance. After teaching basketball again I realized that I was correct in my assumptions. It was more fun teaching the second time, I understood what was expected a little bit more and knew what things to focus on. The only thing that was worse than teaching the first day was the fact that all the basketballs were flat! How do you teach dribbling when the balls don't bounce? I'll tell you how, you improvise. I had the students use the few basketballs that would bounce and then I had the rest of the students use volleyballs.
I think teaching the second time around worked much better, the students were focused in on our instruction, and listened to everything we said. I also learned the importance of the meanings of the words. For example, the first time I taught I told the students not to let the ball hit their palm but instead to dribble with their finger tips. In reality that's not what you want them to do at all. The students need to dribble with their finger pads. Luckily the students in the class understood how to dribble a ball and it wasn't an issue. I could tell the was a big difference between my day one and day two teaching which made me excited to see what was to come.

SUNY Cortland Mini Conference

Sepak Takraw

My first experience at the SUNY Cortland Mini Conference... All I can say is WOW!

There was so much enthusiasm and energy in Park Center during the mini conference! We started the day setting up D.J.'s Sepak takraw exhibit in the far gym then when to the main gym and met up with the rest of the 255 class. We had come up with a plan to enter the gym from the side doors, stomping into the gym with the Queen Rhythm stomp, stomp, clap, and singing: we will, we will, teach you. It was an idea our 255 class came up with the day before. After that we led the visitors in a warm up meeting all the people in the stands, and who can forget the sociables, and the standing ovations.

After the introduction speeches there was a really great key note speaker, who's speech left at least one thing with me... "There are no disabled people, we are all just differently abled". Then it was off to the activities. My favorite one was the cup stacking... Mainly because we got to keep the cups! But I also enjoyed the very informative polar lecture, and the exergames were pretty cool. The whole building had people running back and forth to all the exhibits it was really a fun experience and I look forward to next year’s!

Learning to learn differently

EDU 255
When you think about college and learning in general you think about, sitting at a desk, taking notes until your hand hurts, and trying to read everything to be confident in your content knowledge for the upcoming class. Usually you do not have to worry about this for day one, it is usually an easy walk through of what the class is going to be like. However in Yang's 255 class you better be ready to go! The first day we were video taped teaching our classmates a skill. This is panic mode for some... are we going to be graded? What are we supposed to concentrate on? We have to be videotaped? For me I was a little unsure, being in front of people does not bother me, but not knowing what to do does. Naturally I went right to the basketballs. I have been taped before but it was back when I used to play competitive sports, so it was completely different. When your playing a game your ready for it, you have worked hard and you know your skills are at there best. That day in 255 I knew that I was not ready for what was being asked. Can I teach someone how to dribble... yes, can I speak loudly and confidently in front of a group... yes, can I make up a public speaking speech and give it with out the teacher knowing I was making it up... yes. But, I am confident in my abilities to do so. Teaching is something I have not done before, and although I believe I will be a great teacher I do not believe that I have the skills to do so... YET. So teaching a skill to a class made up of my peers who already know how to do the skill (dribble a basketball) for some reason is difficult for me.
When you study for a test you know that you know the answers, but how do I know that I am teaching correctly? I could not stop wondering if I was doing it right, or if I was talking about the things I should have been.
Upon watching the video I realized that I need to stop worrying about all of that and concentrate on the task at hand, and be more enthusiastic about it. I also noticed that are many more things I need to work on to be an effective instructor.

More than gym

Hello,

My name is Coach Graham! I believe that there is more to Physical Education than what the past "gym" classes have shown us. Physical Education is not simply about who can run the fastest, or hit the farthest. It is about teaching individuals to value being active.