“With physical activity, specifically aerobic exercise, you release BDNF, which actually grows new brain cells…”
Hello and welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast episode 63, and as always, thank you for giving up your time to join me on the ONLY Primary and Elementary Physed Podcast in the world! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Physed teacher and host/producer of the stunning Global Physed Voxcast, Jorge Rodriguez. As highly respected PE teacher and consistently doing amazing things in the online space, it was a true pleasure welcoming Jorge Under the Umbrella and finally getting to ask him in more depth about his own teaching practice. As expected, Jorge didn’t disappoint and he was on fine form as he shared some fine value bombs, just in time for Christmas!
During this killer episode, Jorge shares with us his BEST EVER lesson, something he has developed in his own teaching during the past 12 months, insights into using jigsaw learning and all of the regular show favourites!
What I Learned: Never overlook the small things…During this episode Jorge shares a great story, About how a friend on Voxer (Lynn Burrows) started saying a prayer for a student overtime she had to tie their shoe laces [42:59].
If there is nothing else i’ve learned is of the utmost importance since starting this show, it is that relationship building is the cornerstone of any teachers classroom management and essential for nurturing a successful learning environment. But after hearing this story, I realise more so that not a single moment with the children in our responsibility should ever be taken for granted or overlooked as an opportunity to forge strong relationships. I mean, lets be honest for a second here, how many times have you grunted the tenth child of the day approaches you and asks you to tie their laces (or insert other seemingly annoying task). Come on…be honest, I know I have.
Perhaps a shift in perception of this simple task from ‘inconvenience or a chore’ to ‘opportunity’ will help us embrace it and never get tired of it. Remember, as Ben Landers The PE Specialist quoted in episode 26:
“A great teacher is always focused on the student, not the lesson”
I’m not saying that you have to pray for every child yourself, but rather use the 30 seconds it takes to tie laces to converse with them, ask about the lesson, how they are feeling and show them you care. As Jorge says, this shift could well be the difference in building that relationship, and just think…What impact will these small gestures have on the way your students perceive you, their teacher? If I were a betting man I’d say give it a go, you can’t lose!
Top Resources & Highlights:
Top Warm up – [33:50]
Jorge on ‘Why Physed?’ [03:27]
Jorge on What He has Learned this Year [06:16]
Jorge on his Best Lesson Ever [28:55]
Contact:
Twitter – @physednow
Don’t forget to subscribe to The PE Umbrella on iTunes or Stitcher radio by following the links above. It would be amazing if you could rate and review the show there and leave feedback as it will help me further improve the content of the show that I provide for YOU going forward. Have a tremendous week engaging, motivating and inspiring your children, and I’ll catch you next time ‘Under the Umbrella’.
