Hey everyone! Welcome back to #espechat after what was hopefully a relaxing Thanksgiving break for you and your family. Who is joining us this evening?
Tonight, we will be talking all about GYMNASTICS! We will continue to use the Q/A format (Q1...A1....), and don't forget to use #espechat for each response you tweet out!
A1: I teach gymnastics and tumbling, rolling, balancing and body shapes. My Ss come w so little background in the simple acts of even turning upside down. These skills really focus on what their bodies are capable of doing. #espechat
A1: Benefits such as being able to know how and explore how to move their bodies. Gives them confidence to not be afraid to try something. Gets them out of their comfort zone! #espechat
a1) I love teaching gymnastics because it offers students a safer way to be upside-down. It offers a chance to test your balance, knowing there is a safety net (mat) #espechat
Exploration is key in their development during the elementary years. Do you talk about risk at all in relation to exploration with gymnastics Matt? #espechat
A1 Gymnastics can be a huge for many things such as body awareness, flexibility, strength and transferable skills such as weight transfer which can be highlighted in your why. You can also crush that pre-conceived ms notion that gymnastics is for girls #espechat
Absolutely. My students are prone to not being safe at all the way they are raised. However, my gymnastics classes are very regulated in how they explore. #espechat
A1: Lends into the conversation of health related fitness components. Can apply many different gymnastics components to real life situations/activities/etc #espechat
Q2) What does your typical gymnastics unit look like for K-2nd? For 3rd-5th? Share examples of scope/sequence of skills and activities if possible. #espechat
#truth. Gymnastics is one of the most physically demanding activities we can teach if students are focused and performing skills with purpose. #espechat
A1 I've done balancing and flexibility activities, but haven't dove too deep into gymnastics movements. I'm excited to learn more tonight though! #espechat
A1: A1: I also stress safety. I teach how to fall safely which transfers quite well to the playground! I also teach simple peer spotting which really contributes to helping one another and the social aspects. #espechat
A1 I've done balancing and flexibility activities, but haven't dove too deep into gymnastics movements. I'm excited to learn more tonight though! #espechat
Absolutely. My students are prone to not being safe at all the way they are raised. However, my gymnastics classes are very regulated in how they explore. #espechat
That is so true. My son is a Level 5 Allstar Cheerleader and I intro my unit with several videos of his team and his superb tumbling, balancing and flexibility skills. It is quite motivating for them. ESP the boys! #espechat
A2: 3-5 I typically like for them to learn a few different gymnastics concepts, safety procedures/techniques, and allow them to design a routine as per standards #espechat
A2: K-2 - mainly focused on balance, base of support, basic inversion. 3-5 - more complex skills reminding of basics from before, and putting skills together to show control. #espechat
Yes I love empowering videos of boys doing what ms boys think is for girls (gymnastics, yoga, etc.)!!! That is so awesome, kudos to your son! #espechat
I like the idea of incorporating parkour into gymnastics! I hope my students would be able to do it better than Michael Scott and friends did it on The Office as a result of my teaching lol #espechat
A2: PK-2 I model and tie in curling twisting bending/levels/pathways/balance. Allow for creativity and exploration. Developmentally can revisit throughout the year #espechat
A2: K-2nd is basic - start with moves such as animal moves, donkey kicks, barrel rolls, somersaults, handstands & work into balances; 3rd-5th we do more advanced moves plus balances as well as the balancing unit Ss make thx to @thepespecialist#espechat
I will show Olympic gymnastics routines at the start of the unit. I also show some Ninja Warrior video because we combine the two during this unit. #espechat
A2 So open to seeing and learning what everyone does at the elementary school level so I can incorporate it at the ms level! As of right now I’m in ground zero when it comes to gymnastics! #espechat
A2 K-2 animal walks, rolls, balances. 3-5 adds partner balances. Last year was my first lessons in gymnastics and I can’t wait to continue this year. #espechat
I teach a lot about how to balance with one another. Placing my foot in the middle of your back might not feel so good. Putting my shin on your back does spread out the weight & makes it easier for you to handle. #espechat
A3: Each student has a mat for the balances or moves they do. Each student knows the boundaries of where they need to be in safety wise (just depends how much they want to push those). Control their bodies, take their turn, and help others #espechat
A3: I have a deal w admin that if a S can't handle the class safely, they go to the office and need a parent to help them in class the next day to return. #espechat
A3: well for forward rolls I was always worried about their head/necks. I started having them tuck a piece of paper under their chin to keep it there so their head is down as they roll #espechat
A3) I talk about personal space. For gymnastics skills, I spent a lot of time talking about the importance of spotting. I've started using Google Forms to check for understanding on spotting technique. This year will probably use plickers. #espechat
A3: well for forward rolls I was always worried about their head/necks. I started having them tuck a piece of paper under their chin to keep it there so their head is down as they roll #espechat
A3 we use mats, with one person at a time on the mat. I use visuals (gifs, pics) to set clear expectations. Consequences are given as needed because of safety. #espechat
A3) Clear behavior and safety discussions prior to using any equpment. Prior relationships built with students helps keep things safe too. Being consistent with the expected behavior and what I allow to continue to happen in the gym. #espechat
A2: K-2: 3wks. body shapes &balance games/activities; static/dynamic balances; jumping/landing dif heights; rolling: log, pencil, egg, forward rolls. We end the unit around Halloween so we finish with a huge obstacle course that incorporates everything we have covered.#espechat
A3 Although I’ve never gone through this before I do think an outdoor adventure approach to this would fit it nicely especially when it comes to spotting. “Faller ready” “ready” “falling” “fall away” type of cues #espechat
We always use a small beanie baby animal who likes to go for the “ride” under the chin. They scared to let the poor thing fall so they stay in the tucked position😳 #espechat
I have not had spotters get hurt. I have had students get hurt when their spotters decided to take a break and twisted in the middle of a tripod. #espechat
Q4) Think of a particular gymnastics skill...
What are some modifications/accommodations you could provide to a student who is having difficulty learning said skill? #espechat
Same here Matt. Those sound interesting, I know using @thepespecialist package for gymnastics was a game changer but the more resources to show skills the better #espechat
In reply to
@PhysEdApps, @EPEWCP, @Mr_C_PE, @thepespecialist
A2 I did a station format too (balance beam, balance boards, feathers, etc) that @NorthPolkWestPE shows in his tweets. Love his videos!
My kids LOVED this format. #espechat
I am usually more strict when it comes to rule following during gymnastics simply because of the increased risks. I tell this to the Ss and they know horseplay is not tolerated and will result in sitting out for remainder of class #espechat
A3: Intermediate-I would be interested to see the sport ed model infiltrated into a gymnastics unit. Change jobs a little bit, but would be neat I think #espechat
I did get kicked in the head once from a Ss demo when the student performed a cartwheel and his legs did something really strange. I gathered myself and made him do it again. #espechat
A3) Clear behavior and safety discussions prior to using any equpment. Prior relationships built with students helps keep things safe too. Being consistent with the expected behavior and what I allow to continue to happen in the gym. #espechat
This will be my 8th year at this school. The students know that they will get called out for anything different than the expectation.. As a result, students meet the expectation much more often than they did my first two years at this school. #espechat
A4: I didn't know anything about donkey kicks until I had two students with delayed gross motor skill development in K-2. Now in Grade 3, they can still do donkey kicks and not feel pressured that they can't do a full cartwheel #espechat
A3: we always stress safety first! always have a spotter. we teach that these activities are also a privilege and jumping off a carpet square isn’t near as exciting as jumping from a vault onto the crash mat...however safety comes first. This has always worked for us.#espechat
A4 #espechat when learning cartwheels, I like to teach the transfer of weight from feet to hands with a jumprope on the mat and have them place hands down in front of rope and jump their feet to other side. Kick legs up higher each time working 4 hips over head.
Agreed! I find gymnastics skill progression similar to jump rope skill progression. Find a way to make it motivating and you're on the way to improvement #espechat
A4: I have used a small wedge to help Ss with a forward roll because they couldn't push off enough or were too scared to start all the way on the ground. #espechat
Q4) I call the AEA and use some of their foam wedges or rolls. The schools in my district have a lot of gymnastics equipment. 12 and 4 inch crash mats everywhere make for students to be more comfortable trying a skill they struggle with. #espechat
A4 #espechat when learning cartwheels, I like to teach the transfer of weight from feet to hands with a jumprope on the mat and have them place hands down in front of rope and jump their feet to other side. Kick legs up higher each time working 4 hips over head.
A4: I have used a small wedge to help Ss with a forward roll because they couldn't push off enough or were too scared to start all the way on the ground. #espechat
A4: Group discussion-I talk about comfort & fear. I tell them about my fear of heights. I am comfortable on a ladder, but am afraid of roller coasters. S's have diff. comfort levels & fears with certain skills #espechat
Q4) I accommodate by using visuals of different difficulty levels for students to try. I do more spotting with some students. I have foam noodles available for spotters on the balance beam. #espechat
Making yourself seem human...I dig it! But I was hoping that we could have an #espechat moderator trip to Six Flags this summer to brainstorm ideas while riding some coasters :-) #espechat
A4 Again, thinking back in my gymnastics theory classes. We were exploring the sense of falling backwards using a big foam wheel while lying on our back and pushing off with our feet #espechat
A5: A lot of the cognitive comes when they design their own gymnastics routine. Students need to remember the different types of moves, balances, and know where they would fit well and flow in a routine #espechat
A5: A lot of the cognitive comes when they design their own gymnastics routine. Students need to remember the different types of moves, balances, and know where they would fit well and flow in a routine #espechat
First time I did it was last year and it was a booming success because they knew it was coming at the end so they kept the moves they may have wanted to do in the back of their minds all unit long #espechat
A5) Cognitive concept example: Muscular Tension - try to hold a balance with your body feeling limp/loose vs trying to hold a balance while muscles are tight. What differences did you notice as a result? #espechat
A5: static and dynamic balance, flexibility, we make body shapes using letters, numbers and shapes, use of iPad camera for them to really “see” whether their shapes looks like the picture and then adjust and retake the pic. #espechat
Q6) How are you ensuring assessment criteria for a particular skill is developmentally appropriate from one grade to another? Give an example. #espechat
Saying movement patterns outloud is a proven way to help Ss make better brain/body connections. I find it helps a lot with my younger Ss as well! #espechat
I've used BAM Video Delay for things like this in the past. I wish there was a combo slo mo/video delay app though to help Ss process what they are seeing a little bit easier #espechat
Usually give them a class to create groups and make their routine on their papers, give another class to practice, then third class we perform #espechat
A6) Ex: Difference in assessment criteria for the skill of balancing between Kindergarten and 1st grade as a reflection of unpacking content within @SHAPE_America GLOs to ensure developmental appropriateness #espechat
Q6) I have posters with a ton of examples of ways to use the P-Bars, uneven bars, spring board, vault, beam. I haven't been too particular about students being perfect. I want them to try new things and get comfortable. My assessments could improve. #espechat
A6: Now that I have the process down and have a base for it, this year my assessments need some improvements. Suggestions would be great. I know our unit ending performance is the only really assessment #espechat
What does your progress report look like? How do you combine all of these assessments into something the parents can comprehend? I find that to be the hard part of this. #espechat
Unfortunately, all my grades have to get boiled down to one "Final" grade for report card purposes. Hoping we make the switch to Standards Based Report cards soon #physed#espechat
A7: Projector! Made my gymnastics unit so much easier to teach and to use for station work later in the unit; using GIFs helps as well to show good form #espechat
I think this is something I might start to take on at my school. If we are going to go to SBG, #Physed needs to have more than one box to fill in. #espechat
Quick video preview of my “2nd Grade Body Shape Balancers” gymnastics resource…available to download FOR FREE until the end of the week for my #espechat family. Happy Holidays! https://t.co/dYOP5tfjBk#S1E72a#espechat#physed
A7: Projector! Made my gymnastics unit so much easier to teach and to use for station work later in the unit; using GIFs helps as well to show good form #espechat
A5 I think the concept of weight transfer can be a powerful learning experience in an activity called the great communicator where one ss has to describe with words how to get their partner in different positions that require weight transfer. Debrief at the end #espechat
Quick video preview of my “Transfer of Weight PowerPoint” gymnastics resource…available to download FOR FREE until the end of the week for my #espechat family. Happy Holidays! https://t.co/YpNpct1t78#espechat#physed
