What have we learned in Lab C?                          Dr. Baert Fall 2011

• Equipment needs to be set-up and ready for students. Everything should be arranged on the floor on the side f the gym or in the practice area. Your equipment arrangement can actually attract the students to the lessons and help manage student behavior.  If students need equipment it will also be easy to have the get it on their own. Same counts for students cleaning up the equipment. 

• Demonstrate the skill with equipment in the drill/practice/game context. Make sure you have all the equipment you need to demonstrate. Transitions must be quick. This saves valuable time. 
• Short, clear cues are essential! 

• Feedback must be congruent and relate back to your cues and performance points. We need to move away from “good job” Move around the gym with your back to the wall and give feedback. Talk to your class. Congruent cues really help students learn. 

• Students are better motivated if you give them a goal to work towards. Challenge your students in a self-testing format. Cooperation before competition. Task extensions are key. 

• Do not let your students go practice until they know where to go, what to do, how many times to practice the skill, or how long they have to practice and questions have been answered. Check for understanding before you allow them to practice!

• Do not expect the students to organize themselves into complex drills or games with only verbal directions. Use cones, poly spots, etc. to show students where to go. Always use pennies to denote teams or groups.

• Add to practice clarity with a “trial run” of a game or drill without keeping score. Let the class watch and ask questions.

• Have students put equipment away before your class close so they are not distracted and you do not have additional work.

• No more “can anyone tell me” for the class close. Call on specific students. Ask thought provoking questions about the lesson.

• Your activity strands really work! A meaningful progression is essential to learning success. Elementary, middle and high school teachers need to work together to plan a successful scope and sequence.

• Block plans – each day must be cohesive, short but aligned – IA, topic, fitness, assessment.

• Talk AND Demo at the same time if you can find a way. This minimizes instruction time!

• Always avoid making students stand in line (when possible) to wait for a turn to practice. Every student should have a task or piece of equipment to maximize learning.

• Be prepared. Over plan.

• Enthusiasm for the lesson starts with you, the teacher!