101 TIPS

FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS OF

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
TIP#1: Learn about your school goals, policies, and procedures.
TIP#2: Meet with the principal to determine expectations and goal
setting.
TIP#3: Familiarize yourself with your schools curriculum.
TIP#4: Create an instructional outline for the school year.
TIP#5: Develop unit plans.
TIP#6: Create developmentally appropriate, standards-based lesson
plans.
TIP#7: Look over students IEPs.
TIP#8: Include assessment and closure in your daily lesson plan.
TIP#9: Post the National Standards for Physical Education poster and
your daily
objectives in the gymnasium.
TIP#10: Create a developmentally appropriate, positive behavior
management plan.
TIP#11: Be mindful of the master school schedule.
TIP#12: Check class sizes, complete and equipment inventory, and
identify needs.
TIP#13: Conduct a facility inspection with your maintenance
supervisor.
TIP#14: Report and repair safety hazards
TIP#15: Perform a safety check of all equipment.
TIP#16: Organize your equipment and props.
TIP#17: Keep a list of needs for next years budget.
TIP#18: Create a substitute teacher handbook.
TIP#19: Organize your professional library.
TIP#20: Identify school duties outside of teaching and how to execute
them.
TIP#21: Ask how your performance will be evaluated.
TIP#22: Identify students with medical needs and IEP plans.
TIP#23: Formalize your teaching philosophy.
TIP#24: Become familiar with the school emergency action plan.
TIP#25: Meet the school nurse and develop a plan for responding to
injuries.
TIP#26: Be sure your first-aid, CPR, and AED certifications are current.
TIP#27: Post all class rules where students can view them.

TIP#28: Create a positive learning environment.

TIP#29: Establish instructional spaces 7stock up on necessary tools
(poly spots, etc.).
TIP#30: Perform a time analysis based
upon allocated class length.
TIP#31: Develop a class routine that includes warm-up, review,
practice time, group
work and closure.
TIP#32: Create an introductory letter to send home to parents.
TIP#33: Attend all required school meetings.
TIP#33: Attend all required school meetings.
TIP#34: Identify and meet regularly with a mentor.
TIP#35: Dress in professional physical education attire.
TIP#36: Be prepared psychologically, physically and professionally.
TIP#37: Display enthusiasm and energy.
TIP#38: Greet the students at the door.
TIP#39: Think of a creative way to introduce yourself to your
students.
TIP#40: Use an ice breaker activity.
TIP#41: Learn and use students names.
TIP#42: Introduce classroom management protocols beginning on the
first day of
class.
TIP#43: Demonstrate and practice class rules and procedures in
action.
TIP#44: Explain rationales and consequences for rules.
TIP#45: Send home NASPEs Teacher Toolbox monthly physical
activity calendars.
TIP#46: Practice and discuss emergency action procedures. (e.g., fire
drills).
TIP#47: Identify student expectations, activity interests and desires.
TIP#48: Explain assessment and grading criteria.
TIP#49: Introduce themes and units to the
students.
TIP#50: Be firm but flexible in tone and body
language.
TIP#51: Maintain a positive learning experience.
TIP#52: Vary your teaching strategies.
TIP#53: Communicate positive comments and concerns to parents
frequently.
TIP#54: Cultivate working relationships with all school personnel.
TIP#55: Promote physical activity outside of class (homework).

TIP#56: Identify and promote community-based physical activity

resources.
TIP#57: Keep students actively engaged during class time.
TIP#58: Plan for student demonstrations and exhibitions.
TIP#59: Model desired attitudes and behaviors.
TIP#60: Reflect upon the lesson success and weakness.
TIP#61: Be a role model practice what you teach.
TIP#62: Teach activities students have never tried.
TIP#63: Over plan and always have a back-up plan.
TIP#64: Increase the students knowledge of his/her body.
TIP#65: Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students.
TIP#66: Assess student outcomes across the three domains of
learning.
TIP#67: Regularly communicate student progress.
TIP#68: Encourage students to set and monitor goals.
TIP#69: Deliver meaningful feedback to all students.
TIP#70: Learn innovative approaches at workshops and conferences.
TIP#71: Integrate other academic content areas in the PE lesson.
TIP#72: Develop a support system school nurse, psychologist,
guidance counselors.
TIP#73: Become involves with professional educational organizations.
TIP#74: Network with district colleagues at in-service trainings.
TIP#75: Stay updates with professional literature (newsletter,
journals, internet
websites).
TIP#76: Be a lifelong learner.
TIP#77: Be an advocate for quality physical education.
TIP#78: Attend school-sponsored events.
TIP#79: Showcase your program through newsletters, school
websites, back to school
evenings, morning announcements.
TIP#80: Be student-centered in all that you do.
TIP#81: Be consistent in discipline and class
management.
TIP#82: Play cool music whenever possible.
TIP#83: Find ways to make lessons fun.
TIP#84: Implement technology.
TIP#85: Indentify additional sources of funding (PTA/PTO, grants, etc).
TIP#86: Invite administrators, school board members, parents and
other teachers to
your classroom.

TIP#87: Balance teaching expectations with other responsibilities.

TIP#88: If something is not working, try a new approach.
TIP#89: Address inappropriate student behavior issues immediately.
TIP#90: Choose your battle with students; use tact with all.
TIP#91: Dont look for the easy way to teach.
TIP#92: Create a plan for any emergency.
TIP#93: Respect your students.
TIP#94: Avoid elimination games.
TIP#95: Always class students by their names.
TIP#96: Advocate for physical education class to be the same size as
other classes.
TIP#97: Plan for the loss of teaching space and equipment.
TIP#98: Always have a lesson plan.
TIP#99: Expect the unexpected.
TIP#100: Take care of yourself.
TIP#101: Be a teacher not a friend.
The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior
teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
William Ward