This week for the Featured PE Teacher section on the PE Central Facebook page, the spotlight is on Ryan Reichel!
About Ryan:
I teach a total of 300 students, from young fives to 9th grade at Ishpeming Public Schools in Michigan. I am a Physical Education teacher and a Health Teacher & Girls Varsity Basketball Coach. I also work with computers at the school. I’ve been teaching for 7 years.
Current Lesson Plan/Unit:
We are currently on our tossing and catching unit. We put a strong emphasis on spacial awareness when practicing tossing skills. We incorporate a variety of skill challenges while practicing the activities. The lessons taught right now will help lead to high game stages and skills for other sports.
PE Focus for 2017:
We want to continue to push outdoor recreation and lifelong physical activity skills. Our school district is located in the heart of the city of Ishpeming and has skill and hiking trails used by the NCAA for competition. Our city also grooms trails specifically for our classes during the winter season in order for our students to be appropriately challenged. The city keeping our trails clean has given us the ability to promote many lifelong sport and recreational activities. (disc golf, biking, hiking, skiing, etc..)
Favorite Lesson Plan/Unit:
My favorite units are winter survival skills where we build survival structures in the woods off of our trail systems and also cross country skiing. We use nature’s provided pieces. We try to make it represent getting lost in the woods. Students are challenged to build a structure chosen by myself. We pick 4 types of winter survival structures. Students really work well together in teams to complete the tasks. The only PE equipment with us is either snowshoes or skis to represent getting lost!
What is your favorite part about being a PE teacher?
My favorite part of being a PE teacher is the ability to find ways to connect with kids and their lifelong physical activities. My goal is to make sure each student has an opportunity to try an activity that they may want to enjoy for life. Student feedback is key to keeping my curriculum and teaching style fresh.
