Essential Tips for Effective P.E. Teaching | Expert Advice for Success

Oct 11, 2024

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Kas

Any teacher looking to improve their lessons or develop skills to enhance their students’ ability to learn more effectively will find useful information in the articles listed here. Over the past year, there have been many resources and articles created covering various aspects of teaching. I wanted to provide insight into just three articles I believe will help both early-career teachers and P.E. teachers looking to make a difference in how they teach and how their students engage in lessons.

These articles were selected because they are straightforward, easy to implement, and offer a great return on your investment of time. These articles will be relevant to any age group you teach and context of students in your classroom.

Communication

In this article, I share the challenges that P.E. teachers often face when trying to preserve their voices while communicating across large areas like fields and courts. I highlight how a simple tool—a whistle—can make a big difference in how we give instructions and manage our classes. I introduce the concept of “whistle language,” where different whistle sounds are linked to specific actions or instructions, making communication more efficient.

I also emphasize the importance of setting up clear routines and structures in P.E. lessons. These routines not only help keep the class organised but also create a better learning environment for students. I provide examples of how I use whistle language in my own classes—like signalling for attention, gathering students, and managing equipment—to show how this approach can support effective teaching.

Article: Communication

Visual Learning

Visual learning is a critical tool that all teachers use, Physical Education should be no different. How do I incorporate more visual learning in my P.E lessons?

In this article, I talk about how important it is to use visual aids, like whiteboards, in P.E. lessons to keep students engaged and help them remember what they learn. Research indicates that 75% of the information we process comes from what we see (Williams, 2009). Even if your school has limited space or shared facilities, using visual tools can still make a big difference.

I’ve been using a portable whiteboard for years, and it’s become an essential part of my teaching. Even a small board is enough to write key points or show visual aids that keep students focused. For students, a whiteboard gives them something to look at, helps them understand instructions better, and encourages them to learn independently. For teachers, it helps organise lessons, gives visual support, saves your voice, and makes the space feel more like a proper learning environment. Using a whiteboard in P.E. not only helps with teaching but also reminds students that we are in space of learning, even if it is outdoors and outside of the usual class environment.

Article: Visual Learning Article

Resource/Product: Portable White Board- Great Option (Amazon)

Behaviour Management Strategies

This article emphasizes the importance of establishing routines and structures in P.E. lessons, just as you would in any classroom setting. These routines are essential for creating a productive learning environment and ensuring that lessons run smoothly. Without clear guidelines, P.E. sessions can become chaotic, making it difficult for both students and teachers to enjoy or benefit from the experience.

The article highlights how many teachers, especially early-career ones, overlook the need for structure in P.E., leading to more time spent on behaviour management than teaching. This can discourage teachers from incorporating daily physical activity into their routines, despite the proven health and academic benefits of movement during the school day.

By treating the P.E. space like a classroom and investing time in setting up routines, teachers can create a more organised and effective learning environment. This not only helps manage behaviour but also allows students to understand why certain behaviours matter and how they impact others, ultimately leading to a more positive and successful teaching experience.

Article: Behaviour Management

Mending Relationships and Understanding Student Behaviour

This article talks about how conflicts can happen during physical education (P.E.) lessons because they are active and competitive. While traditional methods like time-outs or calling for help can resolve conflicts, these approaches often lose their effectiveness over time and can harm the relationship between teachers and students. Plus, they don’t teach students how to manage their emotions or solve problems on their own.

The article offers two alternative strategies that help students deal with their feelings without using punishment. These methods work well for all ages, from young children to teenagers, and allow the lesson to keep going while conflicts are handled. The aim is to support students in managing their emotions and resolving issues without interrupting the class. 

These strategies focus on helping students express their feelings safely and learn to resolve conflicts positively. By removing punishment, students feel less ashamed and gain control over their conflicts. This approach promotes emotional growth and teaches students how to manage their behaviour in a constructive way. 

Article: Mending Relationships

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