Competency 4 Mangement and Motivation
Description of Competency:
A health and fitness teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a safe learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
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Reflection Connection:
This assignment showcases three different articles and their respective tips to creating a safe learning environment. In the first article, the author highlights that teachers who have daily routines and classroom expectations see an overall increase in their students’ classroom performance. When teachers don’t have activities planned in the beginning of the class or during transition times between activities, negative and unwanted behaviors tend to increase because of the lack of structure. One way to decrease this unwanted behavior is to have an activity for students to complete right when they enter the classroom, called an “instant activity,” to grab their attention and get them engaged for the day.
Studies have shown that only â…“ of class time in physical education is typically used for instruction time and classroom management. That means that the other â…” of class time is used for time for independent play and learning through activities and peer interactions. As teachers become more proficient in their classroom management, their lessons will become more productive over the long term. The classroom learning environment plays a key role in students’ overall outlook in school, so the more positive a learning environment is, the more positive behaviors such as positive social interaction, active engagement, and self-motivation a teacher will see in their classroom.
In order to practice safety measures in the PE classroom, the teacher must be direct and specific with directions in such a large learning space. They must also use the environmental elements to their advantage and teach responsible care in such situations. Examples of these elements are teaching when it’s a little rainy or close to freezing temperatures and having to deal with indoor recess or emergency evacuation plans and rendezvous points in the gym. Since some students come into class with low levels of judgment, self regulation, and situational awareness, explicit teaching of these skills is essential to maintaining a safe PE learning environment. This means I need to get to know my students and understand them on a personal level to help them become successful in my classroom.