Compasses are useful tools for teaching the basics of navigation. Knowing where you are, where you are going, and how to get there are important facets of outdoor recreation. Compass games are a fun way to teach introductory navigation skills, and this article describes how they can be used as innovative, nontraditional activities in physical…

Using a workbook in physical education is not a common practice, but it can enhance students' cognitive knowledge, motivation for learning, and physical activity outside of school. This article introduces an innovative project that involved using a workbook in a power-walking instructional unit with female high-school students. The article…

This article addresses the effectiveness of previewing for students with autism spectrum disorders in general physical education. Previewing is an instructional strategy that takes place before the student's physical education class and involves the introduction of skills that will be performed in physical education. Social stories and visual…

Students with disabilities have had a great deal to say about their experiences in general physical education, both positive and negative. Positive remarks include that they feel more "normal" and enjoy how their friends help them and make them feel part of the group. But students with disabilities also express that they are not always allowed to…

The term "video podcasting" can be both intimidating and exciting. It might sound like something only the technologically savvy know how to do, and it is evident that "digital native" students love it. This "how to" article bridges the gap between intimidating and exciting in order to bring video podcasting into the realm of possibility for those…

Nine common methods of extending movement tasks from simple to more complex proposed by Rink (2010) are (1) adding or decreasing the number of people, (2) modifying equipment, (3) making the space larger or smaller, (4) breaking down a skill into parts, (5) changing the conditions of performance, (6) changing the rules, (7) changing the goal or…

Each year many young athletes suffer injuries from overtraining. According to the existing literature, strategies do exist to help control this growing problem. This article explores the basic nature of training and overtraining, with a particular emphasis on endurance athletes. Several psychological factors are highlighted as the first clear…

The purpose of this article is to provide physical education teachers with information on the prevention, and identification in students, of vocal pathologies associated with yelling during class. It is estimated that 6 to 9% of school-age children have a voice disorder, but only about 1% receive treatment for it. Vocal nodules--benign tumors that…

One way to help physical education preservice students to think critically about the learning of physical skills is to provide hands-on experiences in which performance and learning can be seen and measured. Developing knowledge of these processes, however, requires creative and carefully planned exercises that can illustrate principles in a…

Those who advocate for dance in education inevitably face many roadblocks, including ignorance of how dance can contribute to education, implementation of standardized performance assessments, lack of funding, entrenched issues of politics and power, and fear and discomfort about the body. It is dance teachers' responsibility to enlighten,…

The lack of motivation among students is a common challenge in physical education. Studies drawing on the self-determination theory consistently show that perceived autonomy facilitates adaptive motivation in students, which can lead to a wide range of desired educational outcomes. However, instructional strategies designed to support student…

Empowering students with disabilities to remain physically active after graduation is often a struggle for physical educators. One reason for this is that physical educators are often left out of the transition-planning process. In order to be seen as a key member of the special education team, physical educators need to use the same instructional…

Historically, physical education has had a low status in schools. Physical education teachers have struggled to secure the resources and support needed to teach in an appropriate manner. As a result, physical education has been marginalized and has received limited attention in the school community. The purpose of this two-part feature is to…

There is no denying that physical educators have traditionally been considered second-class citizens within the K-12 educational system in the United States. In some cases the low status of physical educators has resulted from the views of others (e.g., colleagues, administrators, parents, etc.), while at other times physical educators themselves…

Diversity is defined as differences in groups of people and individuals based on ethnicity, race, language, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, exceptionalities, and religion. Each of these aspects of diversity is a "culture" in and of itself. The goal of physical education teachers is to become "culturally responsive teachers" and…