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Teaching Physical Education

Fact:

• According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity is one of the most important things that people can do to maintain and improve their physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. A student who is physically educated is more likely to become a healthy adult who is motivated to remain healthy and physically active throughout his or her life.

Physical education is an important educational component for Oakland's students. Research shows a correlation between physical activity and academic success. Regular physical activity contributes to a student's overall health, and healthy students have less school absences which leads to better academic gains. Fellows who teach physical education work to create a safe environment for students to develop social skills, self-confidence, self-control, and personal responsibility for their actions and ultimately their own academic success.

What do Fellows teach in Physical Education?

At the elementary level, Fellows will deliver lessons emphasizing students' understanding of their own movement through the environment, and the movement of objects through space and time. In middle school, Fellows will focus on specific content standards that emphasize students' social and problem solving skills. At the high school level, Fellows will ensure that students have mastered knowledge of psychological and sociological concepts, principles, and strategies that apply to learning and performing physical activities.

Fellows are also responsible for creating a strong link between physical education and English Language Arts, science, social science, and other subject areas which supports students' overall academic achievement. Current Fellows report that they regularly integrate reading and writing activities into their lesson plans to ensure that they are promoting both physical education and core academic skills in which their students need to catch up.

To connect with a physical education teacher or Fellow in the Oakland Unified School District, send an email with your name, phone number, and question or request to observe to Connect@OaklandTeachingFellow.org. Current Teaching Fellows can answer specific questions about teaching physical education in Oakland and/or schedule an observation in an Oakland classroom.