I don't believe that I am a very good reader. I have read all of my life, but it was always a struggle for me. Reading was never enjoyable. I always thought of it as a chore with school. I absolutely hated AR and taking the tests. The only times I enjoyed reading was when I got to do it on my own. I got to choose what book I wanted to read and when I wanted to read them. I didn't have a date that I needed to have the book finished by and I definitely didn't need to take a test on it or write a paper about it. My favorite types of books to read on my own free time were the mystery books. I loved the plots that kept me guessing until the very end.
Within my discipline I don't think my students will be reading that much. I can't ever remember opening a book for my Physical Education classes when I was younger. I don't think that you should have to read in a class that is meant to keep you active. I will try, however, to incorporate it in some way. If it is a back up plan for when the weather doesn't corporate with the schedule that I have set up. I can always have a bunch of Physical Education magazines or something laying around the office so on those crappy days, I can have the students take a look at them and find something interesting that they can share with the class. I wouldn't have them write a paper or anything about it unless I included it as extra credit because I don't want my students to hate writing because they are forced to do it. I would rather have them enjoy what they are reading, which will make them think highly of reading and of themselves.
Thanks for your posting, Kelsey! I agree with you that P.E. does not tend to be heavy on written texts--although if you teach health that is a more text-based discipline.
ReplyDeleteIf part of your job is to spark students' passion for P.E., I think that for some students, one way to do that is to read great books about subjects that interest them. I had a friend who was a boxer who was always reading books about people like Evander Holyfield. A lot of my friends in my yoga classes read yoga magazines. They recommended "Autobiography of a Yogi" and "Waking"--a book about a paralyzed yoga teacher. I plan to read both of those soon. :) To me, these are examples of ways that reading can be used to support and maintain people's physical activity.
I think it would be neat if you were familiar with different resources that could spark and feed your students' interests--even if you didn't read them in class. Then again, I love it when my yoga teachers read to me during class and it might be neat for your students to hear you read a few inspirational words by great figures in sports too before they went out to exercise. :)