Bob Bodine finding engaging ways to teach physical education

Physical education has taken one particular of the hardest hits thanks to the COVID-19 linked campus shutdowns, which began in excess of a calendar year back.

PE teachers have had to create their actual physical curriculum from scratch, having the course translate into an on line location and be the great stage of engagement to continue to keep the students coming back again.

When I attended elementary faculty, the PE teacher was normally seen as the rockstar determine among the all students on campus. The time spent absent from the rigors of the each day curriculum to enjoy online games or do things to do with your classmates once or 2 times a week was cherished.

As a college student, you liked the PE days.

These days, while young ones may well not be back on campus pretty however, the aura and rockstar truly feel follows Zamora Elementary PE instructor Bob Bodine.

“He is the brilliant location in our student’s times,” mentioned Zamora Elementary Principal Felicia Rodoni Wilson. “They look forward to viewing him each and every one time they get the possibility, no matter whether it’s in man or woman or now virtual. He has built the transition to the digital entire world so seamless for his learners.”

Bodine has spent his entire training career at Zamora Elementary. He has very first employed as a component-time PE teacher 33 many years ago right before having the complete-time job a 12 months later on. As an Anaheim native, Bodine attended California Polytechnic Point out College and then went on to gain his training credential at Sacramento State.

When on training course to earn his credential, Bodine lived in Davis and worked as a teen application coordinator before his very first calendar year at Zamora.

Even though he has taught bodily education to center and high faculty learners throughout summer months university periods for just about 15 several years, Bodine observed his nitch with elementary college learners.

“I weighed every little thing this (elementary) appeared like the most effective in good shape for me,” Bodine stated. “I imagine since there is additional freedom to do unique factors. You’re not caught with models, and you can be so innovative with these youngsters. You can do anything you want, and I feel it matches with my identity simply because I can be inventive.”

Ahead of the shutdowns, Bodines courses ended up comparable to conventional PE classes you’d discover at any elementary school, but it is by using length understanding that his creative imagination actually shines.

“What I do is I set it up like the Jay Leno Exhibit,” Bodine mentioned. “I have like 50 routines that I do, and then each individual working day, I’ll decide on like a few of them. I’ll operate on juggling, and then we can do magic cups. It is typically camouflaged main health and fitness things like accomplishing sit-ups, drive-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers. I just tweak some matters, and often little ones will feel they are performing diverse items, but genuinely they are executing the very same matter. We do cardio operate as nicely.”

Bodine mentions that he has a lengthy listing of brand name new equipment that has still to be touched.

“His Zoom courses are pleasurable and energetic, and he is so incredibly innovative,” Rodoni Wilson claimed. “Teaching the kids how to juggle with socks and carrying out unique items devoid of the youngsters possessing the tools at home. The biggest battle would be engagement and participation, but Mr. B will come with these types of a pursuing. If you are a kinder via third grader, you simply cannot hold out to get to him. It’s like a appropriate of passage.”

Socks perform a adaptable role as balls for college students to observe throwing, kicking, and even juggling.

“We are striving to do as considerably as we can with the constrained stuff we can do,” Bodine stated. “You can inform and read through the children. I just consider to engage with them. If they do sit-ups, I’ll do sit-ups with them and inspire them. If they aren’t executing very well in one activity, I can switch it up to the following thing.”

PE instructors will naturally radiate an energetic vibe. Without the kids’ electricity to feed off, Bodine has had to locate techniques to manufacture that energy.

“You just make you do it,” Bodine reported. “By the time I’m carried out with my previous course, I’m fatigued from performing 500 or so jumping jacks and 200 sit-ups. It’s like my exercise for the day. When you change off the computer system, you are exhausted, but each day I get myself excited for my six classes. I come to feel for the children currently being in entrance of the computer system all working day.”

Bodine is most likely heading into his ultimate years training, but his influence will be felt at the school for years to occur.

“He actually loves young ones and loves training,” Rodoni Wilson claimed. “He is usually keen to do whichever it normally takes. He is historic on our team and group. He is just these types of a cornerstone for our college.”