Where Will My Inquiry Go from Here?
This is only the beginning of my journey as an educator. As a professional, it is my job to continue to research and reflect on my practice and pedagogy. My love of physical activity drives my desire to address the physical health education gap in elementary schools in Canada. Until more educators are aware of the problem and understand methods of implementation, our students will not be receiving adequate physical health education. As pointed out in, “A randomized controlled design investigating the effects of classroom-based physical activity on children’s fluid intelligence and achievement,” schools are the ideal place to ensure physical activity needs are being met (Fedewa et al., 2015, pg.137). ParticipACTION supported this notion commenting on the barriers low-income families encounter as they try to access programs (2016,pg.13). By addressing physical health education in schools, youth from lower socio-economic locations are not restrict by complicated paperwork and proof of income for funding (Participaction pg 13).
I hope to implement these strategies in my practicum classroom and educate my students, my colleagues and administration team on the benefits outlined as I navigate this pedagogical approach to education. As I implement these strategies, I hope to refine them and continue to seek new methods to keep my pedagogy current and engaging for my students. I have subscribed to several Physical Health websites as a tactic of staying informed. I look forward to working with my School Advisor over the next months as I try to implement some of my findings in my long practicum.
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I understand that the gymnasium is sometimes an overwhelming place for elementary teachers and the thought of bringing games into the classroom seems chaotic, however, I think it’s within reach, given the proper guidance. In the distant future, I hope to create a workshop to help fellow educators navigate this transition and provide support. There are many aspects of teaching to focus on and further, however, our inquiry projects have demonstrated the importance of colleague support. Sharing what we learn and our resources, and will allow our students a brighter future. It's about moving forward together.
