Twitter is my number one professional development tool; it's a community of experts at your fingertips where ideas, resources and articles to challenge your thinking are regularly shared. It's a great forum to ask questions in a caring community. Here are some people that you should be following.
#PHYSED #PEGEEKS #PECHAT
Andy Vasily has been the go to person for me, particularly over the last 5 years, as I have developed my understanding of delivering a conceptual based inquiry curriculum. He has a fantastic blog, where he has shared much of his practise and thoughts. Andy also has regular podcasts, where he will have some great guests talking about all things PE and with an inquiry and education focus. The emphasis he places driving questions, statements, provocations and use of visible thinking routines has had a lasting impact on my practise.
Joey Feith has an amazing website, with lots of fantastic resources which you are able to download. Regularly shares what he is doing on twitter, and his games are well worth checking out; layers them very well starting from extremely basic gradually getting more complex, which gives great opportunity for student questioning and wonderings.
Shane Pill is a lecturer at Flinders University and is ACHPER Australia President, a big advocate for a Game Sense/TGfU approach and regularly shares great articles and resources on twitter.
Mike Kuczala is best selling author of The Kinaesthetic Classroom and his new book, Ready, Set, Go: The Kinaesthetic Classroom 2.0 is an advocate for the importance of movement on brain function and learning. Regularly shares great articles and ideas.
Adam Llevo is a google certified trainer who regularly shares great tips on how to integrate technology, particularly from Google's G Suite.
Andy Dutton is a fantastic Early Childhood PE specialist, who introduced me to SuperGym which is a MRT (motor remedial teaching) pull out program that he led at UNIS, Hanoi and now in Bucharest at AISB.
Ashley Casey regularly shares up to date research on the best practises within PE.
Mel Hamada regularly shares what is happening in her learning environment, as well as various articles. She recently wrote a great article in the ACHPER magazine on Game Sense/TFgU and paid particular focus to questioning and her use of visible thinking routines.
Paul Zientarski is a retired PE teacher, now speaker, whose Zero Hour program was featured in the Jon Ratey book 'Spark'. An advocate of the benefits of physical activity on brain function and learning.
Sporticus regularly shares articles and blog posts, either from his own great website or from what he has come across. His regular almost daily questions/wonderings are great!
Jarrod Robinson is The PE Geek, shares great apps that are easy to use which can either make your life easier, or enhance the learning experience for students.
George Couros is an educational consultant who believes in empowering learning and creating a culture of creativity, for your team and the students.
Kath Murdoch is an inquiry God, her latest book which will feature in the next session is a go to and she is also extremely willing to answer any questions posed to her on twitter.
Sir Ken Robinson is a best selling author, researcher and speaker who places emphasis on creativity and finding ones passion. He regularly shares fantastic articles.
Reading Resources
The Power of Inquiry by Kath Murdoch
This is the go to bible of inquiry teachers, it's jam packed with practical resources to use straightaway throughout the inquiry process.
To read about how I introduced iTime from a PE perspective, click here.
This is the go to bible of inquiry teachers, it's jam packed with practical resources to use straightaway throughout the inquiry process.
To read about how I introduced iTime from a PE perspective, click here.
Spark - Dr. John Ratey and Eric Hagerman
A book looking at the effects that exercise has on the brain. The book places PE front a centre for student learning, with exercising being the catalyst for the creation of new brain cells. Go out and read, and think about how this could impact your students, school and practise.
To read my reflection of Spark, click here.
A book looking at the effects that exercise has on the brain. The book places PE front a centre for student learning, with exercising being the catalyst for the creation of new brain cells. Go out and read, and think about how this could impact your students, school and practise.
To read my reflection of Spark, click here.
Drive by Daniel Pink
A fascinating look at how motivation has moved on from the primal instinct of survival; to humans wanting autonomy, mastery and purpose. How can we apply this to the classroom?
To read my reflection of Drive by Daniel Pink, click here.
A fascinating look at how motivation has moved on from the primal instinct of survival; to humans wanting autonomy, mastery and purpose. How can we apply this to the classroom?
To read my reflection of Drive by Daniel Pink, click here.
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
A fascinating look into what makes successful people successful. Whilst at times, I believe, some of his thoughts and recommendations are little simplistic it is thought provoking non the less. As teachers should we not be thinking more about what is success, and how to help students get there?
To read my reflection of Outliers, please click here.
A fascinating look into what makes successful people successful. Whilst at times, I believe, some of his thoughts and recommendations are little simplistic it is thought provoking non the less. As teachers should we not be thinking more about what is success, and how to help students get there?
To read my reflection of Outliers, please click here.
The Whole Brain Child - Daniel Siegel and Tina Bryson
This book not only provides insight into how a child's brain develops, but also give strategies to turn tantrums into teachable moments. An easy read, with some cartoon explanations that will help students understand not just how their brain works, but also providing recognise and control their emotions.
To read my reflection of The Whole Brain Child, click here.
This book not only provides insight into how a child's brain develops, but also give strategies to turn tantrums into teachable moments. An easy read, with some cartoon explanations that will help students understand not just how their brain works, but also providing recognise and control their emotions.
To read my reflection of The Whole Brain Child, click here.
Mindset - Carol Dweck
Much has been commented on in recent years about fixed and growth mindsets, but it wasn't until actually reading the book that I grasped the concept. How might might we foster a growth mindset with those around us?
To read my reflection of Mindset, click here.
Much has been commented on in recent years about fixed and growth mindsets, but it wasn't until actually reading the book that I grasped the concept. How might might we foster a growth mindset with those around us?
To read my reflection of Mindset, click here.
Balanced and Barefoot - Angela Hanscom
An increase in screen culture, poor attention skills, decreases in strength & balance and a change in play habits of children: Is there a connection? Angela Hanscom believes so, arguing that children need to be outside, amongst nature and involved in more free play (as opposed to structured, adult organised and led forms of play) and she makes a pretty convincing argument.
To read my reflection of Balanced and Barefoot, click here.
and to see the presentation I gave to parents on 'Outdoor and Free Play' click here.
An increase in screen culture, poor attention skills, decreases in strength & balance and a change in play habits of children: Is there a connection? Angela Hanscom believes so, arguing that children need to be outside, amongst nature and involved in more free play (as opposed to structured, adult organised and led forms of play) and she makes a pretty convincing argument.
To read my reflection of Balanced and Barefoot, click here.
and to see the presentation I gave to parents on 'Outdoor and Free Play' click here.