In exploring older physical education textbooks there is a renewed appreciation for past leaders and their foresight in critical areas of our profession. While a number of ideas have been floating around in the physical education world that are thought of as new or improved concepts: Terms such as social emotional learning, physical literacy,…

For decades there has been considerable research investigating educational climates in physical education. From those investigations, it is accurate to conclude that mastery motivational climates are a highly effective instructional approach when teaching motor skills and promoting physical activity engagement for young children. Due to this,…

The purpose of this article is to critically apply the mastery TARGET structures (task, authority, recognition, grouping, evaluation and time) to the cooperative learning (CL) model in physical education. The premise is that the TARGET structures are highly applicable to the CL model and that combining both approaches will optimize student…

A mastery motivational climate, emphasizing self-referenced and individualized learning in physical education (PE), is consistent with a personalized physical literacy disposition defined as the knowledge and understanding, perceived competence, confidence and motivation to remain physically active for a lifetime. The TARGET acronym (i.e., task,…

With the authorization of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December 2015, the role of physical education in public schools has the potential to change significantly. It is imperative that physical education be supported by assessment-driven evidence in order to reach and speak to legislators, national boards, school administrators,…

This article discusses ways in which physical educators can enhance learning in their classrooms based on the book How Learning Works: Seven Researched-based Principles for Smart Teaching (2010). Although the research-based principles were proposed for classroom teaching, they are equally applicable to a physical education setting. The article…

This article focuses on establishing a mastery climate where all students find success and start on the road to physical literacy. Using a five-step approach, physical educators will be offered guidance for developing practice tasks that lead to skill mastery. These steps include creating a mastery environment, designing deliberate practice tasks,…

The teaching and learning processes have undergone a variety of changes and modifications in recent years. The overall academic goal is to produce engaged, lifelong learners who are capable of solving complex problems in diverse settings. These desired skills cannot be achieved via the traditional teaching and learning model that requires students…

Every student must be given the opportunity to participate in physical education and develop the skills and knowledge competencies to become skillful movers for a lifetime. Students with disabilities have unique needs that must be addressed in the least restrictive environment. With the adoption of the "National Standards and Grade-level…

This article focuses on the grade-level outcomes to be assessed on middle school (grades 6-8) physical education. Specifically, the article describes how to teach basic tactics and strategies while applying fundamental movement patterns to the various game and movement categories (invasion, net/wall, target, fielding/striking, dance/rhythms, &…

This article addresses teaching for skill and knowledge competency in high school based on the National Standards and grade-level outcomes. The outcomes guide teachers away from a curriculum that emphasizes competition through team sports, which appeals to just the highly-skilled and competitive students, toward one that is inclusive of all skill…

Physical educators can help mainstreamed handicapped children by (1) preparing classmates to understand and accept disabled children; (2) avoiding practices that unintentionally embarrass the mainstreamed child; (3) building self-esteem through success; and (4) using mastery teaching and peer tutoring. Modifications of rules and equipment are…

The mastery approach was taken with physical education majors at the sophomore level. The approach was based on several considerations which included the achievement of a minimum competency level. The students were allowed to select one of three options to achieve this level. (JN)