Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! My very best to you and your families during this special time of year.

When we return from Winter Break we will be roller skating. Yahoo. I always encourage students to bring/wear helmets from home. Yes, we do provide them if needed. If students bring in their own, they can keep them in their hallway locker and bring them to class daily.

Stay active, healthy, and warm.

Week ending 12/11/09

We have been having so much fun bowling! We have 13 lanes set up in the gym. It really does resemble a real bowling alley, except for a few things - like no snack bar, etc. Students have really improved since we started last week. Our written test will be next week, as well as our trip to the AMF Lanes in Bolingbrook. I hope that all students will have their permission slips returned before their trip. 3rd grade goes on Tuesday. 4/5th grade goes on Thursday. Students are most excited, and so are the teachers.
After we return from our Winter Break we will be roller skating. We transform the gym from the bowling alley into the roller rink. Skates are rented and come to us in large crates. It's just terrific. Feel free to come in to watch us and/or help us tie roller skates for the 3rd grade students.
Stay warm, active and healthy.

Week ending 11/13/09

This is one of the fastest school years ever! It seems like we just began the year, and we're ending the first trimester already.
We finished our climbing wall unit and also had a great time using the scooters.
Next week we will have stations in the gym and will use the climbing ropes. It's great fun. Can you tell, I really like it all! I will also be attending the IAHPERD Convention for two days at the end of the week (Illinois Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance). What a wonderful experience it is to spend time with so many other teachers in your field. We get to view and try out new equipment, games, sports that pertain to us. The levels go from K - 12th gr. and include pool activities and driver's education. It's exciting to bring back new ideas to our district and Prairieview School as well.
Have a great weekend. Stay active, stay healthy

Week ending 11/06/09

Wow. What beautiful weather to end the week. We actually were able to get outdoors on Friday afternoon to take advantage of it. We tested for net games and most students scored very well. I was most impressed.
Our next unit is on the climbing wall. We began on Thursday, and are just having the most fun. Many students are surprised at how difficult it is to climb. I love it!
Hopefully we'll be able to spend time active time outdoors this weekend. There's many leaves to rake, bushes to prune, bikes to ride, etc. Stay active. Stay healthy.

Week ending 10/23/09

I cannot believe that another week has gone by! This school year is just flying.
We managed to get a few days of outdoors and ran the 50 yd. dash. We have some amazingly fast runners. I'm still hoping for a few more nice weather days, but certainly cannot count on it.
Next week we will probably finish up on net games. However, since we are weather dependent, it's always a mystery until the day actually begins.
I hope everyone is staying healthy. Stay active.

Week ending 10/16/09

It was sad saying good by to Mr. McDonald. He will start at Hinsdale South High School on Monday and will be there for the next eight weeks. Many students made special pictures and gave him their advice on how to be a great physical education teacher. Our very best wishes to him. Certainly, we'll stay in touch.
This week we played newcomb (lead up to volleyball). If the weather gets warmer next week, we'll try to go outdoors again to begin a track and field unit. Another cold, damp week will keep us indoors and we'll finish newcomb and begin deck tennis.
Remember - stay active, stay healthy.

Week ending 10/9/09

Wow! Can you believe that our student teacher, Mr. McDonald, only has one more week at Prairieview? He states that the experience has been fantastic and he will truly miss everyone - staff, as well as all students. After next week, he will be at Hinsdale South High School. We will surely miss him.
Remember - stay active, stay healthy.

Week ending 10/2/09

Fitness news - most classes were able to complete the 1/2 mile, or the mile. The weather was nice and cool, and we were able to work around the rain. Some of the scores were just excellent - some future cross country runners for sure. Other fitness tests included trunk lift and sit and reach. These are for flexibililty. We also do the flexed arm hang (upper body arm strength). Traditionally, our students, and most other students, don't fare well in this area. As Americans, we really need to improve our strength. We hope to complete the fitness testing next week and hopefully we'll be able to begin a track and field unit. It would be great if the weather cooperated.
Remember, stay active, stay healthy.

Week ending 9/24/09

We concluded our soccer/lacrosse unit this week with a written test, and began fitness testing. Some classes got lucky with the weather being cool and without rain, and so we were able to run the mile (1/2 for 3rd grade). Others got rained out. We began testing for flexibility in those classes that needed to be indoors. Next week is more of the same - fitness testing, both indoors and out depending on the weather.
Stay active, stay healthy.

Week ending 9/18/09

Wow! I cannot believe we've been able to get outdoors every day again this week. Lakeview even ran the mile already. We played soccer and lacrosse (5th grade only) and had some great fun and exercise.
Next week there will be a written test on Wednesday. Study guides went out to all students today.
Following our soccer/lacrosse unit, we'll be conducting our physical fitness tests. We always do them in the Fall and again in the Spring. Hopefully student scores improve over the course of the year. During the fitness testing unit, we will be running the mile (1/2 mile for 3rd grade). Our students usually do well. I try to give the students a day's notice so they can do whatever it is to prepare themselves: whether it be mentally, to bring different clothes, extra socks, adjust their medicine, etc. I'm sure they'll be talking about it at home. Please remain encouraging.
Remember, stay active, and healthy.

Week ending 9/11/09

It was another fantastic week at Prairieview, especially in the gym. We began our soccer unit. We played some new lead up games and some oldies but goodies. Our lacrosse for fifth graders had to be put off until next week because we had 2 assemblies. Hopefully next week the weather will stay cooperative and we'll be outside daily. If not, we have some great plans for indoors as well.
Just as a reminder - the grass is wet with dew until close to 10:00 in the morning. Feel free to send your children with extra socks and/or gym shoes in case they should have a morning class and get wet (I know I always have spares that I use daily).
Remember, stay active and stay healthy.

Great Week

We had a great week in physical education! The weather cooperated and we were able to head outdoors daily. We played many generic games, and got the best workout ever.
Next week we will be begin soccer. 5th grade will also have an introduction to lacrosse.
Mrs. Cushing will give out a schedule for games intramurals which will begin the week of 9/14.
Remember to stay active. It's healthy.

Welcome back

It's so nice to see everyone's smiling faces the first week of school!
Even though the weather has not cooperated, we've managed to have a lot of fun being most active in physical education class. We've been playing generic games and will continue next week. After that we will play soccer and begin fitness testing (a favorite).
Mr. McDonald, our student teacher from Northern Illinois University, is very excited to be here for the next 8 weeks. He loves Prairieview!
For those of you who have students interested in intramurals, permission slips will be handed out next week for 4/5th grade boys' and girls' games. They will be played before school. Remind students to bring slips back by Fri., Sept. 4.
Remember stay active and healthy.

Week ending 5/29/09

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER.
STAY ACTIVE AND HEALTHY.

Week ending 5/22/09

We played softball all week. It was so wonderful to be outdoors! 3rd graders really caught on quickly. They batted well and fielded well.
Don't forget - we have a bowling field trip on either 5/29 or 6/1, depending on the grade level. Please make sure your child has a permission slip turned in ahead of time.
Next week we'll do some track and field and then play some wonderful generic games.
Stay active, stay healthy.

Week ending 5/15/09

The rain keeps coming and coming, doesn't it? Oh well.
Before the end of the school year, which really is coming soon, we still want to play some softball and track and field. We'll do the best we can to get it all in.
Remember, stay active, and healthy.

Week ending 5/8/09

Well, we finally made it. Most students ran the mile this week. Third grade students ran the 1/2 mile and will be given the opportunity to try the mile next week. You'd be surprised at how many students really want to try. They are usually very successful.
Our last few weeks will be spent on track and field, as well as softball and kickball. It's a perfect way to end the year.
Just a reminder - those students who have physical education in the morning usually are confronted with wet fields. Please feel free to send your child with extra socks or another pair of shoes to change into. (I frequently go through 3 pair in a day)
Stay active, and stay healthy.
Happy Mother's Day.

Week ending 5/1/09

Do you think the fields will ever dry out? This has been one of the wettest seasons I can remember for a long time. Hopefully, we'll be outdoors again soon to run the mile, play softball and tackle some track and field to finish out our school year.
Remember, stay active and healthy.

Week ending 4/24/09

Most of our fitness testing is complete. Just a few more classes to go. Next week we roller skate - hoorah - and then, hopefully, we'll be able to get outdoors more regularly and run the mile (1/2 for 3rd grade, unless they want to take the challenge).
Stay active. Stay healthy.

Week ending 4/17/09

We have concluded our recreational games unit. We had so much fun trying out some new ways to have fun and get exercise. It couldn't be any better.
Hopefully we'll be getting out more regularly as the weather gets warmer and the fields dry out.
Next week we'll begin our fitness testing for the spring season. Running the mile is always a challenge for some of our students and lots of fun for others. I'm sure your children will be talking about it. Third graders will all run the 1/2 mile again, as in the Fall. They then will be given the choice if they'd like to try the mile. You'd be surprised at how many takers we have.
Remember, stay active and healthy.

Week of 4/6/09

Recreational games continues. This week we added velcro mitts w/balls for catching, shuffleboard, and hopscotch. Next week we will conclude our unit after introducing a few more activities. Students are having the best time! Yes, study guides will be distributed and a written test will be given.
The week of 4/27, we will again be roller skating. How lucky are we?! Parents are encouraged to send their child to school w/ a helmet to use during p.e. class. Students can store their helmet in their own locker, but I still would have each one labeled w/ their name on it.
Stay active and healthy.

Have a great Spring Break

I hope everyone has a safe, happy and healthy Spring Break.
This past week in p.e. class we were vry busy playing recreational games. They included tetherball, 4 square, balls and scoops, hula hoops, jump ropes, pogo sticks and "bags". Everyone had a great time and hopefully learned some more things they can do in their leisure time. After break we will continue with rec games when it's too cold to be outdoors. On those great warmer days, we'll venture outside and play some softball, track and field and fitness testing, which will include running the mile. 3rd grade students are given the choice in the Spring as to whether they would like to stay with the 1/2 mile or try the mile. You'd be surprised how many students actually are anxious to try the mile. They do a great job.

3/20/09

I cannot believe that we have only one more week until our Spring Break!
This past week we were lucky enough to be able to go outdoors with the students a few days. We also had an awesome assembly sponsored by the PTO which featured a jump roper who incorporated Character Counts. The students and teachers all enjoyed his performance.
We were so busy, we didn't begin our Recreational Games unit yet. This coming week we will either be indoors doing Rec Games or will be outdoors playing active games.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Stay active, and healthy.

Week ending 3/13

We are finishing our floor hockey unit this week and will have the written test on Monday, 3/16. It seems so hard to believe that our spring break is just around the corner.
Our next unit in physical education class will be recreational games. This is another favorite of many students and myself as well. We divide up into groups and rotate through many circuits. The circuits include 4 square, balls and scoops, pogo sticks, shuffle board, tetherball, and others. This year for the first time we are adding the "baggo" toss. Mr. Linde was kind enough to make the boards for us and the art adventure club is doing the painting with school logo on each. We're all very excited.
Remember, it's healthy to exercise and stay active.

Week ending 2/27/09

We spent the week learning about and playing floor hockey. It's a great sport that students take a liking to. The students find it really fascinating that I learned how to play hockey out on the fields - field hockey. We'll be playing for another week or so and then will have a written test. I always distribute a study guide to all students and the tests are made up from class playing and from the study guides.
Stay active. Exercise is healthy.

Week of 2/17/09

We finished dance this week. We really did a great variety of dances during our unit. If you hear your child saying we did "pole dances", it's not what you think. As part of our dances from other countries, we did a dance called Tinikling, which is from the Phillipine Islands. Instead of using bamboo, we use PVC pipe since it's so easy to get and pretty cheap. We concluded the unit with a written test and a skill test as well for the 5th grade students.
Next week we're on to floor hockey.
Remember, stay active and stay healthy.

We are dancing!

We started dancing this week. What fun! We began the unit with "party dancing" such as Macarena, Cha Cha Slide, Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey, Electric Slide. As you can see, we're really busy. Following party dances, we will move on to dances from other countries, folk and square. The tunes are very "catchy" and dancing is a great vigorous workout. Try it some time.

Wk of 2/2/09

As you know, we've been playing basketball in p.e. classes this past week. The week of 2/2, we will will conclude basketball and begin our dance unit. Students in the 5th grade are having tests for shooting and a written test as well. All other grades only have a written test. The test will be on Tues. and a study guide has been distributed to all students.
During our dance unit, we do line and party dances as well as dances from other countries and american folk dance. It's really a lot of fun!
Stay active, stay healthy.

Basketball

We began our basketball unit this week. The students have been working very hard, as usual. By next week, many students will be like the "pros".
Again, many thanks to all the parents who stopped by during our roller skating to help us tie skates, help students, and visit with students and teachers. The students made unbelievable progress in their ability to skate.
Remember, stay active, and healthy.

Week ending 1/16/09

Our roller skating unit has come to a close. We had a wonderful time, learned a lot and got great exercise. The two weeks went by very quickly.
Next week we will begin our basketball unit, which also will continue for two weeks.
Have a great weekend. Stay warm. Stay active. Stay healthy.

NEW YEAR

Wow! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and winter break.
The gym certainly is a busy place since we have returned. 3rd grade games intramurals are taking place before school daily. After school we have 4/5th grade basketball for both boys and girls. In addition 4th grade hockey is being played as well. As you can see, our students are eager to be active and stay healthy. We encourage all our students to take part in some type of activity daily outside of school. As you know, childhood obesity is on the rise and will keep this generation from living longer than the current generation. Please encourage your students to be active and be a good mentor.
We have been roller skating during physical education class this week. Next week is more of the same. You wouldn't believe how the students' ability has improved in just these few days. What a great aerobic activity. Feel free to stop by to help us tie skates or just to watch your child. We have lots of fun!