The Rays may be done, but we're just getting started.

For the past two weeks, I have been working on catching and throwing with our LD students. What may seem natural and easy to us, can be very challenging to a beginner. Breaking down the process into progressions and adding learning cues helps to link cognitive and psychomotor objectives, which in turn strengthens skill acquisition. For example, having students write their name in the air helps them to easily recognize which hand is their dominant hand, and the letter "L" gives students a familiar shape to mimic when positioning the throwing arm. Progressions begin with students throwing into open space while experimenting with throwing the ball high and low. Corrective and positive feedback is given with special attention placed on correct foot placement and beginning arm position.

Catching with a glove is a student favorite. There is something very appealing about putting a leather monstrosity on your hand and trying to snag a ball out of the air. The first step may seem silly, but many students instinctively put the glove on their throwing hand, after all that is the hand they are most comfortable catching with too. Modeling catching the ball with the wrong hand and then having to take the glove off to throw is powerful in explaining why we catch with our non-dominant hand. The "web" or "pocket" of the glove is highlighted because of its importance and is likened to a Venus Flytrap. The students love to imagine that the ball is a bug and their hungry glove is just waiting to devour it the second it touches the pouch.

Motor Development in the Mini-Gym

In the Mini-Gym, Shorecrest students in Pre-K through First grade participate in one motor development class a week. The program allows for our students to practice a wide range of gross motor skills in small groups. Activities include balance beams, juggling, rebound nets, launching boards, obstacle courses, stilts, throwing, tossing and catching stations, just to name a few. We are proud of the hard work demonstrated by our little chargers.

Burnball

Imagine a world of baseball where you could pitch to yourself, could never strike out, couldn't get out going to first base, could choose to not run to the next base and not be penalized, could share a base with as many teammates as you liked, and could earn points on defense. It sounds very appealing doesn't it? This is the world of Burnball.

Burnball is the Swedish equivalent to baseball. Played by young and old, Burnball is a summertime staple of Swedish society. Having lived in Sweden for four years, I was able to learn the game, play it with family and friends, and subsequently bring it back to the United States to share with my students and colleagues.

We are currently in the middle of our Burnball unit and the students can't get enough.

Click here to see how to play Burnball (and Pesapallo, the Finnish version of baseball).

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What is sportsmanship?

Sportsmanship is one of the underlying themes of the affective objectives established for physical education here at Shorecrest. This week, we popped the question, "What is sportsmanship?" on a group of unsuspecting third graders. The responses were genuine and right on target.

It's Raining Giant Beach Balls!!

A rare phenomenon occurred during the latest storm to hit the Shorecrest Campus. At 11:00 a.m. this morning a giant beach ball dropped from the clouds above. The unsuspecting group of students used quick reactions and teamwork to deflect the bouncy ball avoiding serious injury. The ball, although mammoth in size, quickly deflated as it was still a beach ball.

And we're off

This year grades K-4 have one extended period of PE each week. For Kindergarten and First grade these 45 minute sessions will be broken up into 3 stations. At each station, classes will participate in a group game emphasizing cooperation and teamwork. Today, our Kindergartners played What Time is it Mr. Wolf?, All-for-One, and Mini-Grinch.