Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wednesday Workday

Today is a classroom day for me.

Health students are Reading Chapter 8 Section 2, on Vitamins, Minerals, and Water, and are then completing a Critical Thinking assignment on edmodo.  Basically, they are answering the 3 critical thinking questions from each of the first two sections of chapter 8.  So that is six questions, to be answered in complete sentences and turned in via edmodo.  24 point assignment.

Personal Fitness students today will be working on Assignment 11 which is over P.E.D.'s.  One of the many worries about the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs is not just that professional athletes are doing them, but that they are setting the example that it is OK to use these.

The best way to battle this is through education.  Students need to be exposed to the harmful effects that PED's can have on their bodies.  Both short term and long term.  A student who is well educated on the issue may still make mistakes or wrong choices, but the chances of them making a good decision are much greater.

Take some time to talk to your student about Performance Enhancing Drugs.  See if they know what they are, what they do, and what their harmful effects are?

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tuesday PE

Today we will use the Heart Rate Monitors (HRM's) to measure how hard we are working in PE. 

We will do our standard warmup- Stretching, Pushups, situps, and jog.

Then, we will do some fitness relay races.

Personal Fitness has a workout day today, they will be working on their individual fitness plans.

In personal news, my new "Zero Drop" running shoes from Altra Running are on their way!  I ordered a pair of Altra Instincts.
I'm excited to get started with the "barefoot" running craze.  Altra makes their shoes so that they are designed like the human foot.  You can notice that the padding on the shoe above is the same in the forefoot as it is in the heel.  That is what they call zero drop.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Post Turkey Monday

Welcome back from a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Lesson Plans for this week are done.

Health classes today will be starting a new Unit and new Chapter on Food and Nutrition (Chapter 8).

We will be taking a practice "pre-test" to see what the students know before we begin.

Today, we will be looking at section one, which is on Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins.  Students will read over the material with a partner and then make an outline to keep for their notes.

Personal Fitness class is going to the weight room, and fitness testing on maximum bench press.  Hope to see some improvements! 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Assignment 10 Personal Fitness Fall Semester 2011

Personal Fitness Students,

Read the information in the article below, and then respond to it, in the "comment" section.

REMINDER: Put your name at the bottom of your comment, or I won't know who it is from.

Read the article linked here.

Then, you should comment on which 3 of the eleven tips, you are most likely to follow, and EXPLAIN WHY.

REMINDER: Put your name at the bottom of your comment, or I won't know who it is from.

White Wednesday!

Anyone else singing Billy Idol's White Wedding?


OK, last day of school until Thanksgiving break!

Health classes are making their Standards presentations today.

Personal Fitness is doing assignment 10.

And Mr. Harming is wearing all white, in honor of White Wednesday.

Hope everyone has a blessed and safe Thanksgiving weekend!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Red Tuesday

Why Red Tuesday?  Because I'm wearing Red today.

Actually the same jacket as in this very photo.

PE today.  1st, 2nd, and 3rd period classes are doing strength training in the weight room.  Not much instruction today, just time for the students to investigate, try things out, ask questions, etc, etc...

Personal Fitness - Workout Day today.  Students will be following their own workout plans in the weight room area.

7th Period - we will be doing our "Health Presentations" today at the start of 7th hour in the gym, because of the shortened class period tomorrow.  Then, with what time is left, we will play a game in the gym.

Reminder:  Tomorrow is the last day of school this week for Thanksgiving break. 

School will be dismissed early at 2:30 pm.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Blue Monday

So, since it's Thanksgiving week, and Friday is "Black Friday", I am naming every day this week after a color.

Today I am wearing a Carolina Blue Sweatshirt, so welcome to Blue Monday!

(I bet you are just excited to see what Tuesday and Wednesday are...)

Midterm grades are due to the office by noon Tuesday, so should be mailed on Wednesday?  I am guessing here.  Maybe it will be Monday of next week?  Tough to tell when midterm falls near a Holiday.


Health Classes are working on their Standard Projects today.
Grading Rubric for the project is located here.

Personal Fitness is testing jumprope today.  And we will of course, have a phenomenal abdominals workout.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Friday Fun Day

Can you believe it's the last Friday until Thanksgiving?


No School Thursday or Friday next week for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Reminder:  Today is the Mid Term for the 2nd Quarter.
Midterm reports will be mailed next week.

Lesson Plans for next week are up.

Friday Fun Day! - For Students not on the ICU List we are in the gym playing dodgeball today.

Personal Fitness Game Day will also play dodgeball in the weightroom.

Weekend:  CHS staff are starting off the weekend with a bang!  First Ever Chili Cook-off and Pitch Tournament will be held tonight at the High School.  Good food and good times will be had by all.

My San Diego Chargers travel to Chicago this weekend to play the Chicago Bears.  Not only are the Bears playing much better right now, but they are also my brother's favorite team.  Be nice to win one.


Video of the week:  Since we're supposed to get our first winter storm of the year this weekend, starting around midnight tonight.... How about some November Rain?


Have a great weekend Everyone!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thursday, PE day

Today, 7th and 8th grade classes will again be going to the weight room to learn some more information about strength training.

We will be going over the many different uses of dumbells, and how students can use them and incorporate them into their workouts.

The students will have some more free time today in the weight room, to try different exercises and equipment.

Personal Fitness - Workout Day - students will be following their own workout plans today, in the weight room.  Some of the students have been struggling with the "freedom" given to them on their workout days... and they need to realize that these plans are theirs, not mine.  They are graded on PE content standards... but if they are only doing 1 or 2 of their 6 planned exercises.... they are not demonstrating the proper application of the standards to each of their exercises.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Wednesday, November 16th

It's a brisk, cool, weather day today!

Today I am all about the classroom.

7th and 8th grade students are working in small groups (2 or 3 students) to display the knowledge of a content standard.  What I have done, is put a list of the Standards on the white board, that were on the last test we finished (Chapter 7 Preventing Violence).  However, the students have no idea what they are, they just see the numbers of the standards like... 2.12.3.

Each group then selects a standard number (kind of like making a selection out of a hat, or a random drawing)  I give them the standard and they have to write it down.  Like the previously mentioned 2.12.3 which is "analyze how peers influence healthy and unhealthy behaviors".

They then, as a group, decide how to "Demonstrate their knowledge of the standard".  Some groups are making powerpoint slide shows, some are writing skits, some are doing posters, basically no idea was out of bounds, but they had to get it approved by me first. 

The assignments will be due in class next Wednesday.  We will work on them this Monday, as well.  And, the students can choose to work on them Friday during Activity/Fun Day.

Personal Fitness is doing assignment 9, which is on Obesity and Overweight.  It's a good lesson for the students.  They have to create a powerpoint slideshow that shows me what they think are "crucial issues" to know about this subject matter.

Can't believe in a week, we'll be dismissing for Thanksgiving break!  That's awesome.  I love me some Turkey.

Also, we are still collecting e-mail addresses of parents for "contact info" for "the list".  If you have an e-mail address that you use, but the school doesn't know about it... just let me know.  mark.harming@k12.sd.us is my address, and I will be happy to forward it on to the office.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tuesday, PE day

Today in Physical Education classes, students are being introduced to strength training.  We aren't doing alot of heavy lifting or anything... just an introduction to what strength training is, who it is good for, what are some of the benefits, and then some demonstrations and practice time on some of the weight lifting machines.

Personal Fitness had a workout day today.  The students did not perform very well today.  They need to be more focused on their workout plans, and less focused on visiting with their friends.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Monday, November 14th

Health Test today over Chapter 7 - Preventing Violence.

The Practice Test has been online since last Wednesday, I hope some of the students were able to use it.

Personal Fitness is Fitness Testing today.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I know I did.

SDSU Jackrabbits ended the season with on a 3 game winning streak, and QB Austin Sumner set a Missouri Valley Football Conference freshman record for yardage in a season.  The Jackrabbits struggled a bit this year to a 5-6 record, but considering the schedule they faced, that isn't too terrible, and they gained a TON of experience.  Should be one of the better teams next year.

I've been looking into "barefoot" shoes. Basically shoes that allow your feet to work like they were naturally intended. There is some pretty interesting research into the subject, and it's a big portion of the book "Born to Run".

If anyone has experience in barefoot running, barefoot footwear (excuse the oxymoron), or anything like that, please let me know. I'd love to pick your brain.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Lessons, Weekend, and Video

Lessons for next week are posted HERE.

The weather is supposed to be very nice this weekend, so I hope you can get outside and take in some sunshine before it turns really cold on us.

SDSU Jacks will travel to Western Illinois to close out the season on Saturday.  Hopefully the Jacks will end the season on a 3 game winning streak.

Tonight, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans will start the college basketball season off by playing on an aircraft carrier.  Sounds pretty cool, to me.  I'll be watching.  Go Tar Heels!

For this week's video, let's play something to celebrate our veterans.

Enjoy 3 doors down

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day.  Make sure you go out of your way to thank a Veteran for their service today.  They will appreciate it.

I will complete lesson plans later.

Veterans Day assemby today at the High School at 10 am.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

PE Day, Thursday

JH/MS PE classes will be held in th gym today.  We will be wearing the HRM's and playing different games, seeing how our heart rate is affected while we play.

Personal Fitness is having a workout day.

Chargers play the Raiders tonight, and also the state FB championships start this afternoon in Vermillion.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wednesday, Health Day

JH/MS students have Health class today.  We will look over and discuss note taking guides on Chapter 7, and hand out study guides for Chapter 7 Test, which will be on Monday.

A Chapter 7 Practice Test is availible online, all you have to do is click on the link.  Students may take the practice test as many times as they want to help them prepare for the actual test.

Personal Fitness will be having a test today over assignments 5-8.  The test will be linked from edmodo.com. 

We are trying to do as many online tests as possible this school year, for a few reasons:
1.  Environmentally friendly - the more tests we take online, the less paper we have to use.
2.  Skill building - as someone who is currently taking some online college courses, on line testing is something that students should have some experience with.
3.  Instant Feedback - the second the student clicks "submit" on an online test, their score is sent to them immediately.  There is no more "waiting" for the teacher to correct the tests (and usually ALL the tests) before handing them back to the students.

What does your student think of taking tests online? 
If they had a choice would they prefer online tests or paper tests? 
Do they see the value in learning how to take online tests?

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Tuesday Nov. 8th

PE day today, all my classes will be in the gym. (except Personal Fitness having workout day in the weight room.)

My son is feeling much better this morning.  Now hopefully my other children don't come down with it.

Have you gotten your flu shot yet?

I got mine a few weeks ago, and my family has all been immunized last week.  In fact, they all got immunized the day I stayed home from school with a sinus infection.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Home with sick child

Mr. Harming is home with a sick child today.

Health Classes are working on note taking guides for sections 3 and 4 of chapter 7.

Personal Fitness will weigh in, and have maximum bench press for fitness testing.

Should be back at work tomorrow!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Friday - Hobo Eve

Lesson Plans for next week are done, please click on the link.

Health Classes this week started Chapter 7, which was on "Preventing Violence".  A very informational and good subject matter for our young people to be exposed to.

This weekend marks the 99th Annual Hobo Day in Brookings, SD.  I will be attending with my family.
We usually make a full day out of it, starting with running in the Bob Bartling Hobo Day 5K run in the morning. Then, we run back to my parentsto change and head back to the Hobo Day Parade.  After the parade, we will have lunch and then attend the game.  This year's opponent is the So. Illinois Salukis.

Hoping for a Victory for the Jackrabbits.

Also this weekend, my favorite NFL squad the San Diego Chargers, take on the favorite team of my Father, and two of my sons, the Green Bay Packers.  I'm not expecting a very good game from my end of things.

I thought I'd double up on videos this week.  In honor of hobo day, let's have a performance from The Pride of the Dakotas marching band, and an SDSU Jackrabbits football highlight video.




Welcome to the Show!!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Classroom Wednesday

Health Students will be working on Note taking guides over Sections 1 and 2 on Chapter 7.

Chapter 7 deals with preventing violence.

HS Personal Fitness class will be working on Dietary Guidelines assignment.

Lots of sick staff at the school this week.  I'm hanging in there, but still not feeling 100%.

Remember, if your student has a fever or isn't feeling well, it's usually better to get them seen by medical personnel and get them the adequate rest, so they can come back quickly, and at full strength.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Tuesday Volleyball

Today the JH/MS students will be playing VB for PE classes.

HS Personal Fitness class is having a workout day.

Hope everyone had a safe and sound Halloween.

Cold and Flu season is upon us.  I've had the sniffles and been feeling run down for about a week now, and Mrs. Harming stayed home with our youngest today.