Sarah Cordes

Dania Massey
TED 513
16 October 2019
Week 4 Observation Assignment
Overall, I thought that the PE instructor displayed mainly appropriate practices. I
observed a credentialed P. E. instructor teaching a 1st grade class of 26 students. He had the class
for about 30-45 minutes. The P.E. lesson had six sections. They started with a “Perimeter Jog”
around the asphalt on the playground. They transitioned into “Line Runs” where they did
different psychomotor activities. He transitioned into a short game, which he called “Bridge
Tag.” After the game, he discussed how to do an overhand throw. He next allowed the class to
practice overhand throws. The last part of the class was a game where they were able to further
practice their overhand throws.
Throughout the class, he used many of the appropriate practices given in Shape America
Appropriate Practices reading. Some of the major ones were: use of groupings, feedback, and
curriculum. Throughout the class, the instructor used different groupings in each activity. As
students completed their perimeter run, they were each given a number from 1-6. Each group had
5-6 students in them, and he did a staggered release during the line runs, relearing ones, twos,
three, etc. at different times to allow for space. During Bridge Tag, those who were tagged, were
frozen and had to form groups of 2, 3, or 4 (depending on the number he gave at the beginning of
each round). After forming groups, they were unfrozen and continued the game. While practicing
their overhand throws, he allowed them to form pairs, or trios if necessary. Finally, during the
final game, he separated them into teams, mixing skill and ability.
Throughout the class, he provided different kinds of feedback. The instructor used
general feedback, specific feedback, and corrective feedback. During the Perimeter and Line
Runs, he mainly used general feedback to keep them motivated and encouraged them as well.
While practicing their overhand throws, he provided specific feedback to each student by using
the cues he discussed earlier in the lesson. He would say that the student did well doing a certain
step of the throw, naming the cue as he did so. He would also give corrective feedback when
students weren’t performing the overhand throw correctly. He would use his cues as he did so, as
well as modeling and helping the student. Throughout the students’ practice and their final game,
he would say the cues to help remind them of the proper way to do an overhand throw.
The students had been working on the underhand throw in previous class periods. When
beginning the ‘lecture’ on the overhand throw, he reminded them of what they had been working
on. He went through the steps and cues with them for the underhand throw. He explained the
similarities and differences between the two different throws. He was very clear about what they
were expected to learn in class, telling them they would learn about the overhand throw. When
giving directions throughout the class session, and the cues for the overhand throw, he was very
clear and concise. He also modeled the directions, used student examples, and had students
participate in the directions. He also made sure that he stressed safety, the students knew how to
be safe, and that they were practicing safety.
There was really only one thing that I felt he did in terms of ‘inappropriate practices.’
While the students were practicing their overhand throw, he would walk away and begin setting
up for the game they would play at the end of the class. He would go back and forth from the
students practicing, to setting up for the next step. I felt that he should have been set up before
the class started, especially since he was doing so while they were practicing. This would have
allowed him to focus 100% on the students practicing and using proper technique.
Overall, I thought this lesson used a lot of appropriate practices. He did not use any
shame games, but made sure that all students had equal opportunity to participate. He was very
clear and concise in his directions, and offered many different times of feedback. Throughout the
lesson, he scaffolded the students so they would be able to do an overhand throw. He was also
very encouraging to all students. For the most part, he was very attentive and engaged with them
as well.