The Struggles Are Real in 10PE

One of my challenges this year is teaching multiple classes the same topic(s). I have 4 Year9 Health classes, 6 Year10 Health classes, 3 Year10 PE classes and 1 Year11PE class. So, lots of names to learn!

A massive positive is because I have so many classes the same, I can repeat the same class, therefore planning is not as heavy as last year. But, as we know, each class is considerably different.

I have been having difficulties altering my 10PE lessons for each of the three classes. Even though I taught them for a few weeks at the end of last year as part of our jumpstart program, I still cannot work out how to differentiate my planning between classes. I really hope that I can nail this quickly!

On Fridays I have the three 10PE classes back to back, so I teach the same lesson three times in a row. Last Friday was incredibly interesting how the classes responded to the same activity. With my Junior classes, I have a deal that if we get through the 1-3 tasks I have for them each period (we are completing an ABL unit), whatever time is left at the end is theirs to play. I am hoping that this provides students with an incentive to be on task for longer, and reduce off task behaviour such as gaming. This 'deal' also provides students the opportunity to see what fun they actually can have, and what they can learn, if they give 110% in their class tasks.

Today the students just had one activity, with two challenges. I gave the students a piece of rope and asked them to all hold the piece of rope in a line. From there I gave each student a blindfold. Their challenge was to create a given shape with the piece of rope, while blindfolded (and to complete this twice). Although this sounds easy, it is actually difficult - I tried it last year! If any of the students peeked, the class had to restart their shape.

As aspected, some students became infuriated with others in the class for peeking, talking over one another and not listening. Others were relaxed and did not speak at all. However, the frustration exploded very quickly in one class, the middle of the three.

Some students threw their toys out the cot and left the classroom, swearing under their breath. About 5 students left, and 4 returned after 5-10 minutes of cooling down and having a wander. I had very little desire to try and keep the students in class, when there were still about 10 students persevering with the challenge. These 10 students completed the first shape, and then the wanderers came back and completed the second shape together.

I hoped by keeping true to my word and expectations, and not giving into free time by giving up on the challenge, then this would pay off in the long run... Today I had that same class again with the students who left. Their challenge today was for the entire class to run through the skipping rope, without missing a skip. Again, an incredibly easy task, which can become difficult if people aren't listening to one another or participating to the best of their ability. The kids were so different today - they worked together and listened to each other's ideas, which meant they completed their task in only half a period - a considerable contrast to last Friday's antics!! They had half a period free to play whatever they like. 

Fingers crossed this is a little breakthrough which might change the class around..? Something to think about and reflect on throughout the year.

The video below is class number 3... which is also my tutor class, therefore is the most enjoyable and often the most successful. I don't think that is a coincidence..