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    Literacy and Physical Education 

    The connection between physical activity and literacy is key component to the curriculum here at the Seaford Harbor Elementary School and the Physical Education Program.   The Harbor PE Philosophy is current and strives to implement an interdisciplinary approach to education to include mathematics, science, literacy, reading, and more.  Physical education and literacy - two words not always connected to one another. How many times in our career have we heard a student say, "I just don't like to read," "I'm not good at math," or "I am just not athletic." In spite of all of our best efforts and practices, there are students who lack the confidence and understanding necessary to apply the literacy skills we know they should have. In many cases, we know that a student is missing a critical fundamental component in the content sequence. In other cases, we know that a child has the fundamental knowledge and understanding but lacks the practice and experiences that build confidence in application and creativity. Whether you teach math, science, reading, or yes, even physical education, there is one goal that is universal - we want all of our students to use LITERACY skills in our content area.

    Content literacy and the traditional idea of literacy are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the common notion of educating the WHOLE child should probably be updated to reflect attaining the total literacy's of the child.

    Literacy - the big picture

    The Real Goals of Education
    • be lifelong learners
    • be passionate
    • be ready to take risks
    • be able to problem solve and think critically
    • be able to look at things differently
    • be able to work independentally and with others
    • be creative
    • care and want to give back to their community
    • perseverance
    • have integrity and self respect
    • have moral courage
    • be able to use the world around them well
    • speak well, write well, read well, and work well with numbers
    • truly enjoy their life and their work

     

    What, exactly, is physical literacy?

    The concept of physical literacy is relatively new in the United States, although it has been around for more than 40 years. 

    • the ability to read and respond to the environment and to others in interaction;
    • the ability to use the body as an instrument of expression/ communication; and
    • the ability to articulate/demonstrate knowledge, skills and understanding of health.

     The five strands that had always been at the core of what we have done include:

    • character development
    • intelligence/cognitive development
    • lifestyle development
    • health-related fitness
    • motor performance.

    The road to literacy truly runs through every classroom, whether it has desks and chairs, or merely lines on the floor.