Mrs. Shurtleff's Classroom Blog: OCTOBER

October has been a busy month! Starting off with The Buddy Run was so much fun to see all of my students working together towards a common, healthy, active goal! The kids were smiling while they ran, pacing themselves (as we have been learning all year to do) and supporting each other through the run. What a wonderful tradition our school has started, and how grateful I feel to be a part of it!

In Toddler-Kindergarten P.E. we have continued to practice gross motor skills each week, and I can already see the improvement in many students skills. Continued practice with balance using equipment like bean bags, balance beams, and Bosu balance balls has given students a different outlet for practicing their core balance. A highlight was the parachute--while we practice following directions, moving together as a class (team) and challenging our upper body strength--we had a lot of fun singing, running, shaking, and bouncing with various games, and perfecting our 'mushroom' tent at the end of each parachute session.

As the cooler temperatures roll in, and our national/college teams create the excitement, in 1st-4th grade it only seems appropriate to pull out the footballs. I will never forget the day my father taught me how to throw a football --and the day I actually threw it correctly! It is my goal to create the excitement, fun, and "never give up" attitude with my students, too!

We we have had some great practice learning and/or perfecting how to hold, throw, catch, and pass a football. Playing in small groups with adapted games like "Monkey in the Middle", two hand touch, "Ultimate Football", and "Football Golf", students learn the skills of how to handle a football, but also learn to think outside themselves, follow simple game rules, and work together to achieve a goal.

This year I was very impressed with students skills, but also very happy to see the excitement when they finally got their football to spiral, catch a "GO LONG!" pass, or score in the end zone. What a joy is is to see students working together in a positive, and sportsmanship-like way--Seeing students "high-five" each other, or hearing a genuine "great catch, Cameron!" is often the highlight of my day. While we did take some breaks with the football to work on cartwheels in a "cartwheel" clinic, do a little "Flag Tag" or test our quick decision making skills in a game of "Giants, Wizards, and Elves", October has been a beautiful and fun filled month!

Check out some of the photos and videos I have captured of your kids moving, working hard, learning, and having fun!

BUDDY RUN FUN