Class Routines and Protocols

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Establishing effective class routines maximizes time for practice opportunities and physical activity. Practicing protocols early and revisiting throughout the year will increase the efficiency of your lessons. You can also take pictures of students performing the protocols and put them on posters for visual reminders. Here are some examples of learning protocols through activity: active example 1, active example 2, active example 3.

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• Asking and answering questions
• Forming groups​
• Getting and putting away equipment
• Getting water, using the restroom, & hall passes​
• ​Instant activities​ as students enter
• ​​Lining up students to leave class (ex2)
• Lockers​ and changing clothes

• ​Managing electronic devices
• Managing noise levels
• Roles for Non-Participants​ (ex2 and ex3)
• Stop/Start signals
• Taking attendance efficiently
• Transitioning to another activity
• Turning in assignments

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Roles for Non-Participants

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Guidelines for Attention Getters

Attention getters (stop/start signals; call and response)​ are an effective management technique that quickly draws the students’ attention to the teacher without using negative phrases such as “listen up” or “be quiet.” Here are some general guidelines:

• ​​Clear: It should be clear that you have all of the students’ attention.

• Equipment Free: Equipment is placed on the floor to minimize distraction. 

• Fun: Make them fun so that the students enjoy doing them (ie. use pop culture references). 

• Interactive: Both the teacher and students should have a role.

• Repetitive: Repeat the signal until you have all of the students' attention.

Example ​Attention Getters

• Breathe: Shout “Take a deep breath!” Students then take a deep breath, forcing them to focus on you.​​​​

• Clap Method: Clap a specific pattern/rhythm. Students clap back with a specific response.
  

• ​Eyes on Me: Say "1, 2, 3, eyes on me."

• Hands Up: When you raise your hand, students stop what they are doing and respond by raising theirs.​

• ​Ice/Freeze: Shout out “Ice!” The students then stop what they are doing and respond with “Freeze!”

• If You Can Hear Me: Shout “If you can hear me, clap once. If you can hear me, clap twice...”

• Lights: Flicker or dim the gym lights (be safe of course).

• Music: When the music starts, students begin the activity. When the music stops, students look to you for further instructions.

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• 20 Ways to Get a Noisy Classroom’s Attention​
• 27 Attention-Getters for Quieting a Noisy Classroom​
• 30 Techniques to Quiet a Noisy Class
• ​50 Fun Call-and-Response Ideas to Get Students’ Attention​

Student Uniforms

For:

• Your Students Need to Dress Out for Phys Ed. Here’s Why

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Against:

• Are School Uniforms Associated with Gender Inequalities in Physical Activity - A Pooled Analysis of Population-Level Data from 135 Countries and Regions
• ​Changing How We Approach Having Students Change for PE
• Is It Time to Ditch Changing During PE Lessons?
• ​Time to End This Outdated #PhysEd Practice​​​​​

Teaching Common Class Formations for Speedy Transitions

Teach your students the common student formations that you use in your lessons. Once learned, this technique will speed up transitions for the rest of the school year. Use the examples we provided or create your own! Also see these visuals from Coach Williams.

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