WEEK 25: JUMP ROPE CONTINUES

Though Jump Rope 4 Heart is over, all classes will continue jump roping this week. Some will do the single jump ropes that did not finish from two weeks ago. Other classes will work with long jump ropes. Third through fifth grades will have a little fun with the long jump ropes. Groups of three or four will be made and students will be given a chance to create a one minute jump rope routine, performed at the end of class. Each routine will be scored and students will be given tips and hints on how to score the most possible points in their routine. Everything done in the routine that is not a regular jump is a point, incuding any tricks, dancing, turner switching and running in and out. Everytime the rope stops or is messed up, one point is taken away. Students are encouraged to do tricks quickly and use strategy to score points.

Kindergarten through second grades will also work with the long jump ropes. Emphasis will begin with the rope turn. Students will practice with a partner turning high, low and slow! Students will then break into threes and try to get each person in the group to jump 10 consecutive times. At the end of class, three groups will try to see who can get the most points by jumping ten times. Every time a student in each group jumps ten times, the group scores a point.

WEEK 24: SUBSTITUTE

There were no plans this week. A substitute conducted the PE class and on Wednesday, February 14, the entire school participated in Jump Rope 4 Heart. Regular PE will resume next week on Tuesday February 20.

I was absent this week because my dad died Saturday February 10. He had been sick for a while but I am still a little sad. If you would like to read about my dad click here http://www.lsureveille.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=13ec27b7-f494-46ae-b5d7-4a5216bdaf3a

WEEK 23: QUICK SWITCH TO JUMP ROPES

With "Jump Rope 4 Heart" approaching next Wednesday, we will do a jump rope challenge this week. 2nd through 5th grades will be doing a recorded challenge of four jump roping skills. Next Wednesday at the event, the classes that are the best in each skill will be recognized. Class is set up in a large cone circle with a jumprope between each set of cones. Students will work on their first two challenges as I walk around and mark them correct or give feedback and instruction. Those who get checked off on the challenge can practice any other tricks. The first challenge is jumping ten times without messing up and the second is 20 times without messing up. Students in 2nd through 5th grades must do the fast turning as two jumps between each turn will not count. The second challenge will be the "Criss Cross" jump. Students will be instructed on techniques and led through all parts of this jump. If students are successful they will be challenged to beat the school record for criss cross jumps in a row...25! Last will be the "Double Turn" jump where students have to do two turns on one jump. This is very hard and if students need to make up other jumps they missed, now is the time. Music will be played all during jumping.

Kindergarten and first grades are a little different. Students will be started like the higher grades but no challenges will exist. I will give students a quick example and they will begin to try jump roping to the music. Students will be identified and used as examples of good jump roping skills. At various time, the music will be stopped and small suggestions issued to the class like don't bend over, small circles with the hands, keeping the beat with your hands and feet. Sometimes we will review the correct swing by no jumping, just turning the rope and letting it slide under the feet, then stepping over it. I will also circulate and give specific help or advanced instructions to students. Different kinds of jumps will be done including, the one hop, two hop, the run in place, and the run around. We will end class with jump rope running races.

WEEK 22: GOLF CONTINUES & FLAGS!

Week two of our golf unit has begun. There are still some classes who have not done week one yet because of weather! We are still trying and I know that students are frustrated and want to continue golfing. In week 2, instruction time will go down and practice time will go up. We will all review quickly the rules and swing directions quickly and then get started. If I had to guess I would say every student hits at least 40 golf balls! Students will be given a letter grade. The grade will go down one letter for every cue we have discussed. These include: triangle with feet, correct aim, hand configuration correct, hands together, club behind the ball before the swing, head stays down, full swing, both hands stay on club. Students are given their grade immediately and told what can do to improve grade. Grades are constantly assessed throughout the class and they can either go up...or down! Grades will not count on report card but they are only for our ability to improve.

Kindergaretn through 2nd grades will be playing flag games. Classes have already started this and they love it! Review of flags rules will be followed by three game. The first game, with a partner, is "Grudge Match". Students will go one on one to pull their partners flag off. Once a flag is pulled off the puller must dance while the pullee puts it back on then the game restarts. Game two is "Triple Tag" in groups of three. This is the same game as before but to win a student has to be the only one left with a flag on. IF somehow all the flags come off, often the winner could be the one who puts the flag on the fastest! The third and most exciting game is "Flag Collecting" where it is you against the class. Everyone has a flag on to start but if your flag gets pulled off it does not matter, just keep going. The object is to pull as many flags of other people as possible and have the most flags in your hand at the end of the game. Sometimes students can find falgs onthe ground but you can never pull a flag out of someones hands!