Book Talk The Walkathon

The Walkathon by Jan Weeks and Illustrations Pat Reynolds.

Fiction on the third or fourth grade level.

Author Tidbit

Jan Weeks holds a BA in English and in Speech. She is not only an award winning author, but she also is a an experienced public speaker. She also conducts writing seminars and is greatly respected and in great demand.

Opinion of the Book

This is a great book for my third and fourth grade PE students for several reasons. First, it teaches diversity. It shows students how to be respectful to students who may be disabled. It centers around a school walkathon that supports physical fitness. The main character Peter, who is confined to a wheelchair, is determined to compete in the walkathon and with the help of his classmates, he succeeds.

Short Synopsis

Each year Peter's school conducts a Walkathon, where students get sponsors and raise money for their school. The student who walks the most laps gets a "mystery" prize. The students are very excited and curious about the mystery prize. Peter's job the year before was to hand out oranges to the walkers. He wants to participate. The teacher reminds him that parts of the walking path is bumpy and hilly. She worries that he could not make it in his wheelchair. However, one students volunteers to help push Peter over roof spots, then anther student volunteers, and another so on.

Highlight

Peter's mom and dad support him believing that he is strong enough. He gets lots of sponsors. At the race, Peter is able to keep up until he comes to a hill. Michael helps push in over the hill. Olivia helps him over a rocky path. Peter makes the first lap, and he gets a sticker. He isn't tired and he goes for another lap, and another, and another. That night Peter is tired and has no trouble going to sleep. The next day at school Peter finds out that he made the most laps.

Hook

Who actually won the "mystery price"? What was the price? The winner had a surprise for everyone, too. What was that surprise? To find out read The Walkathon.

Book Talk Lafitte's Black Box

Lafitte's Black Box

by

Jake Weber

A Historical Fiction for Middle School Students

Author Tidbit
Jake Weber, a lifelong resident of Louisiana, enjoys researching and studying history. His professional background is in the medical field.

Opinion of the Book
This is a great book for Middle Level Students. It is full of mystery, treasures, pirates and nightmares. The characters in the book are Middle School kids who have to deal with the same problems that kids that age deal with when they have to adjust to a new school, a new town and new friends.

Short Synopsis
Devereaux Parker is your average boy trying to make it in a new city. Devereaux was uprooted from home in Natchez and moved to New Orleans. Fitting in a new town and new school is hard. When he falls asleep his dreams take him into the past, back to Natchez and back to old new Orleans. In his dreams, he is part of a pirate crew held against his will.

Highlight
When he can no longer control what is real and what is imagined, Devereaux discovers a box that has been buried for centuries. He goes on a mission to find Lafitte's treasure through the streets of New Orleans.

Hook
In his dreams, he is captive of pirates. It is only when he wakes up that he is able to get away from the pirates. What will happen if he doesn't wake up? Will he be forever captive of this band of pirates? Will he find Lafitte's long lost treasure? Read Lafitte's Black Box to find out.

Future Bulldog

That future Bulldog number 50 is my two year old son. He comes on field after each game and walks me off the field. It doesn't get any better than that.

I can't believe that football season is over. We made it to the second round of the playoffs. Man, that was great. My guys were great. But, I will admit that it has been a hard semester with football and MAT. Every minute has been full. Actually, I am looking forward to getting home at a decent hour. I can spend some time with my little boy, and we still have lots of assignments due for this semester. So, with a little more time I hope that I won't feel as stressed.

I have started reading The Teacher's Funeral and it really is funny. So, if you haven't read it go for it because it really is funny.

Getting the Offensive Line Ready for the Playoffs

We are having a great year. The offensive line has really stepped up. I couldn't be prouder of the guys. I really like this picture. That's me in the shades. I really work with the guys on being team players. In fact, my second book talk--You Gotta Get in the Game-- really brings home that lesson I am encouraging my guys to read the book. It is easy reading, twelve chapters, that motivates you to do your best. It outlines what it takes to be a winner, such as, be a team player, set goals, think positive, be honest, deal with adversity in positives ways, and be coachable. What I really like about the book is that the same ideals needed to be a winner on the football field are the same ideals that will help you be a winner in life.

I don't think anyone would believe the time involved in coaching. It's one am or later on Friday nights, up early to be at the field house on Saturday morning to grade films. Take today, our district is out for AEA days. But, the coaching staff has been at the field house most of the day getting ready for Dollarway tonight.
You know what though, it is the best. I'm not even missing having time to bow hunt; well, not too much.

Coaches, Coaches, Coaches

I always knew that I wanted to coach and collaborate with coaches. However, as an athletic coach, I never thought that I would be collaborating with academic coaches.

These are the women who provide the support and encouragement that I need as a new teacher.

The top photo is Faye Jackson, the district math coach, and my mentor. The second is Cindy Griffin, the district literacy coach. I collaborate with both of these ladies.

In the picture with Ms. Jackson, we are finishing up on post-observation of my teach. I need to work on Domain B. I don't joke a lot. With kids this age, without structure they can get loud and off task. So I am looking for ways that I can include a little humor without disruptions. When I was reviewing he rules of soccer, I used a power point that included animated graphics. Also, I ended with a picture of David Beckham. I asked the kids if they knew who this was. A couple said, "you." So I took that opportunity to have a little fun. My other problem with B is calling the kids by name. Of course, I am getting better, but I have 360 kids that I see once a week for 40 minutes. It is a challenge.

She has really helped me find things such as policies, emergency drills, etc. She has given me great strategies incorporating technology into my PE classes. She suggested the power point. She encouraged me to get the Wii.

I told her that I had to do a book talk on a trade book. I didn't even know what a trade book was. Well, she did not either, but she told me to talk with Ms.Griffin, the literacy coach.

Ms. Griffin is pictured in second photo. I met with her and told her that I had several book talks to do using trade books that were appropriate to my classes. She was great. She told me that there was a book room off the library that contained trade books arranged by subject and grade level. She also helped me pick out several. We also talked about how I could encourage literacy in my PE classes.

Wii Fitness for PE

All the rain has put my PE classes in the gym. We are getting ready to learn the game of volley ball. My PE classes are only forty minutes. That really isn't much time. The teachers bring them to the gym, and at the end of each class I walk them back to their classrooms. It seems that we just get started when the period ends. The thing that I really like about the elementary kids is that they always want to participate.

The Arkansas standards require that teachers of K-6 students can not teach over 500 students. JBE has 815 kids. These classes come to PE on a rotating basis. I teach 3 classes a day which equates to 15 classes a week. I have 360 kids. The biggest problem is learning their names.

Note the circles on the gym floor. Each student is assigned a circle. When they come into the gym, they go to their circle. It really organizes the class. I also collaborate with Coach K who teaches the other 25 classes. We are working on the President's Fitness Challenge. In December, we plan to asses the students using the President's Fitness Challenge rubric. Basically, we coordinate our lessens.

I was able to get the Wii sports games and the Wii fitness. I am getting it set up. The kids are very excited and are looking forward to using it. I think it will be a good way to incorporate technology.

Sam's Blog

http://stmcghee.blogspot.com/

True Blue

I am the tall one to the left. The others are my eager, can't wait to get started, go-getter seventh graders.

This is the first class of the day. It really starts the day off right.

These guys really have heart. They all have confidence and believe that they will one day be a starter on the high school team. I just wish that they would never lose that drive and enthusiasm.

A Star is born!

I finally finished my first formative video. Just getting all of the permission slips signed allowing me to video the kids was a tremendous job. I sent home letters Friday. I asked the kids to return them by Tuesday. Actually, I got most of them back that day; however, I lacked about five in each class. I enlisted the classroom teachers to help me. I made a few phone calls but when I was ready to video, I had them. The videoing was a trip, too. I had a couple of folks video for me--I thought with 2 cameras rolling surely I could get at least one good video. I think I did. Both videos had good footage and bad footage. I did not have the expertise to merge the two.

Other than athletics, the only classes that I teach are elementary classes. I meet these classes just once a week for forty minutes. I really worried about the forty minutes because the directions called for forty-five minutes, but I don't set the schedule. Add to that, I share a gym. The teacher before me was teaching volley ball. So, when I came in the volley ball net was set up. I had to take the net down and put up the soccer nets because as luck would have it--it was raining outside. I have to leave the middle school to get the elementary, so I don't have a lot of time for set-up. But, hey, you know what, it worked out. I was, for the most part, pleased with my teach and video. One thing that I want to work on is grouping and questioning.

I was very pleased with the performances of the kids. I have been talking to them about fair play and supporting each other. During the lesson, the kids cheered each other.

I don't expect to be picked up as a reality show, though.

Right on Target!

My district requires that all teachers post a Target Board in their classrooms. These Boards are to reinforce the Benchmark standards; Advanced (I stay physically fit by daily exercise and healthy nutrition), Proficient (I exercise daily), Basic (I participate every now and then, but seldom get my heart rate up) and Below Basic (I never participate or get my heart rate up). The goal is for students to talk the language of the Benchmark and EOC exams. As I don't have a classroom, I put my target board in the Wellness Center where PE classes meet. If I have to say so--or write so--myself, I think it is right on target.

One of my goals is to teach my students to live physically fit lives. I teach nutrition as well as exercise. I taught at Star City a couple of years ago. At that time, I had PE classes at the high school. For the first time at the high school, there was a PE facility. An accomplishment that I am very proud of is the Wellness Center. I worked with the Superintendent that year to establish a fitness center. Using Pepsi money, the district bought both cardiovascular and strength equipment and and placed the machines in the what is now referred to as the fitness center. Not only is it used by the high school PE classes and athletics, but also teachers and community workout after school hours. This year, I asked the Superintendent to purchase a Cybex Cable Cross Over Machine. She wrote this purchase into her Stimulus budget and received approval.

First Teacher/Parent Conference

I finally heard from my parent whose child I had to give a strike. My neighbor teachers told me that I probably would not hear from her, but Idid. I left a message on her phone and asked her to come in for a conference. She came. It was good visit. She wants her child to do well in school. I told her that I also want him to do well. We both agreed to work with him for improvement. I really felt good after the conference. She was not angry or defensive. I tried to be supportive and caring. My mom has been in the education business for a long time. She always says that kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. She also says that when you are good to their kids, parents respond in a positive way. I think that she has something there.

Something else that I have learned is that teachers must be flexible. I consider myself a very organized, ordered person. I like to plan and follow my plan; however, in the classroom things occur and you must "monitor and adjust." This week, I learned that my method of getting the attention of elementary students is not fool proof. I told my students that when I blow my whistle, they are to get quiet. Well, it works in varying degrees. They get quiet; then little pockets of conversation start up. I discovered that if they sit down order is more consistent.

Working with my mentor has created some problems because of my schedule. Because I am on all three campuses, my prep time, which is only 40 minutes, is used to get to one campus or the other. We were going to meet during lunch for reflection on my teach, but she got tied up. We are going to try and meet Monday. One of the problems that I have with my elementary classes is that I only meet them once a week. Basically, I have 330 elementary kids, and I am having a hard time learning their names. My mentor and I have knocked around some ideas--one being name tags. You know the kind with the plastic holder and elastic band to loop around their knecks. But, with only 40 minutes of class time that would really eat into their PE instruction.

Rain, Football, Strikes

Between all the rain and the running from one campus to the next, things couldn't get more involved. Teaching is a real balancing act. Throw in football practice until all hours--you are probably thinking, "Yeah, right!" Football practice in this monsoon. But, yes, we are. Now we don't have one of those fancy indoor practice complexes, so we make do. We have a little piece of ground right next to the bus barn that-get this--is on high ground. That's where we have been able to practice. We are a tough bunch. All in all,football has been going great. I have some great kids. I know that coaches sometimes get a bad rep, but they really work hard. After the kids leave at whatever time, then comes the getting ready for the next day which involves lots of planning and washing and whatever else needs to be done.

One of math teachers, who was also my high school math teacher, talked to me a couple of days ago about a couple of guys who were struggling. So, I am trying to motivate them to try a little harder in the classroom. I'm trying to get them take part in before school tutoring. Coaches coach on and off the field. I glad to have this job.

Now, to a down side. In one of my elementary PE classes, I have had a discipline issue that I had to give the student a strike. The Strike is a little write-up that that the child has to take home and get signed and bring back the next day. Well, of course, the Strike hasn't been brought back. The next step is call the parent. Several teachers told me, "Good luck." Evidently, they have never been able to contact the parent. I have made three phone calls. No results. Now, I am trying to come up strategies that will motivate the student to particpate without having to resort the next step--the office.

Link to Another Cool Blog

http://andrew-echlin.blogspot.com/

http://laurabethbottoms.blogspot.com

First Blog

Well, this is my first ever blog. It has been a hectic and exciting beginning of school. I work on three different campuses. My day starts with 7th grade athletics; then I am off to the elementary to teach 3 classes of elementary PE. Following that, I am back at the high school for Jr. High and Sr. High Athletics. This is actually my second year to teach, but my first year to teach elementary PE. I don't mind saying that at first I was a little nervous, but I soon found out that these smaller guys love PE. They all think they can do anything! When I taught high school PE, I was disappointed that most of the students did not want to participate.

I have had a couple of rough spots, though. Yesterday, I had to sit one of my 3rd graders out. She started crying. It was the first time I had experienced tears. Man, that's hard!

It is also hard keeping up with each campus' procedures.