Beyond Dodgeball: How One Teacher Is Creating Inclusive, Student-Centered Movement Spaces
Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose Deanon is joined by Jake Bersin, a seasoned health and PE teacher, to talk about his extensive experience and his journey into the Modern Classrooms Project.
Jake emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation for healthy movement and social-emotional learning in elementary PE. He describes his methods for managing large classes and diverse skill levels, including the use of differentiated equipment and clear protocols.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Jake explains that PE teachers play a crucial role in developing fundamental movement and SEL skills, particularly in elementary education.
Creating a safe and inclusive environment is essential in PE, requiring clear protocols, reflection, and peer feedback. Jake states, "I really want my students to have fun, be challenged, develop their skills. And sometimes students say, ‘What are we playing today?’ I really want to go from that to ‘what are we learning today?’"
Advocacy within and beyond the classroom is vital for supporting PE and health programs. Jake shares, “Prevention is better than intervention if we can advocate and show all the good stuff that's happening in our classes and what others are doing before we need an intervention, or before a crisis happens."
Jake expresses his excitement for implementing the MCP model in his PE classes, and his hopes for creating a community of PE teachers utilizing the model, "I believe with this program, I can be the best version of myself."
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
Creating Inclusive Spaces: Jake emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and brave space for all students in PE, especially considering the public nature of the class. How can educators in other subject areas adapt and apply similar strategies (like check-ins, reflection, and peer feedback) to ensure inclusivity and student comfort in their own classrooms?
Advocacy and Program Support: Jake’s advocacy efforts highlight the need for educators to proactively showcase the value of their programs. How can teachers, especially those in specialized areas like PE and health, effectively advocate for their subjects and programs within their schools and communities, and what are some practical steps they can take to build those advocacy skills?
Implementing New Models: Jake is enthusiastic about implementing the Modern Classrooms Project model in his PE classes, even though he's in the early stages of learning about it. What are the challenges and opportunities educators face when trying to implement new instructional models or strategies, and how can they ensure successful integration while maintaining student engagement and achievement?
Our Host
Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.
Our Guests
Jake Bersin
Jake Bersin is a certified health and physical education teacher that has been teaching for over 20 years. He is a Health and Physical Education teacher in Central Massachusetts. Jake has been a member of the Massachusetts Association For Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance. (MAHPERD) board for many years and also sits on the Eastern District Association (EDA) board for PR /advocacy.
He also has experience working at the district level coordinating and overseeing curriculum and professional learning for Health and P.E. Teachers. He believes what we do in the class is essential but we also need to advocate beyond the walls of gymnasiums. He believes in pushing ourselves, our students and our profession to the next level. Jake was awarded the MAHPERD Elementary Teacher of The Year (TOY) in 2021.
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