Planned and initiated activities: Action, Creativity and Service (Sports Leaders)

Sports leaders is a PE option where you can learn leadership techniques, planning and organizing sports classes. Although I taught two lessons during the first semester my biggest test came this semester when I was asked to teach not one but two primary classes. We were then put into pairs to teach together however I was asked to go by myself as my timetable didn’t match my partners.

This scared me quite a lot, I was nervous not only about planning the class but having to organize and teach a whole class by myself for the first time was a terrifying prospect!

Below is my lesson plan for the classes. It took me lots of  time to find games appropriate for the year group, which was 3^rd grade as often I would find games too easy and bound to lose the classes interest or too difficult with overcomplicated rules.  

My first lesson was interesting. I felt I dealt with the unforeseen circumstances such as the students coming 10 minutes late and having to alter my lesson plan well. I felt slightly thrown in the deep end at the beginning but I also was please with how I managed to encourage the students to give feed back during the session. I asked the kids if they thought the game was fair, if they could think of other rules to make the games fairer and how they liked each game. I felt my games were relatively easy to explain and the students enjoyed them.

If I were to take the class again I would come up with more back up plan games so in case of more time discrepancies in my original lesson plan. I also would have found an easier way to split the students into two groups and hand out bibs as it was rather time consuming and difficult. I also would have liked to take a whistle as my voice got rather strained by the end of the session. I found that at times in the gym the student’s voices would get rather loud and it was difficult to maintain their attention.

For the next session I think I need to work on the new timing of my lesson plan bearing in mind the 10-15 minute loss of time due to lateness of the students. I also need to work on finding better ways to more efficiently divide the class and deal out bibs. I also need to remember to be confident and loud when addressing the students.                

I found it difficult to control the students when they came in and so I developed my go to phase “fingers on your lips please” and then mimed to try and regain their attention. I also found it difficult when problems arose during the game as I couldn’t be in to places at once.

After the first lesson I thought carefully and put together the lesson plan below.

I applied my lesson plan well as I now knew I would have around 15 minutes less than 45 minutes due to the students coming in late and needing to get changed for their next class. I remember some of the children’s names and was able to call out student’s names to help setting up and cleaning up. I also improved from the last lesson and deal teams and bibs more efficiently.

At times I don’t think I praised the students enough and so sometimes I defiantly could have given more praise.  If I were to change the lesson I would also have tried to relax more as I should have felt more comfortable especially the second time round teaching but I still found myself looking a the clock a lot.

I think for the next lesson again I need to make sure I have more back up games and even though I didn’t need one this time it might help me feel more calm. I also need to remember to bring a whistle as sometimes I was straining my voice.

I still found it quite difficult to let the keep the flow of the lesson natural. Often I was timing too much, trying to make sure I filled the time completely. Although I did feel more comfortable then last lesson, I think I still have far to go until I feel completely at ease teaching.