|
Our mission is to provide an educational foundation enabling our students to develop into successful, professional educators and contributing community members. Cognitive course work, teaching methods, educational foundations, skill acquisition and practical teaching experiences are just part of the educational process. These experiences afford the individual the opportunity to become a certified K-12 physical educator. An additional goal of Physical Education is to make available a healthy lifestyle for UM students, faculty, staff and the community through lifetime activities and serve as a teaching lab for undergraduate and graduate students. Advocacy for excellence in physical education as described by NASPE standards (National Association for Sport and Physical Education) and the EPEC Program (Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum) is an integral part of our core mission as our faculty and students work with diverse groups of students in the pre-K to 12 setting. An additional goal is for faculty to create new scientific knowledge for implementation into the curriculum and for presentation at conferences and in print. |
|
The
Physical Education program offers students extensive preparation
in education courses leading to K - 12 certification, as well
as providing students with strong preparation in the liberal
arts. Students in the Physical Education program learn how
to communicate to students of varying ages, abilities and
backgrounds the intellectual, physiological and biomechanical
concepts of physical activity. The Physical Education curriculum,
including a K - 12 methods course required of all students,
emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of family,
community, and school in a students educational experience,
and of psychological and sociological factors that can influence
learning. The directed teaching requirement provides students
in the program with the opportunity of receiving practical
teaching experience under the supervision of trained faculty.
Students
who complete the Physical Education program will receive a
Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Kinesiology and a Michigan
Secondary Provisional Certificate.
|
| Message
from the Chair |
| |
Physical
Education at the University of Michigan enjoys a strong reputation
among school districts both locally and state-wide. Our majors
are in high demand as student teachers in communities surrounding
the Ann Arbor area. And our faculty frequently receive phone
calls from school administrators asking for potential new teachers
to interview.
If you're a student considering this challenging and worthwhile
career, we invite you to learn more about our program -- by
reading the material on this web site, visiting campus, or contacting
me at patvanv@umich.edu. |
| |
|
| U-Move
Fitness |
| |
Throughout
the year U-Move Fitness offers a variety of exercise classes
to promote a healthy lifestyle, while providing teaching and
leadership opportunities for Kinesiology students and other
qualified individuals. U-Move also gives Kinesiology faculty
and students opportunities to conduct research related to physical
fitness, activities and behaviors.
For more information, go
to www.umich.edu/~umove
or
call (734)
764-1342. |
| Kinesiology
Aquatics Camp |
| |
During
UM's Spring Term, KAC offers UM students and the public (minimum
age 15 years for Lifeguard Training, 17 years for Water Safety
Instruction) the opportunity to earn up to 13 American Red Cross
certifications, including: lifeguarding, WSI, sport safety training,
waterfront lifeguarding, CPR, first aid and lifeguarding instructor.
The 2004 KAC
dates were May 4 through June 21.
For more information, go
to www.umich.edu/~umove/KAC.htm. |
| KidSport and Camp Explorations |
| |
Offered
mid-June to mid-August, KidSport is a noncompetitive
physical education program designed for children ages 5-12.
KidSport campers participate in a variety of activities each
day: swimming (with instruction); movement games; team sports;
and health and safety instruction. Experts in children's physical
education design the activities for each group.
Camp Explorations sessions are held at the Exhibit Museum of Natural History
Each year KidSport hires land and aquatics staffers -- earn
academic credit or pay! For more information or to apply, contact
Kerry Winkelseth.
For more information on any of these sessions, see www.umich.edu/~umove/webkidsport/index.html, or contact Kerry Winkelseth at (734) 647-2708 or
kebwink@umich.edu. Please
put "KidSport" in the subject line. |
| U-Meet
the Athlete |
| |
U-Meet
the Athlete is a program designed to give youths ages 5-12 the
opportunity to meet University of Michigan student-athletes
and participate in sport mini-clinics with them. Our goal is
to have fun while: 1) mastering the fundamentals of a sport,
2) staying in school, and 3) staying healthy. U-Meet the Athlete
has expanded and now features thirteen varsity teams. This program
runs from October through April each year.
For the 2004-05 schedule, please refer to www.umich.edu/~umove/webkidsport/umeet.html.
For more information on U-Meet the Athlete, contact
Kerry Winkelseth at (734) 647-2708 or kebwink@umich.edu.
Please put "U-Meet the Athlete" in the subject
line. |
| U-Go
Girls |
| |
U-Go
Girls is a nonprofit organization operated by University of
Michigan Faculty and Physical Education majors that educates
6-9 year-old girls about the benefits of participating in sports.
UGG offers weekly basketball, soccer, and softball instruction
(4 weeks for each sport) from February through April. |
| |
U-Go
Girls Mission Statement |
| |
•
|
To
give girls the opportunity to play sports in a nurturing environment
under the guidance of positive role models. |
| |
•
|
To
share the benefits of sport participation to a diverse group
of girls. |
| |
•
|
To
give girls the opportunity to gain the self-confidence needed
for success in developing both sports and life skills. |
| |
For
more information about U-Go Girls, go to http://www.umich.edu/~umove/webkidsport/uggmission.htm
or contact
Kerry Winkelseth at (734) 647-2708 or kebwink@umich.edu.
Please put "U-Go Girls" in the subject line. |
| Interviews
with PE Graduates |
|
Stuart
Belizaire '94,
Middle School Physical Education Teacher |
| |
What
was your first job after graduation? I was a high school
in-house substitute and football coach in New Orleans, LA,
my hometown.
How
did your education at Michigan help you to get your first
job? My degree and my interviewing ability earned
me the job. I had excellent student teaching placements while
at Michigan.
Did you
have any field experience or internships while in college?
During my junior year I was a tutor at one of the local
elementary schools. And the Division of Kinesiology did a
very good job of placing me in quality schools for my student
teaching. The cooperating teachers taught me a lot. I also
coached football at one of the local high schools. This started
my coaching career.
Did
you face any obstacles getting to your ideal job?
Not really -- it all just fell into place. I received a teaching
job in Charlotte, NC after my first year and became a head
track and head JV football coach a few years later. My ideal
job has now changed to developing my own schools.
In
addition to the required courses, are there others that you
would suggest that students take? I would suggest
that students take a course in classroom management -- mainly
discipline procedures and effective teaching strategies for
multiple learning styles. I would also like to see students
take a multicultural class.
Tell
us what your day is like. A typical day for me
starts at 7:00am. I arrive at school around 8:15am. I assist
with the off-loading of buses, then I have planning for the
first of four blocks. After 10:30am, I start classes. I teach
7th grade, 8th grade, then 6th grade with a 30 minute lunch
break between the 7th and 8th grade classes. School ends at
3:50 pm when I start the second half of my day. Depending
on the day, I attend graduate classes, consult athletes or
working on my private school project. I usually don't arrive
back home until sometime after 6:30 pm. Everything is related
to education.
Why
did you select Kinesiology and major in PE? I
selected Kinesiology because I wanted to work with young people
and I have always loved sports. Physical Education was the
perfect match. I also loved the support of the Division of
Kinesiology. Great people!
What
tips can you share with prospective students? Some tips
I would share with prospective students would be to prepare
yourself for all aspects of your field. For instance, if you
are studying to be a teacher, learn about inner city teaching,
even if you don't want to teach in that environment. You never
know what direction you will head. Also, stay in school and
finish any degrees you foresee yourself needing or wanting
in life. Be ahead of the game!
|
Heather
Burcar '01,
Elementary School Physical Education Teacher |
| |
What
was your first job after graduation? My first job after
graduation was working as an elementary physical education teacher
in a mountain town just west of Denver, CO.
How did
your education at Michigan help you to get your first job?
Michigan
is known worldwide as a superb University. Just graduating with
a degree from U of M says a lot about a person's educational
background and easily impressed my employers. Also, the advisors
I met within the Division of Kinesiology helped me out tremendously
by pointing me in the right direction in terms of potential
employers. I had unbelievable support from friends, family,
and University employees in my pursuit of a professional career
as a teacher.
Did you
have any field experience or internships while in college? Student
teaching is a prerequisite for anyone intending on graduating
with a degree in education. I was also involved in KidSport
Summer Camp, which gave me my first experience working with
elementary age children.
Did
you face any obstacles getting to your ideal job?
Since I was looking to relocate outside the state of Michigan,
seeking out a job was more difficult than it would have been
had I decided to stay in state. I was determined to find a
job in the mountains, so after a flight out to Colorado for
a few interviews I was pleased to hear of several job offers
after I returned home. I feel confidence played a major role
in my interview and eventual employment success!
In addition
to the required courses, are there others that you would suggest
that students take? I took a developmental psychology
class that focused on the behaviors of children, starting
from birth through adolescence. I thought this was both an
interesting and beneficial class to take. The class discussed
social and emotional disorders in children, and it helped
put parent-child, as well as teacher-student, relationships
into perspective.
Tell us
what your day is like. I wake up at the crack of
dawn like most working people and head off to one of my two
schools I teach at. I am actually splitting my time between
two schools (King Murphy Elementary in Evergreen and Georgetown
Elementary in Georgetown). Since I live in Golden, CO, my
commute to work is longer than I would like, but not a bad
half hour drive. Once I get to school I prepare the gym for
the day's activities/lesson. I see grades 1-6 at both schools,
so my lesson planning varies depending on the grade(s) I see
on that particular day. I have my students for 40 minutes
two times a week, which isn't too bad after hearing about
other PE programs that limit their students to a mere 30 minutes
a week! I typically have 40 minutes for lunch and planning,
which is very useful to have if you spend your time wisely.
At the end of the day when the students are dismissed I often
have bus duty, where I make sure everyone remains safe and
gets on the correct buses. If I'm not required to attend an
after-school committee or staff meeting, I pick everything
up in the gym and call it a day. I always devote an hour or
two at the end of the day being active, whether it's going
for a hike, a run, or skiing (on my half days, which are Fridays!).
Why
did you select Kinesiology and major in PE? I've
always been interested in sports and have been an active participant.
My athletic participation continued throughout college and
made me realize how much I truly enjoyed physical activity
and health. I wanted to extend my interest to youth through
education and hopefully turn them on to the benefits of a
healthy lifestyle. Having this type of background ultimately
led me to pursue a degree in physical education.
What tips
can you share with prospective students? No matter what
degree you plan on pursuing, it is important to balance work
and play. Academics, athletics, and one's social life need
to be equally weighted. Maintaining balance will help you
get through any sticky situation. When you focus too much
on a particular aspect in life, you can easily get stressed-out
and lose motivation.
Another tip I have is to rely on your decisions and be confident
in your actions. People can tell when you intend to reach
your goals just by the way you present yourself!
|
Jennifer
Peterson '97,
Primary and Secondary Physical Education Teacher |
| |
What
was your first job after graduation? I
worked as a substitute teacher for a semester in upstate New
York. I also began my Master's degree in Educational Administration
within six months of graduating from UM. I continued to substitute
teach during the next two years while I was earning my master's
degree and working as a Graduate Assistant coach for the University
at Albany (State University of New York) track and field teams.
How did
your education at Michigan help you to get your first job?
Since
I'm from a small town in New York the fact that I was able to
go so far away to a completely different environment caught
the attention of prospective employers. It is perceived as a
major accomplishment to leave the state and be successful at
such a top university. Attending UM got my foot in the door
for job interviews, but the knowledge and education that I acquired,
not only in the classroom but in my experiences in Ann Arbor,
helped me to be hired in a wonderful school district in the
Albany, New York area.
Did you
have any field experience or internships while in college? I
did my student teaching at Allen Elementary School in Ann Arbor
and at Franklin High School in Livonia. The experience of student
teaching is one of the most useful tools because it puts you
in a position to utilize what was learned in the classroom and
really put it to use. Student teaching also teaches you patience,
discipline, FLEXIBILITY!, thinking on your feet, and learning
to deal with things that may not always go your way or be pleasant.
So it is the closest I got to "real world" teaching
experience. Looking back at it now I realize that it was a wonderful
and very important experience.
Did
you face any obstacles getting to your ideal job?
It has taken me longer than many teachers my age to begin
my first "real" teaching job. I decided to concentrate
fully on my graduate work and wait a little longer to apply
for full-time teaching positions. I worked as a substitute
teacher for a couple of years in all subject areas and in
very diverse school districts. I think that this helped me
in the long run because I received my master's degree and
I gained valuable classroom experience by substituting.
In addition
to the required courses, are there others that you would suggest
that students take? Not necessarily extra courses
but maybe encouraging students to volunteer to coach in the
school districts that they are assigned to for student teaching
because it is rare to be hired as a physical education teacher
and not be required to coach a sport. I think it would be
a great asset to learn how to balance teaching responsibilities
along with coaching.
Tell us
what your day is like. I currently work as a traveling
teacher in the South Colonie School District. Two to three
days a week I travel to three or four schools to teach Physical
Education and Health. My schedule is very diverse: I work
with adaptive 1st grade physical education students, 3rd grade
health, 5th grade and 9-12th grade physical education. I also
coach freshman girls volleyball, and work as an assistant
coach for boys and girls indoor/outdoor track.. It keeps me
very busy.
Why
did you select Kinesiology and major in PE? I majored
in Physical Education because of my love for sports and athletics.
As a student it was my favorite subject, and as a person athletics
was a major part of my life. I have always enjoyed being around
sports and being involved. I have been a student and an athlete
and now I'm fortunate enough to bring my love of physical
education and sports to students. Also as a female growing
up in the 1980's and 90's, I was able to reap the benefits
of the women who paved the way for athletic participation,
and I feel that I have a responsibility to continue that work
and make the same available to the generations of females
that follow.
What tips
can you share with prospective students? Be open to everything
and don't be afraid to fail. College is a wonderful time in
your life to learn about life and about yourself. It's a tremendous
growing experience. It is important to choose a college that
will best fit your interests and help you to achieve your
goals. If I had the chance to do it all over I would choose
the University of Michigan again hands down. It was a great
experience because it helped me grow as a student and as a
person and I am forever indebted to my friends and teachers
for all their help along the way.
|
Last revised on 12/6/04
|
|
