This week students in Alpha, JK, Kindergarten, and First were assessed on their performance of various locomotor skills. Students in Alpha can be expected to jump short distances keeping feet together on take off and landing. Some will be able to gallop, with very few being able to hop or skip. (Did you know? Jumping is leaving from two feet and landing on two feet. Hopping is taking off from one foot and landing on that same foot.) In JK, hopping a short distance is demonstrated by some students, while most students are able to gallop. The skipping pattern is still developing for many at this age, but evident in some form or another in most. By Kindergarten students should be able to jump, hop, and gallop. At the end of the year, most will be skipping. Leaping is introduced in kindergarten and constitutes taking off from one foot and landing on the other foot. First graders are expected to be able to do all of the aforementioned skills.
As our football unit neared its conclusion, students in grades two and three were given a cognitive assessment on various topics presented over the past two weeks. Positioning of fingers for the football grip, which foot to step with when throwing, and naming the four points of contact when running with the football were just a few of the ideas tested.
Fourth grade students were introduced to the "Reciprocal" teaching style that utilizes peer assessment. Students are given a criteria sheet for a given skill. On the sheet, the skill is broken down into progressions with detailed examples of what to look for. Common mistakes for each progression are listed along with helpful comments to fix problems. Students are expected to be able to evaluate one another using the sheets in order to 1: solidify their own understanding of how the skill is performed, and 2: help their classmates make improvements on their performance of the specific skill.
Finally, please remember to take part in the on-line parent survey that will open October 1, 2010. Your participation is critical.
