Assignment #3

Vilma Hernandez

11-20-12

PED 230

            The article by Eloise Elliott and Steve Sanders, “The Importance of Movement and Physical Activity”, emphasizes the importance physical activity in how children develop not only in health related issues but also in educational ones.  The article begins by introducing the reader to the reality of statistics; and how the there has been an increase in physical inactivity.  Due to the rise in sedentary entertainment like television, internet, and video games children are now more likely to avoid outdoors activities.  Consequently this leads to a rise in children who are overweight and obese, which then causes health problems like diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure.  As I read through the article I was surprise to read that this physical inactivity can also effect the physical development in children.  I realize that at their age children are still growing and are still developing but I had not taking into account that inactivity could hinder them while developing.  Another aspect of the article which I found highly interesting was how the overweight and obesity problems not only affect the children physically but also emotionally.  I used to think that the main problems of inactivity were health issues however while reading the article I realize that the social aspect of children’s life can also be hinder.  Towards the end the article goes on to further explain why physical activity is so important.  The author explains how physical activity can help children gain more from education.  The saying “children learn through movement” has proven to be very appropriate.  Children seem more motivated by games rather than mundane classroom lectures thus providing children with fun learning experience.  I really enjoyed how the article not only encourage teachers to provide physical activity in their lesson plans but even provided samples from which teacher can take from and implement in their own classroom.  This article is full of great educational information which can benefit me as a future teacher.  I can provide this information to my future students.

            “Winter Physical Activity” is an article by Eloise Elliott is an article full of handy ideas of alternatives activities during winter time!  The article starts off by indicating the appropriate amount of physical activity individuals should get on average and including the reasons why many do not get the right amount during the winter season.  Suggestions for activities outdoors, indoors, with the family, and even for the community are broken down into sections in the article.  While I read over the article I realize that there is lots of options for physical activity during the cold winter months.  Before reading the article I like many consider the cold month like hibernation and find many excuses to not be active.  However after reading the article I realize that there is a lot one can do during the winter that can help be physically active.  The author gives many ideas from enjoying family time to even helping out in the community.  I really enjoy considering the many physical activities available outdoors and indoors likewise.  There are many options to participate and be active all ranging from mundane evens like playing with younger siblings, babysitting, and walking your pet to family/ friend time like hiking, playing with the snow, or Ice skating; all of which can be of great fun and good exercise.  The information from this article can be of a great source to provide my future students with ideas during the winter season.

            The website PE Central is a very enriching for anyone, weather it is for teachers, parents, and even students.  This website is full great material from lesson plans for any age group, to great activity ideas, classroom management tips, and bulletin board ideas!  You can find endless ideas to aid PE teacher and regular teacher, all aiming at the necessary impact of physical activity. I believe that once I become a teacher this will be one of my top websites with all its handy, great, and helpful ideas.

GACE Assignment

Vilma Hernandez

GACE assignment

Ø  What is the purpose of GACE?

To assess future educators and to certify them as capable educators … to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective Georgia public school educators

Ø  What is meant by “selected-response (RS) and “constructed-response” (CR) items?

RS are the multiple choice items in the test while CR are the essay/ short answer type of questions

Ø  Identify the name of your test

Content Assessment > Early Childhood Education Test I (001) and Early Childhood Education Test II (002)

Ø  Identify the sub-area of content for your test

Early Childhood Education Test I (001) Early Childhood Education Test II (002)

Ø  How many SR and CR items are there for each sub-area on your test?

Test I: has a total of 60 SR and 2 CR Test II: has a total of 60 SR and 2 CR

Ø  Identify the sub-areas of content for the Health and Physical Education (HPE) test

Test I (115) Test II (116)

Ø  How many SR and CR items are there for each sub-area on the HPE test?

Test I it has 60 SR and 2 CR Test II it has 60 SR and 2 CR

Ø  Complete all SR practice items for your test and the HPE test

After I completed the practice items I realize two things.  One: I am not prepared to take the HPE test and two: A large portion of this test could possibly be answer just by using common sense.  After looking over the correct answers I notice I have gotten several correct not because I knew the answer but because I used what little I already knew and try to pick the one that would make more sense.  I also realize that a lot of the SR questions at first did not seem health or physical education related.  However I realize that they are all tied in once I looked at the reasons for it.

Ø  Complete two CR practice items for your test and the HPE test.

The CR section of this practice test was not as intimidating as I expected.  The first CR question was about Anorexia and although I do not know much about anorexia we have talked a little about it in class and the little that I have learn from a friend who was in the early stages of it I completed a very basic CR.  It did not have the detailed answers or correct terminology yet it it provided the necessary information to pass the CR questions.  The second CR question I had very little background knowledge.  I could not provide any detail information and the little abstract information I did provided was very basic.  I am not sure if my second CR could have made a passing score.

Ø  Familiarize yourself with the GACE method of scoring tests

Scores reports are available online for 45 days as PDF documents for test takes to view, print, and save for their records. A  scaled  score  is  a  combination  of  the  number  of  scorable  questions  you answered  correctly  on  the  selected-response  section  of  the  test  and  the  scores  you  received  on  any  constructed-response assignments, converted to a scale from 100 to 300, with a score of 220 representing the passing score for a test. A “pass” or “did not pass” status is based on the total score of each test.  If the test was not passed then you can retake the test.

Ø  Provide a general assessment of your performance on the practice test items.

After taking the practice test items I realize that I did not do as bad as I expected considering that I have not prepared for this test.  I also realize that you can answer most questions using common sense.  However for the part of the test in which you are require to know the right terms I am not prepared for and I would need to study.  For example the questions that ask about the bone and viruses I had no idea what to answer.  Over all I did not do terrible but I would need a lot of reviewing.

Artifact #1

Artifact Submission Sheet

(Submit a completed sheet with each artifact)

Student Name              Vilma Hernandez                                               Artifact #          One     

Artifact Title                 Importance of physical activity                           Date                 10-4-12

PSOE Proficiency Addressed   1.0   (The candidate uses knowledge of curriculum, learner differences, and ongoing assessment data to plan for student access to same essential content)

Artifact Description (provide context about the artifact by describing what, when, where, why, how)

The Physical activity pyramid activity is an activity that can be used by any early childhood education teacher can be use to teach students about the importance of physical activity, about the types of physical activity, and to give examples of the various activities

For this activity the teacher will need the access to a projector in order to present a PowerPoint presentation.  The teacher will also need sticky notes in which to provide for the students to use during the activity.

The instruction part of the activity:

·         First I would start by explaining the importance of physical activity mainly focusing on the GPS (PE3.6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self expression, and/or social-interaction.)

·         I would then provide the students with the benefits of physical activity

·         Also I will present the students the physical activity pyramid

·         I will explain the different levels of physical activity and give the students examples within each

The activity part:

·         Once I have shown the students the physical activity pyramid and given them example I would allow them to provide their own examples.

·         I would provide students with three sticky notes each on the first one I would have already provided an example of an activity which they will be able to go up to the board and put it the correct section.

·         The students will be able write their own example on the other two sticky notes and then go up to the board and then stick them to the right section.

Artifact Link to PSOE Proficiency (explain how the artifact helps you meet the PSOE Proficiency)

This artifact addresses proficiency 1.0 because it shows understanding of curriculum content for physical activity and health (the importance of physical activity including the three different levels of intensity).  The content applies to the GPS physical activity standards 6 and addresses different learning styles.  It addresses visual learners in that the presentation is provided visually through a PowerPoint. The lesson also addresses the auditory learners when providing the information verbally.  The bodily kinesthetic are also address here by having students come up to the board and add their examples.  This activity also addresses an ongoing assessment data by allowing students to provide their own examples based on what the students learned and demonstrating their knowledge of the curriculum.

Reflection (reflect on why you chose this artifact and how the artifact has contributed to your development as a teacher generally and as a teacher with a Differentiated Instruction perspective).

I have been doing my observations for about two weeks now at an Elementary school.  This past week had been raining and the students were not able to go out for recess.  By the end of the afternoon the students were so restless and teachers did not seem what to do.  I had not realized the importance of allowing students to have at least 30 minutes of physical activity until now.  This past week, I quickly learned that even by just providing simple activities in which students get to get up from their seats help a lot.  This activity although provided in a regular classroom it still allows for students to be active by going up to the board.  The activity also provides differentiation for three different types of learner which can better guarantee that more students will retain the information.

Assignment #1

Vilma Hernandez

9-11-12

Assignment 1

1.      Application to the PSOE: The first document is the applications to the Price School of Education.  This application asks for standard questions about the applicant.  It also asks for experience outside of school and motives for becoming a teacher.  The reason for this application I believe is so that the PSOE committee can learn a little about the applicant’s life and their qualification in entering the program.  This application is part of the process to becoming admitted to the program and to becoming a certified teacher.

2.      Sport studies Internship application: The second document is an Internship application for Sport Studies Program majors.  This application is design to provide an internship positions for SSP majors who are ready and want to gain experience hours in the actual field.  Students find an agency in which they are allowed to perform experience hours and then through this application they are approved by the SSP committee of their qualifications.

3.      General Ed courses for Early childhood education majors: This document is a course catalog for ECE majors.  It provides the general courses students need to have passed in order to take the education courses.  It also provides the courses needed to take in order to be admitted into the PSOE and finally the courses needed to take once admitted and in order to become a certified teacher according to the Universities standards.

4.      General Ed courses for Wait Students:  This document is the course catalog for early childhood education majors who are part of the wait program.  This is not for the traditional day students but for those students who have decided to return to school and who have families, jobs etc. that prevent them from being traditional day students.  It provides the general courses that the student needs to have pass in order to take education courses and the courses need to be admitted into the PSOE and finally courses need to be certified as a teacher through the University.

5.      Degree Program Advising form: This course catalog is design for sport studies majors.  It provides the general Ed they need to take.  It also provides them with possible courses they can take after the general Ed courses, that they need in order to become SSP graduates.

6.      Candidate evaluation form:  This form is an evaluation done by a collaborating teacher about a candidate student.  Whenever the education major student has an opportunity to have field experience in a real classroom the teacher they work with will evaluate the students according to their performance in a classroom.  This helps the University’s faculty better assess the candidate students in their adequacy in a classroom. 

7.      PSOE Lesson plan model: This document is a PowerPoint that models step by step the lesson planning process.  It gives an example of a lesson plan and how to go about it in creating it.  It is design to provide help for those struggling with lesson planning process. 

8.      PSOE Lesson plan rubric:  The PSOE lesson plan rubric is a detailed standard rubric of what needs to be included in a PSOE lesson plan.  It’s a form to measure how adequately a lesson plan should be created and standards to have included.  This is a guideline for education majors to help develop an effective lesson plan.

9.      Reinhardt University Sports Studies Power Point: This document is a PowerPoint that provides tips for Sport Studies majors in order to be successful in their four year college process.  It gives them advice in how to go about planning for the future in the actual competitive world and how a SSP degree and actually be a great path. It also provides ideas to plan strategically while in school and after school.

10.  Sport Studies Program: This document is a newsletter in which the latest updates of the Sports Studies Program are provided.  The first page includes pictures of the SSP majors at various SSP events.  This newsletter not only provides an insight to what the SSP provides but also an insight to new or available courses that are offered.  The spot light is also directed towards the students majoring in SSP while also providing news relating to the SSP.

Biographical Essay Assignment

My name is Vilma and I am an Early Childhood Education major and a minor in Spanish.  I am currently a senior at Reinhardt University.  I was born in Mexico, but moved to GA when I was just a kid therefore I am fluent in Spanish and English.  I have three amazing yet annoying brothers and my two loving parents who encourage my career choice.  Becoming a teacher has always been a goal and as I come to conclude my college career I find myself beyond thrilled about my future as a teacher.

Ever since I can remember I have wanted to become a teacher.  Growing up, due to the language barrier and cultural shock, I struggle in school.  However thanks to wonderful and devoted teachers I was able to see the brighter side to my new experience.  The teachers I encounter did their best to reach out to me and helped me adjust to my new life.  The teachers not only encourage me to try harder but also were my step stool to better understanding.  The teachers that tried their best to assist me and encourage my learning inspired me to become a teacher.  Since I experience firsthand some of the many struggles students go through every day in schools, I can understand their situation and try to assist them.  I would like to provide the help I was once provided with and make a difference in a child's life the way it was done to me.  I want to help children gain confidence, help them use their resources and assist them in learning as much as possible so they can become the best person they can.

As a teacher I would like to provide my students with as many possibilities I can.  I want to provide my students with the knowledge necessary to become successful in this competitive society.  I want to provide my students with a nurturing environment in which they discover who they are.  I want to reach out a lending hand to my students as a tutor, mentor, friend in who they can confide and reach out when they need help.