101 TIPS FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

TIP#1: Learn about your school goals, policies, and procedures. TIP#2: Meet with the principal to determine expectations and goal setting. TIP#3: Familiarize yourself with your schools curriculum. TIP#4: Create an instructional outline for the school year. TIP#5: Develop unit plans. TIP#6: Create developmentally appropriate, standards-based lesson plans. TIP#7: Look over students IEPs. TIP#8: Include assessment and closure in your daily lesson plan. TIP#9: Post the National Standards for Physical Education poster and your daily objectives in the gymnasium. TIP#10: Create a developmentally appropriate, positive behavior management plan. TIP#11: Be mindful of the master school schedule. TIP#12: Check class sizes, complete and equipment inventory, and identify needs. TIP#13: Conduct a facility inspection with your maintenance supervisor. TIP#14: Report and repair safety hazards TIP#15: Perform a safety check of all equipment. TIP#16: Organize your equipment and props. TIP#17: Keep a list of needs for next years budget. TIP#18: Create a substitute teacher handbook. TIP#19: Organize your professional library. TIP#20: Identify school duties outside of teaching and how to execute them. TIP#21: Ask how your performance will be evaluated. TIP#22: Identify students with medical needs and IEP plans. TIP#23: Formalize your teaching philosophy. TIP#24: Become familiar with the school emergency action plan. TIP#25: Meet the school nurse and develop a plan for responding to injuries. TIP#26: Be sure your first-aid, CPR, and AED certifications are current. TIP#27: Post all class rules where students can view them.

TIP#28: Create a positive learning environment. TIP#29: Establish instructional spaces 7stock up on necessary tools (poly spots, etc.). TIP#30: Perform a time analysis based upon allocated class length. TIP#31: Develop a class routine that includes warm-up, review, practice time, group work and closure. TIP#32: Create an introductory letter to send home to parents. TIP#33: Attend all required school meetings. TIP#33: Attend all required school meetings. TIP#34: Identify and meet regularly with a mentor. TIP#35: Dress in professional physical education attire. TIP#36: Be prepared psychologically, physically and professionally. TIP#37: Display enthusiasm and energy. TIP#38: Greet the students at the door. TIP#39: Think of a creative way to introduce yourself to your students. TIP#40: Use an ice breaker activity. TIP#41: Learn and use students names. TIP#42: Introduce classroom management protocols beginning on the first day of class. TIP#43: Demonstrate and practice class rules and procedures in action. TIP#44: Explain rationales and consequences for rules. TIP#45: Send home NASPEs Teacher Toolbox monthly physical activity calendars. TIP#46: Practice and discuss emergency action procedures. (e.g., fire drills). TIP#47: Identify student expectations, activity interests and desires. TIP#48: Explain assessment and grading criteria. TIP#49: Introduce themes and units to the students. TIP#50: Be firm but flexible in tone and body language. TIP#51: Maintain a positive learning experience. TIP#52: Vary your teaching strategies. TIP#53: Communicate positive comments and concerns to parents frequently. TIP#54: Cultivate working relationships with all school personnel. TIP#55: Promote physical activity outside of class (homework).

TIP#56: Identify and promote community-based physical activity resources. TIP#57: Keep students actively engaged during class time. TIP#58: Plan for student demonstrations and exhibitions. TIP#59: Model desired attitudes and behaviors. TIP#60: Reflect upon the lesson success and weakness. TIP#61: Be a role model practice what you teach. TIP#62: Teach activities students have never tried. TIP#63: Over plan and always have a back-up plan. TIP#64: Increase the students knowledge of his/her body. TIP#65: Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. TIP#66: Assess student outcomes across the three domains of learning. TIP#67: Regularly communicate student progress. TIP#68: Encourage students to set and monitor goals. TIP#69: Deliver meaningful feedback to all students. TIP#70: Learn innovative approaches at workshops and conferences. TIP#71: Integrate other academic content areas in the PE lesson. TIP#72: Develop a support system school nurse, psychologist, guidance counselors. TIP#73: Become involves with professional educational organizations. TIP#74: Network with district colleagues at in-service trainings. TIP#75: Stay updates with professional literature (newsletter, journals, internet websites). TIP#76: Be a lifelong learner. TIP#77: Be an advocate for quality physical education. TIP#78: Attend school-sponsored events. TIP#79: Showcase your program through newsletters, school websites, back to school evenings, morning announcements. TIP#80: Be student-centered in all that you do. TIP#81: Be consistent in discipline and class management. TIP#82: Play cool music whenever possible. TIP#83: Find ways to make lessons fun. TIP#84: Implement technology. TIP#85: Indentify additional sources of funding (PTA/PTO, grants, etc). TIP#86: Invite administrators, school board members, parents and other teachers to your classroom.

TIP#87: Balance teaching expectations with other responsibilities. TIP#88: If something is not working, try a new approach. TIP#89: Address inappropriate student behavior issues immediately. TIP#90: Choose your battle with students; use tact with all. TIP#91: Dont look for the easy way to teach. TIP#92: Create a plan for any emergency. TIP#93: Respect your students. TIP#94: Avoid elimination games. TIP#95: Always class students by their names. TIP#96: Advocate for physical education class to be the same size as other classes. TIP#97: Plan for the loss of teaching space and equipment. TIP#98: Always have a lesson plan. TIP#99: Expect the unexpected. TIP#100: Take care of yourself. TIP#101: Be a teacher not a friend.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. William Ward