Category: Peer Response Posts

https://3maya.opened.ca/category/ephe-246-blog-posts/

Hi Maya,

I really enjoyed your post on student-centered learning in health education and how giving students more control over their learning helps them connect with the material and stay motivated. I love the idea of offering choices in physical education, allowing students to focus on what interests them, whether it’s yoga, strength training, or team sports.

Your idea about gathering feedback through surveys or discussions to understand students’ needs is great. We did this a lot when I was teaching at Rockheights to see how the students were perceiving their own learning. I also agree that collaboration through group work and peer teaching helps students build essential teamwork and communication skills.

One idea I’d like to add is incorporating reflective activities, like journals or self-assessments, where students can reflect on their progress and learning. This could help them become more self-aware and set personal goals to keep them engaged.

I’m curious: How do you plan to balance giving students freedom in their learning while ensuring that key health concepts are still covered in your lessons?

Thanks for a great post!

https://ljudge.opened.ca/category/uncategorized/blog-post-3/

Hi Logan,

I really enjoyed your blog post about the connection between mental health and sports performance! You did a great job highlighting how important mental well-being is in athletics and how it affects motivation, confidence, and performance. It’s great to see a focus on how mental health impacts athletes at all levels, not just the elite ones, since it’s often overlooked and we will be primarily working with recreational athletes.

I love how your seminar plans to create an open and engaging environment with activities like class discussions and case studies. Hearing real-life stories from peer-athletes who’ve dealt with mental health challenges is so valuable because it helps normalize the conversation and shows ways to overcome obstacles. The group discussions and mindfulness techniques are also great because they give students practical tools to manage stress and stay focused.

You also touch on something really important; the stigma around mental health in sports. Creating a supportive environment can really help athletes take care of their mental well-being and reach out for help when needed. I wish this type of open dialogue was more prevalent when I was a young athlete because I feel like I would have benefited greatly from it. Dealing with my own mental health challenges felt very isolating and lonely so I am really glad the conversation is shifting and becoming more open!

Overall, your seminar sounds like an amazing opportunity to raise awareness and give students (us) the knowledge they need to develop more confidence around positive mental health in sports. It’s such an important topic, and I’m sure it will spark some meaningful conversations for our class!

Thanks again 🙂

Hey Hannah!

I really enjoyed your post on the importance of nutrition for an active lifestyle, especially showing how fueling properly impacts both physical and mental health. Nutrition is often overlooked, especially in PHE, but it’s key for performance and overall well-being of our students.

I also love how you connected nutrition to physical literacy and mental health. A balanced diet helps with endurance, recovery, and mood, which keeps us motivated. Your seminar activities, like the “Build Your Ideal Athlete’s Plate” and the “Myth vs. Fact Nutrition Quiz,” sound like fun and interactive ways to make nutrition more relatable for the audience.

I also appreciate how you included different cultural and dietary approaches. It’s important to recognize that nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all, and your post shows how different diets can support various needs to more diverse and inclusive.

I really feel like your seminar will be a great way for us + students to reflect on their nutrition habits and learn how to fuel their bodies for better health and I look forward to hearing it in a few weeks!

Hey Olivia!

I really love how you’ve brought these frameworks together to create such a thorough explanation and a really balanced approach to how we could teach health and physical education. The idea of Universal Design for Learning really stands out to me as it makes such a difference when all students, no matter their abilities, have the chance to engage in ways that work for them. The flexibility, whether it’s through technology or letting students choose activities, helps them take ownership and stay motivated in the long run.

I also agree with your point about the BC Curriculum’s inquiry-based, student-centered learning. It’s not just about teaching students what to do, but helping them understand why it matters. This kind of learning encourages habits that stick with them well beyond school and hopefully leads to more self-driven learning as they grow.

And when it comes to physical literacy and Quality Daily Physical Education, I totally agree with your thoughts! Similar to what I mentioned in my response to Brooklyn, it’s about building confidence in movement, not just perfecting skills. Making physical education fun and accessible is key to helping students stay active for life and creating healthier communities overall.

Thanks for a great post!

Hi Brooklyn!

I really appreciate your thoughts on physical literacy and how it’s more than just skill development. While monitoring performance is important, focusing only on that can make PE feel more like a task than something enjoyable.

I also really love how you highlight the holistic approach. It’s not just about throwing a dodgeball or hitting a tennis ball, but about building confidence in all kinds of movement. I find that when we focus on the emotional, social, and cognitive aspects of physical literacy (CAPS), we create a way more positive relationship with movement for students. It’s about making physical activity a tool for self-confidence and emotional well-being, not just becoming the best athlete.

Your ideas about creating an inclusive environment in Quality Daily Physical Education also really resonated with me. The beanbag toss example perfectly showcases that skill development is a journey, and students should feel supported, not punished, as they progress. Modifications like shrinking the distance thrown or making the target larger, are simple but effective ways to make activities engaging for everyone.

I also think it’s important to celebrate progress, not just results. Helping students reflect on their growth, whether through goal-setting or reflection assignments, can build motivation and a more genuine appreciate for physical activity.

Overall, I completely agree that physical literacy is about much more than just physical skills. It’s about empowering students to enjoy movement, build confidence, and stay active throughout their lives!

Hi Abby! 

Thank you so much for your great post. I think you make an excellent point about the importance of a more inclusive approach to physical education. While a sport-focused model works well for some, it can be discouraging for students who don’t feel confident in competitive settings. Expanding PHE to include a variety of activities like dance, yoga, or hiking could help more students find a deeper passion for movement and let them build a lifelong appreciation for staying active. As a dancer, I personally would have loved if my PHE classes included more variety and less of a focus on competitive sport.

I also really loved your emphasis on the link between physical activity and mental well-being. Wendy Suzuki’s research is a great example of how movement can boost mood, memory, and focus. Such a great Ted Talk! Overall, I really feel that if educators had a deeper understanding of these benefits, schools might prioritize PHE more, helping students not just physically but academically and emotionally too. 

I look forward to reading more of your thoughts on active health as the semester progresses! 

Hey Delali,

Thanks for your post!

I thought you did a great job outlining some of the key issues within active health. One area I want to comment on is your ideas about early specialization in sports. Of course while dedicating time and energy to a single sport can lead to becoming more advanced, it often comes at the cost of overall physical literacy and long-term enjoyment.

Your particular example of dancers really resonates with me as a dancer who specialized from a young age myself. I found that I missed out on a lot of fundamental skills such as throwing, catching, and kicking the ones mentioned above. As such, when I struggled in PE as I was not confident in my abilities. This led to a feeling of inadequacy and I actually dropped the class as soon as I was able. While I have worked hard to acquire these skills in my adult years, and now play softball + soccer, I wish I had given them more thought in my youth to give myself a more positive experience in my PE classes.

Thank you again for your blog post! Looking forward to learning alongside you again this semester.

Hi Sarah,

First off, I just want to say I really love how you focus on creating a positive, engaging space where movement feels enjoyable rather than something kids are forced to do.

I also think your perspective on gender disparities in PE highlights an important issue. When opportunities are limited and female development isn’t fully understood, it can discourage participation. While some girls may thrive being considered “one of the guys”, others may shut down and get frustrated. Educating coaches/teachers and creating more gender-inclusive programs is so important. I think having your experience with this subject and moving into the role of a PHE educator will be really helpful in changing the times!

I also appreciate your take on sedentary behavior. You’re so correct in the idea that kids’ activity levels are shaped by their environment, and having strong role models can be a game-changer. Your approach of offering a variety of activities and listening to students’ interests makes movement more accessible and enjoyable and something I strive to do in my own teaching!

Thank you again for your post!