The other day on television, I saw this advertisement and it really made me laugh. I thought it seemed like a commercial that would be shown during the Super Bowl, which is the thought that sparked this blog. I plan on watching the Super Bowl tomorrow, but I honestly don't care who wins. I typically enjoy the Super Bowl because of the commercials and because I get to spend time with friends. Obviously, if the Steeler's are playing, I am into the game 100%! I also like the Super Bowl because it is a good reason to cook some good food and relax. It will be interesting to see what kind of commercials surface tomorrow during the game.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Ropes Unit
This blog will be more of a commentary on what we are doing in my PE classes right now. I decided to share this because I was talking with the other female PE teacher today (Bobbi Jo) and we realized that there probably aren't many schools who do this unit (if you do, please let me know!!). We are the only building in our district that has ropes.
For this unit, we have 12 ropes suspended from the ceiling with large blue mats underneath them. The goal of this unit is to work on engaging the upper arms and working on muscular strength and endurance. We make sure the students understand that climbing is not the goal of the unit, and that if they cannot climb, it is ok!
For our first lesson, the students mostly do activities on the rope that involves them engaging their arms. We have them jump and hang, attempt pull ups while hanging (we have a modified version as well), climb, swing, lower themselves and pull themselves back up (with the hand-over-hand and hand-under-hand method), and perform the inverted hang (optional activity since they are flipping upside down and it is challenging). For most of the activities, we have modifications for to allow some differentiated instruction.
For our second and third lesson, we incorporate some of the different activities from the first lesson and then we allow them to perform other challenging activities that involve climbing and swinging while manipulating objects with their hands and feet (a favorite is the Tarzan swing where they can swing from rope to rope).
At the beginning of the year, we debated on whether or not we wanted to keep this unit. I am glad we decided to because there are three things I like most about this unit: 1) It is different from all the other things we do 2) The students who aren't successful during sport units usually excel in this one and 3) Every year the students are ALWAYS excited about starting ropes. It's an atypical unit that is great for working on strength an the students really enjoy it!
Below is a picture of Bobbi Jo guiding students during a rope activity.
For this unit, we have 12 ropes suspended from the ceiling with large blue mats underneath them. The goal of this unit is to work on engaging the upper arms and working on muscular strength and endurance. We make sure the students understand that climbing is not the goal of the unit, and that if they cannot climb, it is ok!
For our first lesson, the students mostly do activities on the rope that involves them engaging their arms. We have them jump and hang, attempt pull ups while hanging (we have a modified version as well), climb, swing, lower themselves and pull themselves back up (with the hand-over-hand and hand-under-hand method), and perform the inverted hang (optional activity since they are flipping upside down and it is challenging). For most of the activities, we have modifications for to allow some differentiated instruction.
For our second and third lesson, we incorporate some of the different activities from the first lesson and then we allow them to perform other challenging activities that involve climbing and swinging while manipulating objects with their hands and feet (a favorite is the Tarzan swing where they can swing from rope to rope).
At the beginning of the year, we debated on whether or not we wanted to keep this unit. I am glad we decided to because there are three things I like most about this unit: 1) It is different from all the other things we do 2) The students who aren't successful during sport units usually excel in this one and 3) Every year the students are ALWAYS excited about starting ropes. It's an atypical unit that is great for working on strength an the students really enjoy it!
Below is a picture of Bobbi Jo guiding students during a rope activity.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Healthy Lifestyle Change Struggles
Family Guy Clip - I love chocolate
My boyfriend showed me this video clip tonight, and it perfectly describes the internal struggles I am facing right now. I have always been a pretty healthy person in terms of exercising. Usually, I would do well for about three months, then lapse for a month, and then get right back into my workout regimen. Eating, on the other hand, is what I have always struggled with. It's safe to say I had portion control issues in the past. If I cracked a bag of chips, I would eat the whole bag. If I started eating ice cream out of the carton, I ate at least half of it. I used to eat such large portions that I would leave every meal feeling very full.
Now, I know I probably make myself sound overweight with the way I just described my eating habits, but I'm a fairly normal weight for my age and height (not sure where I stored all those extra calories!). Anyway, since September 2011, I began a healthy lifestyle change. I wanted to tone up my body and get into better physical shape. I was also having problems with my hip flexors (and still am, but they are getting better) and was having trouble sleeping at night. Mentally, I wasn't as "sharp" as I used to be, and I just felt "gross" all around.
Since September, I have been exercising at least five or six days a week (a mix of cardio and weight lifting), and I have been eating much healthier. I eat a salad for lunch every day, and I have learned to control how much I eat. I still occasionally eat the foods I enjoy, but I make sure not to indulge myself. For example, if I want to get a pizza, I will limit myself to one or two slices (In the past, sometimes I used to eat the whole thing!).
The reason I shared this clip is because recently I have been feeling the urge to eat more than I usually do and the foods I want are the foods I should be eating sparingly (ice cream, cake, chocolate, twizzlers, etc). When Jake showed me this clip, I laughed because I feel just like Brian (the dog) does in the video! I just LOVE ice cream and pizza but I can't eat it because then I'll get fat. But it is SO good.
An interesting thing I learned from Jillian Michaels is that when you eat, you should always leave a little bit on your plate to let yourself know that you are in control, not the food. I just have to keep my will power strong and maintain my healthy lifestyle change!
My boyfriend showed me this video clip tonight, and it perfectly describes the internal struggles I am facing right now. I have always been a pretty healthy person in terms of exercising. Usually, I would do well for about three months, then lapse for a month, and then get right back into my workout regimen. Eating, on the other hand, is what I have always struggled with. It's safe to say I had portion control issues in the past. If I cracked a bag of chips, I would eat the whole bag. If I started eating ice cream out of the carton, I ate at least half of it. I used to eat such large portions that I would leave every meal feeling very full.
Now, I know I probably make myself sound overweight with the way I just described my eating habits, but I'm a fairly normal weight for my age and height (not sure where I stored all those extra calories!). Anyway, since September 2011, I began a healthy lifestyle change. I wanted to tone up my body and get into better physical shape. I was also having problems with my hip flexors (and still am, but they are getting better) and was having trouble sleeping at night. Mentally, I wasn't as "sharp" as I used to be, and I just felt "gross" all around.
Since September, I have been exercising at least five or six days a week (a mix of cardio and weight lifting), and I have been eating much healthier. I eat a salad for lunch every day, and I have learned to control how much I eat. I still occasionally eat the foods I enjoy, but I make sure not to indulge myself. For example, if I want to get a pizza, I will limit myself to one or two slices (In the past, sometimes I used to eat the whole thing!).
The reason I shared this clip is because recently I have been feeling the urge to eat more than I usually do and the foods I want are the foods I should be eating sparingly (ice cream, cake, chocolate, twizzlers, etc). When Jake showed me this clip, I laughed because I feel just like Brian (the dog) does in the video! I just LOVE ice cream and pizza but I can't eat it because then I'll get fat. But it is SO good.
An interesting thing I learned from Jillian Michaels is that when you eat, you should always leave a little bit on your plate to let yourself know that you are in control, not the food. I just have to keep my will power strong and maintain my healthy lifestyle change!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
You Gotta Be
Song -- You Gotta Be by Des'ree
While I was driving back from work today, the song "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree came on the radio. This song is significant in my life. When I was in 7th grade, my reading teacher had us do a project that involved us choosing a motivational song to write about (we had to do some sort of assignment with it, but I forget exactly what it was). My teacher used this song as her example, and ever since, I have used this song as a "pump up" song. I listen to it anytime I need encouragement. More specifically, I listened to it on repeat driving to every interview I had when I started looking for a teaching position.
The link above is actually a youtube video, but it has the lyrics that go along with the song. I feel like the lyrics are very motivational. They make me feel better if I am having a bad day or they can give me encouragement for a challenging situation.
My favorite line from this song is when Des'ree sings, "The best part is danger staring you in the face." I like this line because of the way she sings it. She sings it with a cool and confident tone of voice. This makes me see the "danger" as being challenges in life and it's like saying, "Yea, bring it on. I got this." This line makes me feel like I can take on any challenge that is sent my way. It also makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, no matter how hard.
I think it's amazing how one small assignment in middle school can still impact my life today. It's amazing how teachers can influence students in small ways, whether they realize it or not!
While I was driving back from work today, the song "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree came on the radio. This song is significant in my life. When I was in 7th grade, my reading teacher had us do a project that involved us choosing a motivational song to write about (we had to do some sort of assignment with it, but I forget exactly what it was). My teacher used this song as her example, and ever since, I have used this song as a "pump up" song. I listen to it anytime I need encouragement. More specifically, I listened to it on repeat driving to every interview I had when I started looking for a teaching position.
The link above is actually a youtube video, but it has the lyrics that go along with the song. I feel like the lyrics are very motivational. They make me feel better if I am having a bad day or they can give me encouragement for a challenging situation.
My favorite line from this song is when Des'ree sings, "The best part is danger staring you in the face." I like this line because of the way she sings it. She sings it with a cool and confident tone of voice. This makes me see the "danger" as being challenges in life and it's like saying, "Yea, bring it on. I got this." This line makes me feel like I can take on any challenge that is sent my way. It also makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, no matter how hard.
I think it's amazing how one small assignment in middle school can still impact my life today. It's amazing how teachers can influence students in small ways, whether they realize it or not!
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Hard Is What Makes It Great
For one of the assignments for the ESU Sports Psychology class, we had to find motivational clips and share them. I had chosen a clip from the movie A League Of Their Own, and ever since, I have had the motivational phrases from it stuck in my head. Therefore, I wanted to share it.
The best part of this clip is the last few lines that Tom Hanks says. He says, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it" and "The hard is what makes it great." These two quotes really hit home. Whenever I am having a rough day, these quotes remind me that I need to keep going. For example, if I am having a hard time juggling work, coaching, and personal obligations, I just have to remember that if it wasn't hard, then I wouldn't be the only one doing so many things. I think it also is very motivating because if you honestly think about it, if everything was easy, then everyone might be equal. Hard work is what sets us apart from the person next to us. I feel fortunate that I was offered a teaching position at my school, beating out more than 100 other applicants. However, I feel as though I deserved the position because I worked really hard to get where I was. I put up with a terrible first year job and worked my tail off. And as I look back on it now, it was supposed to be hard! In addition, whenever I have a bad day and I think that things are just "so terrible," I have to remind myself that there are thousands of other people that are dealing with worse struggles than I am.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
2nd Blog -- Gabrielle Giffords
I am going to blog commentaries about videos, articles, movies, and music.
Gabrielle Giffords YouTube Video
I watched this video on YouTube and it was very touching. Honestly, I really didn't know who this woman was until the whole tragedy happened. The most touching thing about this video is how her husband stood by her the whole time. I have heard so many stories of how husband's abandon their wives after catastrophes and it is heartbreaking.
In addition, I think Gabby Giffords shows courage. She is able to release videos and talk in front of hundreds of people even after the horrible shooting. She is a different person now, but she has enough self-confidence to not care what people will think of her now that she has changed physically.
I hope that this video clip provides some type of inspiration or insight. It goes to show that no matter how bad we think our lives can be sometimes, there is someone out there who has it worse. I can't imagine being shot at point blank range in the head, surviving, and continuing life as normal. I give her a lot of credit and kudos. Even though I don't know much about her (or where she stands politically), I think she is a strong, admirable woman.
Gabrielle Giffords YouTube Video
I watched this video on YouTube and it was very touching. Honestly, I really didn't know who this woman was until the whole tragedy happened. The most touching thing about this video is how her husband stood by her the whole time. I have heard so many stories of how husband's abandon their wives after catastrophes and it is heartbreaking.
In addition, I think Gabby Giffords shows courage. She is able to release videos and talk in front of hundreds of people even after the horrible shooting. She is a different person now, but she has enough self-confidence to not care what people will think of her now that she has changed physically.
I hope that this video clip provides some type of inspiration or insight. It goes to show that no matter how bad we think our lives can be sometimes, there is someone out there who has it worse. I can't imagine being shot at point blank range in the head, surviving, and continuing life as normal. I give her a lot of credit and kudos. Even though I don't know much about her (or where she stands politically), I think she is a strong, admirable woman.
Monday, January 23, 2012
My First Blog Post EVER!
Hi! This is my first time blogging and so far, I like it. I am surprised I have never tried blogging before because I am a very tech-oriented person (meaning, I use computers and the internet constantly...I'm not saying I know everything about technology because I definitely do not!). Anyway, we'll see how this first post goes.
I am thinking about making my Blog topic revolve around this quote by Joe Paterno: "Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."
There are two reasons I decided to use this as a basis for my topic. First, I believe this is a fantastic quote to always keep in the back of your mind, especially on days when you are feeling low. I have an indescribable love for Penn State as a whole (not just football -- realistically, I am working as an EMS bike team for all the football games so I don't really watch them anyway) and I wanted to pay tribute to JoePa and the great things he has done for the university and the community. And my second reason is that this leaves open the door for me to discuss a variety of things. Right now, I'm thinking that most of my blogs will revolve around my experiences, relating back to the quote above (i.e. if I have an inspirational experience, etc). I may change my mind, but that's what I'm thinking right now.
Thank you for reading, I can be long-winded at times (or maybe I just really like blogging!).
(Just trying out the picture feature. This is me at the Joe Paterno statue in 2009)
I am thinking about making my Blog topic revolve around this quote by Joe Paterno: "Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."
There are two reasons I decided to use this as a basis for my topic. First, I believe this is a fantastic quote to always keep in the back of your mind, especially on days when you are feeling low. I have an indescribable love for Penn State as a whole (not just football -- realistically, I am working as an EMS bike team for all the football games so I don't really watch them anyway) and I wanted to pay tribute to JoePa and the great things he has done for the university and the community. And my second reason is that this leaves open the door for me to discuss a variety of things. Right now, I'm thinking that most of my blogs will revolve around my experiences, relating back to the quote above (i.e. if I have an inspirational experience, etc). I may change my mind, but that's what I'm thinking right now.
Thank you for reading, I can be long-winded at times (or maybe I just really like blogging!).
(Just trying out the picture feature. This is me at the Joe Paterno statue in 2009)
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