Physical Education In Primary School Researches Best Practices Situation

This book aims to put right the fact that there is a dearth of texts written specifically for primary school teachers, which provides information about key issues and current research evidence in ways which are comprehensible to a non-specialist and which guide practice. The ability to use research evidence to improve and inform practice is now a requirement for the award of QTS.

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.

Teaching Physical Education in Primary School is a valuable resource for both pre-service and practising teachers that conveys the underpinning research and theory. Replete with over 30 illustrations, this essential resource reflects current evidence that a physically active child is also a more engaged learner.

Research findings in education can provide invaluable insight into how teaching practice can be improved, but research papers are often inaccessible and hard to digest. This innovative new text is designed to assist physical education students, pre-service teachers, practising teachers and teacher educators to learn how to read research and to apply it to practice in primary and secondary physical education. The text also provides insights and implications for those working with young people in physical activity and sport settings. The book presents a clear, step-by-step guide to how to read and interpret research, followed by a series of short and engaging introductions to contemporary research studies on key topics in physical education, from classroom management and programme design to assessment and social issues. Each study is discussed from the point of view of researcher, teacher educator and primary and post primary teacher, providing the reader with invaluable insight into how to use research to generate new ideas and improve their teaching practice. Research and Practice in Physical Education is the perfect companion to any course in research methods, current issues, learning and teaching, or pedagogy and curriculum in physical education.

This is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the teaching and learning of physical education in the primary school. By taking a developmental approach, readers are encouraged to plan lessons that are individually relevant, worthwhile and exciting for children, and to ensure that learning is at the heart of the physical education experience. In addition to covering all activity areas of the physical education curriculum, the authors provide guidance to ensure that the subject is planned, delivered, assessed and managed effectively. Teachers are encouraged to consider a range of issues that impact on subject delivery, and reflect on strategies and skills required for effective subject leadership. This book is invaluable reading for all in-service and trainee primary teachers, and those who work within wider school sports partnerships. It provides a theoretical and practical focus for those wishing to deliver high quality physical education in the primary school.

This book includes information on all six areas of the PE National Curriculum (games, gymnastic activities, dance, swimming, outdoor and adventurous activities, athletic activities), to increase subject knowledge and to develop teaching, management and planning skills. This book provides professional development for generalist primary teachers and student-teachers and also offers support to subject leaders charged with the responsibility for other colleagues. It will build on current practice and aim to increase knowledge, understanding, confidence and enthusiasm in an area of the curriculum which often receives a very short time allocation during initial teaching training courses. Teaching Physical Education in the Primary School is a comprehensive guide to the subject for primary educators. It deals with not only the teaching and learning of PE, but also everything that is relevant to co-ordinating the subject.

- Features 30 clear summaries of studies on elementary physical education instruction, class management, program design, workplace conditions, and more - Includes practical tips for navigating the typical research report to improve the ability of teachers to glean new ideas and useful facts from research - Shows the differences between the vantage point of the researcher and that of the teaching practitioner, and how to find the common ground between the two - Covers new teaching strategies, measuring instruments, and program alternatives--and how to think about teaching physical education in more sophisticated ways This textbook and reference provides teachers with valuable insights for using research to improve their teaching. Putting Research to Work in Elementary Physical Education: Conversations in the Gym lets readers eavesdrop on a career-long conversation between a well-known scholar and a top-notch teacher who have a combined 75 years of professional physical education experience. Together they take a close look at 30 studies to help educators learn how to glean valuable information from research. The book opens a window into the minds of 69 scholars as they puzzle about teachers, students, and programs. Readers do not need a highly technical vocabulary, advanced scientific or mathematical knowledge, or a detailed background concerning research methods. The authors have provided "translations" in the form of brief, nontechnical annotations that teachers and other nonresearchers will actually enjoy reading. Each study is briefly described and then commented on from a researcher's perspective, a teacher's perspective, and finally, a shared perspective. The 30 reports address important, practical issues recognizable to anyone familiar with what happens in a physical education class. The book shows how the studies can be useful to teachers in their own work, and it points out how valuable information from research can be used to improve teaching. The book also demonstrates how stimulating and fruitful dialogue can be when the knowledge of researchers and practitioners is brought together around a single study. By discussing each study from both perspectives, the book sheds light on the common ground between researchers and physical educators and fosters mutual respect between the two. The varied perspectives can also provide a valuable springboard for thought-provoking discussions among colleagues in a school setting or in a graduate-level physical education course. The book presents 12 guidelines that will help readers navigate through the difficult aspects of the typical research report, plus four annotated bibliographies to help readers explore topics that are more specific and more advanced. No other resource makes such a diverse group of studies so accessible. If educators are to put research to work in their own teaching methods and program designs, there's no better place to start than with these straightforward "conversations in the gym."