An Integrated Approach to Teaching K-5 Physical Education

Catalog description

This course offers essential information for successful teaching at the elementary school level in regard to the K-5 learner, the curriculum, and the teacher. The developmental approach advocated analyzes knowledge of children's growth and motor development in a comprehensive manner that recognizes the essential concept of the individuality of the learner in relation to the motor, cognitive and affective domains. Teacher candidates will understand how each K-5 student constructs knowledge, acquires skills, and develops effective and efficient critical-thinking and problem- solving capabilities, within the perspective of diverse K-5 student characteristics and abilities that affect processes of inquiry and influence patterns of learning. Appropriate and varied instructional approaches will be experienced, including how physical education can help develop word knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and strategy use. Teacher candidates will learn about school laws and rules (e.g., mandatory reporting, sexual misconduct, corporal punishment) as a foundation for the fair and just treatment of all students and their families in addition to emergency response procedures that include school safety and crisis intervention protocol. Teacher candidates will engage in a 75-hour, supervised methods experience in an assigned school and participate in this course that links philosophy, knowledge and pedagogy to the authentic experience of teaching physical education in the elementary school. Open to physical education K-12 majors only. Students must apply two terms in advance through the School of Education for site placement.