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Jan. 8, 2019
Make a Resolution to Reach EACH and EVERY Student
For three weeks, participants in the Physical Education Leadership Academy (PELA) collected data on their classes, conducted inquiry to learn about specific student groups, identified high leverage strategies that can be used to make content accessible by all learners, and implemented change to their practice. 

Many of the teachers who participated were surprised by what they found. Check out some of their findings:

  • There were more English Learners in their classes than they realized, especially long-term English learners!
  • Mental health issues such as anxiety or adverse childhood experiences are more prevalent than they thought. Check out this Ted Talk to learn more about how mental health challenges can impact a student’s ability to learn and their life-expectancy.
  • Approximately six students in a class of 50 self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual or allied (LGBTQIA+)
  • There are a lot of people on each campus that can help you
  • There are high-leverage strategies that can be used to provide access to content for all students

PELA participants created a list of high-leverage strategies that any teacher can use to provide best first instruction and align to a school’s multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). Take the opportunity to research who is in your class, and then resolve to start designing instruction to make content accessible by each and every student. (Click the infographic below to access a printable PDF.)
Paige Metz
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
Health and PE Professional Learning
Check Out What SDCOE Has to Offer
There’s still time to register for the following San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Health and Physical Education professional learning offerings:


Keep an eye out for new offerings in future Monthly Updates. Also remember, on-site professional learning, consultation, walk-throughs, and coaching are available. Contact Paige Metz for more information.

Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute is a Must
The goal of physical education is to develop students’ physical literacy: the knowledge, skills, fitness, values and motivation to attain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It requires a systemic approach to pedagogy that challenges many traditional practices. Join us as we identify learning outcomes, create assessment tools and plan instruction to empower students with confidence and passion for a lifetime of physical activity. The spring session of the Three-Day Physical Literacy Institute will be Jan. 17, Feb. 8, and March 7. Sign up now!

Choose Your Own Professional Learning at Health and Physical Education I3: Inquiry, Innovation, and Implementation
Individuals and teams are invited to personalize their professional learning at Health and Physical Education I3: Inquiry, Innovation, and Implementation by selecting a focus area to conduct inquiry, plan innovation, and implement change. On training dates, SDCOE will provide access to resources, consultation, feedback, and support to help individuals and teachers learn, rethink, redesign, and recreate learning opportunities. The four-day session will take place Jan. 29, Feb. 13, March 14, and April 3. On-site coaching will also be provided between meeting dates.  

Learning and Innovation Summit Now on Feb. 9
The SDCOE Learning and Innovation Summit featuring Google for Education has been rescheduled to Feb. 9 at the San Diego County Office of Education main campus. In addition to the sessions applicable to all disciplines, the event will feature a strand for physical education. Registration is now open. 
Health and PE In the Spotlight
Health and PE icon MVP
Inspire Students to Pursue a Life of Health and Physical Literacy
Students may not always remember everything educators teach them, but they do remember the way teachers made them feel. If we as health and physical educators are genuinely committed to developing students’ health and physical literacy, then we need to make sure that we focus on the affective part of our work — how our class makes them feel. Take a few minutes to talk to students about what they like, what they don’t like, what inspires them, and what would make your class more meaningful. Pay attention to their responses, and then identify shifts in practice that could make a difference in how students feel about your class — and ultimately, how they feel about health and physical activity.
The latest version of the PE Games app has just launched
Health and PE App of the Month
New PE Games Version Released
The latest version of the PE Games app has just launched. Jarrod Robinson, also known as The PE Geek, brings more than 200 games in categories that include chasing, cooperative, reaction, group, and more in his updated app. The $1.99 app will also help create lesson plans.
Health and PE icon Fitnessgram Tip of the Month
Use a Practice Round Test for Mid-Year Goal Setting
January is the perfect time to have students check their progress toward their fitness goals. Give students the opportunity to participate in a practice round of FITNESSGRAM test assessments. Ask them to compare their results to the goals they set at the start of the year. Have they met them? Do they still care about them? Then give students the chance to update their goals to reflect their progress and interests.
Health and PE icon Literacy Strategy of the Month
Sentence Frames Get Students Started
Getting started is often the hardest part for students when asked to write or discuss. This can be addressed easily by providing the first few words of a students’ response. Sentence frames can be used to elicit both simple and complex answers. Some examples may include:
● ____ is an example of ____ because…
● I decided _____ based on the evidence including…
Health and PE icon Activity of the Month
Create Your Own Fitness Challenge 
Have students in your class share some of their current fitness goals. Collectively, identify some common goals among the class. Once they have been identified, ask students to create a fun fitness challenge that will encourage students to participate in physical activities that are likely to help them hit their fitness goals. Do it for a month so the challenge is likely to get them closer to their goals. This could also help encourage students increase their physical activity outside your class.
Health and PE Resources
The PE Geek Releases 100 Ways to Use Technology in Physical Education
The PE Geek’s top 100 ways that physical educators can use technology in their classes is a great resource whether you’re looking for fun fitness activities, using video in class, assessments, Google opportunities, active gaming, virtual reality, productivity, or useful tools. Find something new to implement on the 100 Ways to Use Technology in Physical Education list.

Documents Help Define Quality Physical Education
The San Diego County Office of Education, in collaboration with San Diego Unified School District, has created two tools to help teachers and administrators define quality physical education. The Foundations for Quality Physical Education: Observation Guide can be used by teachers as a self-evaluation tool or can help guide administrators’ understanding of what quality physical education looks like in action. The Physical Education Best Practice Brochure describes shifts in practice that will improve students’ physical literacy.

Professional Articles, Videos, Websites Worth Your Attention
Health and PE News and Updates
Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Part of Federal Program Monitoring Reviews
The California Department of Education (CDE) announced it will now be monitoring implementation of comprehensive sexual health education programs. The monitoring will assure compliance with the California Healthy Youth Act, and will be part of the CDE’s Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) process and could begin as early as this winter.

Last chance! Health Education Framework Final Public Comment Period Closes Jan. 11
The 2019 Health Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Health Education Framework) is available for its second 60-day public review and comment period, which is scheduled through Jan. 11. The revised draft Health Education Framework (available for download) includes more than 200 edits that were submitted during the first 60-day public review and comment period. If you have any questions regarding this process, contact Lindsay Weiss in the CDE Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources division by phone at 916-319-0450 or by email at healtheducationframework@cde.ca.gov.

American Red Cross Offering Free Hands-Only CPR Training for Students
As of the 2018-19 school year, California law requires all students to learn Hands-Only CPR by the time they graduate high school. The American Red Cross is offering this training free of charge on-site at schools. The 30-minute presentations can accommodate groups of 20 to 80 students.

Additionally, the American Red Cross can train school staff members to become certified Hands-Only CPR presenters so schools can train students on their own schedule. To become a certified presenter, you must register as a Red Cross volunteer and complete a 1.5 hour online training and a one hour in-person training. Upcoming presenter courses scheduled at the Red Cross main offices in Kearny Mesa will be on:
  • Feb. 10, 1-2 p.m.
  • Feb. 17, 1-2 p.m.

If you are interested in scheduling a training or becoming a Hands-Only CPR presenter, contact Melissa Altman, Regional Preparedness Manager, at melissa.altman@redcross.org or 858-309-1272. Individual training courses can also be arranged.
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