winter-spring week 1

Hello!  Welcome to PE class.
For our new students, and as a reminder to all students - please remember that PE clothes are important for this class.  We move, we tumble, we run and jump and play - kids need clothing that is easy to move in, fits well and protects our modesty.....  :)  They also need good sturdy shoes that fit well and stay on busy feet.  And lastly, they need water bottles!  Staying hydrated is super important.

This week we will introduce ourselves and what PE is all about.  Then we will move into some circuit training.
We look forward to this class and meeting our new students.
Thank you,
Teachers Mary and Kellie

week 12 - review

Wow, what another fabulous day with your kids!  We truly love working with them each week, and watching their progress.
With the excitement of the christmas party still in those little bodies, we worked some movement into our yoga class, with some dancing and freezing into a yoga pose. Their spontaneity and exuberance is contagious and so much fun.
When we come back in January, we will be back to work with circuit training.  I try to mix things up each time we do this, and not bore the kids with "exercise".  Building a life long love of physical activity is key to a healthy body for life.
Over the break, we hope you find active things for your kids to do.  A stop watch or kitchen timer can be used for circuit training at home.  30 secs each of burpees, jumping jacks, and plank position repeated a few times is a great way to add some exercise for your kids. If they get bored, add some lunges, or squats, walk around the block, or the house - just remember to move.  (i have used wall-sits as a time out)

Merry Christmas.
Teachers Mary and Kellie

week 11 review

ooops...looks like I have missed a few of these blogs lately.  sorry.  I know I was too late to post here a couple of times, and sent direct emails instead.  I do try not to miss completely. really.  :)

Okay, so last week we worked on ball play again.  This time I organized three different stations, and had the kids work in teams of 2.  Learning to play together cooperatively is important - helping each other succeed instead of being focused just on winning is a big part of this class.  The ball skills we worked on were throwing, aiming, catching and dribbling (foot work).
The kids enjoyed themselves, learned some new skills and had fun.  At the end of class, we played a short game of soccer.  What a day!

This Thursday we will be focused on our flexibility and strength with yoga.  We will be indoors, so if you want to bring your own yoga mat, that's great.  Please remember - this is not a good day for dresses.  Bring your water bottle!

Thanks for your patience about the blogs. 
Teacher Mary and Teacher Kellie

week 8 review

oh my goodness!  I have seen so much improvement in this group of kids - wow.
Today we brought out the balls and worked on tossing with accuracy and catching.  It sounds like a simple skill, but the eye-hand coordination involved is actually quite complex.  And the improvement is awesome.  The games we play also involved teamwork and cooperation; both of these are skills that develop into life skills.  The kids don't realize all this; mostly, they are having fun.
This week we are planning on yoga - and based on the weather, we will probably be indoors....so if you want to bring your personal mat, that's great.  If not, the PE box has enough for us.  (I think...)

Again, as always, PE clothes and a water bottle.
Thanks,
Teachers Mary and Kellie

week 7 review

Wow!  Circuit training is so much fun.  It is exciting to watch the kids push themselves and trying new things.  What great effort by all!
This week we will be playing with balls again.  Target practice, more dribbling and of course, catch.

Please remember good fitting shoes - we are still having a problem with shoes falling off during activities.  This is a safety issue.
And, don't forget - water bottles!
See you this week!
Teachers Mary and Kellie

week 6 review

Well......as I posted, and so I thought, this week we were going to do yoga.  Good thing yoga practice teaches us to be flexible!
Blue skies and sunshine proved to be inspiring more movement than yoga could provide for our young students, and our activity quickly changed to movement runs across our grassy lawn.  Hopping like frogs, crawling like bears, running like horses...we did it!  And we finished off with a game of freeze tag.  The kids had fun in the sun!
Next week, we will resume our circuit training activity....1 minute exercises rotating around various stations.  Water bottles are super important, as this is a very busy activity.
As always, sturdy shoes and play clothes are mandatory. 
Thanks,
Teachers Mary and Kellie

week 5 review

We have been very fortunate with the weather and had a great time this week playing outside.  This week we worked on eye-hand coordination in catching and dribbling balls.  Watching these kids having fun playing and practicing a new skill is so much fun for us as well.

Coming up this week is our yoga class.  If the weather is nice, we will yoga outside!  Don't worry, I have the puzzle mats for outside use, and your personal mats will stay clean.
Even though the sun is out, the air is still cool.  I highly recommend dressing in layers that can be removed if it does get warm enough.  and of course, water bottles!  :)

Thanks,
Teachers Mary and Kellie