30/6: Health Reflections Pt 2

Year 11 Boys Health Reflections Pt 2

30th June 2016

After a few more attempts at creating effective Health lessons for my Year 11 boys class I asked for help from Alex.

Alex's Advice:

• Ensure that I am at the class before all students arrive. This then allows the 5 minute bell for me to write an outline of the learning activities, instructions and discussion questions up on the board before the students arrive
• As the second bell goes in which class is meant to start address the students with an instruction before they enter the class
• Make sure to spend time developing relationships with the kids e.g. greet every individual student as they enter the class, double check on instructions for those who might need clarification, little reminders such as phones away etc
• Don't use Health as a time to work on PE booklets - crossing between subjects can be confusing
• OVER PLAN - plan 4-5 different activities that only are about 5-10 minutes each. Can be structured; individual activity (3-4 mins), peer activity, group activity, class activity. By spending a short amount of time on each activity it stops students from getting bored

After a few lessons of following this procedure, especially the over planning, I have found them to be effective. Below are a few notes reflecting on the points above:

• I have found that due to having PE classes beforehand that I am not always able to make it up to the Health class before the 5 minute bell. This means that my notes aren't always up before the class arrives and I make sure to write these up while students are completing the first activity
• I have still been starting Health lessons with students completing their PE logs. They know that this is their 'Do Now' activity as soon as they enter the classroom and have become familiar with this routine. Students know this is always their first task in which they are able to listen to music etc. I make sure to use this time to chat to students about their work and finish writing up the lesson outline
• As student don't always arrive to class at the same time I allow students to enter when they get to the class. I make sure to acknowledge them and greet them as they enter
• I have found that planning lots of smaller activities have helped them to keep focussed and on task for longer