Physical Eduction and Health
Danielle Reeber How many of you remember doing some kind of physical fitness test in your former P.E. experience? Some of you may not have done any, some of you may have done a lot, some of you with good feelings about it and some with some not so fond memories. I want to take this time to address how I administer the FITNESSGRAM testing here at MRA and the philosophy behind using the standardized tests. I will also let you know my reasons for having our “Wall of Fame” in the gym. The FITNESSGRAM fitness testing has replaced the Presidential Fitness Test as of the 2013-2014 school year. The FITNESSGRAM test is supported by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP), a "health-related, criterion-based assessment" which resulted from a partnership between the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition, the Amateur Athletic Union, SHAPE (society of health and physical educators), Cooper Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. the students at MRA are assessed on their body composition,, flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and their cardiorespiratory endurance. These are the five main components of overall fitness. The FITNESSGRAM Mission The principal mission of the FITNESSGRAM program is to promote lifelong physical activity and other healthy behaviors among youth. The “HELP” Philosophy of FITNESSGRAM H HEALTH comes from regular physical activity and the development of health related fitness. E Physical activity and fitness are for EVERYONE regardless of age, gender, or ability. L Physical activity and physical fitness are for the LIFETIME. P Physical activity programs should be designed to meet personal needs and interests. There are many appropriate and inappropriate ways to use the test. It is important that the students and the teacher are not graded on the scores that they receive on the test. It is o.k. for the students to be able to assess their own personal fitness levels privately. It can help the teacher determine appropriate curriculum for their students fitness level. Students can track their own fitness levels, set goals and create their own portfolio. Students should not be graded on meeting a certain bench mark. However, I do grade on improvement throughout the school year. Physical fitness is only one part of a quality physical education program. Teaching physical skills, cooperative skills, and health maintenance skills are all important components of a quality program. A quality program is designed to foster lifelong physical activity. I believe in recognizing hard working and gifted students on our wall. We talk a lot about this in class. This is not on the wall to make anyone feel bad or make comparisons. Will students make comparisions, some will, yes. But that does not mean we should not honor other students strengths. I do share with them that to me it would be like not honoring a musician who is playing a piece on the piano so beautifully because we might feel bad that we are not as good as them. We would never ask the musician to stop playing so we should not ask our gifted fitness students to stop being fit. It has been fun and rewarding to watch our community grow stronger in so many ways. I will keep you informed of our results this Fall. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 2006, 3(Suppl. 2), S90-S100 © 2006 Human Kinetics, Inc. FITNESSGRAM Goals and Guiding Principles
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Danielle ReeberThis is my 6th year here at MRA. Prior to MRA I have taught in Canby, Oregon City Maple Valley, Spokane and Auburn, WA. I am a graduate of Washington State University with a K-12 P.E. major and a Health minor. I currently live in Wilsonville with my husband of 23 years, my three 17 year olds and my dog, Charlie. In my spare time I love hiking, camping, spending time reading a book on a sunny warm beach and scrapbooking. Archives
June 2018
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