I made it!
Well, to winter break that is, but a much needed break.
It's these small little breaks that always help me get through each school year. It's going VERY well, don't get me wrong, but having something to look forward to makes it that much sweeter.
The holidays always bring with them a sense of happiness and craziness all rolled up in one. The Christmas music, decorations, and snow glistening all around. And then of course, everyone in a panic to be out and buying ALL THE THINGS last minute!
SO GLAD we're past the 'gift buying' stage. I don't miss that.
Can you say, minimalism?
Anyway, I'm enjoying being able to have some extra time to relax and dive back into some of my hobbies that get pushed aside once the school year starts. I mean, 2 months since I last wrote a post, and even longer since I created a resource for TpT! I have been able to keep up with my knitting though!
I finished a blanket for a friend.
Hard to tell in the picture, but it's a soft pink blush color:
I've found knitting to be very therapeutic for me, especially when my brain is spinning and I feel like I HAVE TO be doing SOMETHING. It's hard for me to sit still. To do nothing. And it's very rewarding in the end because I have a blanket to show for it!
Although, at this point I think Ty is getting a little irritated with ALL the blankets we have now! Ha ha! Good thing Mishka loves them!
Moving on...
During this break I've also planned a quick getaway for us to Banff!!
You've seen the pictures right?
Small little quaint town.
Gorgeous mountains all around.
Pristine blue lakes...
Shall I go on?
Fingers crossed it's not too cold and snowy, but I'm hopeful that'll be worth it if it is! We don't usually travel by car on our 'trips', so it'll be an interesting 7ish hours of driving to get there. It'll be fine.
We'll be there for New Year's Eve which will be something different too. In our old age (Haha- I know, Ty has a couple months until he joins the 40 club), but we usually just stay in and have to muster up the strength to even stay awake until midnight for the countdown!
I know, lame.
So I thought I'd change it up this year.
I've planned a few hikes to fill the time, and hopefully distract Ty from the cold... and there's a gondola ride up to the top of Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station that has a pretty cool look out. Fingers crossed it's a clear day, you look down upon Banff and out across all the surrounding mountains. I'm excited. It'll be something different, and I LOVE being outdoors and seeing new places. Even if every picture will have us bundled up and only our eyes poking through the layers.
So yeah, that'll be fun. Hopefully!
Switching gears from winter break, I've been working on some TpT resources since the school year started. Resources that I'm using in the gym myself, and constantly changing or making better. I'm so grateful for being back at ONE school and getting to use my resources across multiple grade levels!
Here's a little bit of what I've been using and working on.
This year we're doing our Fitness Testing a little different than in the past. Usually you measure the kids in 4 different areas and they receive a score, or a grade depending on their result. Well this year, we'll do those same measurements, but instead of getting a score for their result, the focus will be on the growth they achieve over the year. More of a goal-setting focus and being able to monitor and analyze their own growth.
So. Much. Better!
I mean that's what we do as adults right? We set goals and work towards achieving them, or changing things if they're not working out.
And that's what I'm HOPING to teach them in PE, how to lead a healthy lifestyle that is LIFELONG, and not just while they're in school.
You know I love goal-setting! That's like the epitome of me!
As soon as I heard this was where Fitness Testing was going, I knew I wanted to start creating a resource that would not only keep track of these measurements, but be organized and efficient at the same time!
These are the pictures I shared with my colleagues so they could use the resources as well:
I started by making a folder for EVERY student at school.
Yes, I know, that was like some 300ish folders.
Check out this reel I created as a joke:
It was quite a bit of work at first,
multiple trips to Costco for ink cartridges,
but now that it's done they work perfectly!
Each grade level is color coded to help keep them organized too!
I use these enlarged recording sheets while we're completing our
Fitness Measurements so it's easier for the kids to follow along.
I also organized EACH class into their own crate
(good 'ol IKEA magazine holders I had from teaching in the classroom.
Much better use than in boxes in my basement!)
With cute labels of course!
After they complete their Fitness Measurements the intermediate
students will then need to choose an area they're going to improve.
They will write a SMART goal using this organizer sheet.
I use my old easel from the classroom to hang the enlarged
recording sheets and set out all the materials.
It was a pretty efficient system and I'm happy with how it turned out!
We finished our first round of Fitness Measurements before winter break,
so after we get back it'll be time for the intermediate students
to identify their area for improvement and write their SMART goal!
Check out the resource here:
And don't forget,
that bulletin board that I posted in my previous post,
is included in this resource too:
I'll continue to adjust and make changes as I use this resource myself, but I'm very proud with how it's working so far! I hope it works for others too!
Okay, what else?
Well, when I knew I needed to make a resource for our Fitness Testing I knew I'd need some posters to help introduce and constantly review the Components of Fitness (COF) that we'd be testing!
I created some posters and a bulletin board (see previous post) for that too!
When I looked online they had some resources already, but nothing that really caught my attention. A lot of resources use clipart that is mixed up between real images and cartoon-ish people. Nothing wrong with them, I just envisioned something different for my gym. I also wanted to use the cute fonts that would match the other posters in the space.
Here's what I created:
I created these little 'characters' for each component of fitness.
I use them throughout the gym when I label stations or activities
that we're doing so they make the connection between
what we're learning and which COF they're working on.
I also created posters with a short definition that I refer to
ALL THE TIME
hoping it'll sink in eventually!
Did you notice the little 'characters' are the same ones as on the
Fitness Measurement recording sheets in the other resource?
Yeah, I know. Super dorky.
It's the little things that make me happy.
I love how it's all connected and as I make more
resources I want them all to be cohesive.
Check out the resource here:
Everything happens for a reason.
I'm such a believer of that. Even though I sometimes don't appreciate it in the moment, I try to trust it's part of the process, and it's only after the fact, when reflecting upon a situation do I realize the weight of the moment.
Wow, if you're still reading to this point, I'm sorry it's SO LONG!
Making up for lost time?
Maybe a good new year's resolution:
Post more frequently so they don't have to be SO long each time!
I'm not usually one to create new year's resolutions. I'm constantly working on and setting goals for myself. I don't need a new year to remind me to do so! Ha ha! But maybe what I can do is create a reminder on my calendar to write a post. At least once a month. I can increase if it's going well.
So for today, I'll wrap it up. Who knows, maybe I'll even get back on during this winter break and surprise myself with another post?!
Thanks for following along this far!
As always, remember to FIND YOUR BALANCE friends,
Shelby
