Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Physical education teachers know that sports are more than games — they’re powerful entry points for teaching problem-solving, teamwork, data literacy, and real-world applications of STEAM concepts. That’s exactly the idea behind LIV Golf and Discovery Education’s new LIV to Learn Video Topic Series, STEAM on the Green. The five-part educational collection is designed for middle school and high school learners.

At Pleasant Lane Elementary, I teach health and physical education to students in grades K-5. Each year, I look for meaningful ways to help them grow as learners and as kind, confident individuals. This year’s health. moves. minds.® fundraiser brought our school community together around movement, character and compassion in an especially powerful way. Our initial goals became something bigger — both in dollars raised and in lessons learned.

As a very busy elementary physical education teacher, I know it’s not always easy to add “one more thing” to your plate, but when the pros outweigh the cons, you just have to go for it! For 27 years, I’ve been teaching elementary physical education in DeKalb, IL. My K-5 students have PE every day, and it’s an amazing experience to educate them for their six years of elementary school.

Policy. Let’s be real, it’s not exactly the kind of word that gets physical education teachers jumping out of their seats. It sounds stiff, official, maybe even a little scary. Add research to it, and you can almost hear the energy drain out of the room. But here’s the truth: Policy isn’t some far-off idea buried in a state document or district office.

Across the United States, physical education policies look very different from one state to the next. Some states require minimum instructional minutes. Others leave decisions entirely to local districts. Some specify teacher certification, class size or accountability measures, while others do not address these issues at all.

With a new school year underway and increased pressure for schools to generate additional sources of revenue, now is the perfect time to start thinking about a health. moves. minds. fundraiser. SHAPE America and Booster are here to help you map out a plan to succeed, whether you’re leading your very first school fundraiser or are a seasoned pro.

It’s the million-dollar question in health education: How do I motivate teenagers to care about their health? It is one of the biggest challenges we face as health educators. How can we help our students see the impact of their decisions today on their health in the future — and care about that impact enough to make a change?

At the beginning of every school year, I tell my students that as a health and physical education teacher, I teach the most important subject in school. But when we connect our classrooms through interdisciplinary collaboration, the learning becomes even more powerful. One way to highlight the value of health and physical education is to partner with colleagues in other disciplines and tap into their expertise.

By Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Gilliard Training to become a Marine takes mental and physical strength only a few can achieve. It demands rigorous training, a deep commitment, and the support of those around you. Marines never give up on themselves or each other. These authentic characteristics have shaped my teaching philosophy, which is rooted in fairness, openness, and transparency. These are the principles that guide me every time I step in front of a group of Marines.

As a high school physical education teacher in Normal, IL, I created the curriculum for our current personal fitness course to help meet the needs of our student body. In an age where screen time outpaces physical activity and youth mental health is a rising concern, personal fitness education in high school is imperative. My teaching experience has made me realize that students just need a space where they feel comfortable moving.