1. What grade level to you teach, how long have you been teaching what is the name of your school?
I teach physical education with secondary students in San Luis Obispo, California. I have been teaching for 31 years, and previously taught elementary and middle school students. I am pursuing a Master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University with a concentration in brain-based education.
2. Has the content been useful to you in you work as a classroom teacher?
On two occasions, a concept helped in the class. Both instances dealt with optimism - a students’ and mine. I had a student who had a very negative attitude. I talked to her about it and asked her to name three positive things, trying to get her to focus on being positive. She’s turned around. She’s dressing out and participating. She’s involved and a lot less negative.
Another girl had a lot of trouble following choreography in dance aerobics, so we stayed very positive, made a big deal of complimenting her when she took a risk and did something new. So, I’ve tried to give her some choices and also tried to stay optimistic about it. Today she actually did the beginning of our program - the warm-up. One of the girls has taken an interest in her and has been supportive and that has helped too.
The series and ideas have been great. Since I teach high school physical education, it is always a challenge to find presentation strategies that teenagers will accept. They are such a tough audience.
What do you like about earning your degree 100% online?
I really enjoy the convenience of online and that convenience is why I can now get my master’s degree.
3. How does this degree compare with other higher education programs you have studied?
I like that the program has so much substance and it progresses so quickly. It is not dragged out.
4. Would you recommend this program to other teachers?
Yes. The concepts are very important and they make sense. The brain can ready the learner to be a better student. It can decrease depression and I have even incorporated the program into my dance aerobics. The state of the learner is very important and has been ignored for far too long by most districts. This program provides great data and evidence about the academic relevance of physical education for our young people.
5. What would you say to other teachers about the program?
That it would depend on their grade level but there are great concepts, ideas, and lessons depending on the grade level you teach and your creativity. The variations in modality of learning hit more than just reading and the kinesthetic learner, so that’s great. The research is fairly new and a lot of us who went through didn’t have access to the brain and cognitive research we can use today.
6. What would you say to an administrator about the program?
Personally, I would love to see my entire school get the information about the state of the learner, as well as the district leadership and the school board. I’d like everyone to have a good idea of the benefit of physical education when they make long-range plans so they can see the carry-over benefit to the classroom - students with better attention spans, improved memory, and it goes on and on. Our school has fairly high test scores already.
7. What would you say to parents?
I would stress the state of the learner as well as the various strategies, that the strategies are beneficial to their children.
