Final Post!

This is the last post of the semester! I enjoyed this class so much, and learned a lot from it. The two models that we learned were very helpful and this class also allowed me to become more comfortable with teaching and helped to show me that there is much more to a Physical Education class than just playing the sport. There is so much you can learn and pass on from a gym class, and this is not just the athletic aspect. PE classes, if taught the right way, can help bring out the confidence people need to participate and help them feel comfortable. I feel like it is very important to use these two models for teaching a gym class that we learned and not just jump right into a whole game of volleyball or soccer, for example. Going straight into a game is something that I have experienced in the past and it doesn't help with your confidence for playing the game and it tends to make people not as involved. With the models that we learned, everyone is taken through tactical problems and expectations to meet together and then play the game with the previous knowledge that has just been taught. The Social and Personal Responsibility model was very helpful and helped the class to reach a certain goal together. While playing the games, you were working on improving in one area of the game, or outside the game through the game. Teaching a Tactical Perspective I found was the best model. It forced one to pull out an aspect of a game to be worked on and this was worked on through little drills and fun games. The best part about this model is that a full game didn't have to be played at the end. A modified game could be played focusing on the tactical problem that was being focused on throughout the class. I think that a full game of soccer or volleyball can sometimes be overwhelming for kids and if played with the whole class, some people may not as get as much time to play. If a modified game is played in smaller groups, this is a much better way for students to succeed and be happy and confident in their PE class. These models successfully bring out this aspect and I am glad I was able to learn them through this class!

 

Two More Tactical Games!

VOLLEYBALL!

Tactical Problem: one tactical problem for volleyball could be making sure everyone hits the ball before the ball is sent over the net. One way to demonstrate this in an activity is to have everyone line up on a line at the back of the volleyball court. There should be five players. The first person in the line takes a few steps forward away from the rest of the line and bumps or volleys the ball. Once the ball is in the air, the second person runs out to the ball and bumps or sets it in the air and then the third person runs out and so on. Once the ball gets to the last person the last person has to send it over the net all the way to the team in a line on the other side. Then that person goes to the front of the line so everyone gets a chance to send the ball over the net. This will work on the idea that everyone has to hit the ball before it is sent over the net. Now, in a real volleyball game, not everyone has to hit it before the ball is sent over, but this drill simply exemplifies the idea of everyone getting fair play time and dividing the work among your team. 

 

Another Tactical Problem:  a problem that arises in volleyball is placing the ball in a difficult position when returning it to the opposing team. To practice this skill a game to play is a modified game of volleyball. A normal game of volleyball will be played, but there can only be points scored if the ball lands in a certain part in the court right in front of the net. This will ensure close placement which will help to deceive the other team in game situations. Only two people on the team can stand in the section that is marked off by the tape and this will rotate every point. This doesn't mean that the ball will not go other places: this is what the rest of the team is for, but in order for your team to score a point it must land in the taped off area in front of the net on the other team's side without them hitting it back.