There's No Crying in PE...Is There?

Teaching a new grade level takes some adjustment.  I was in the locker room before class when a student walks in sobbing.

"What's wrong?", I ask.  I am expecting illness involving projectile vomiting or injuries with protruding bones.

"I forgot my gym clothes!"  This is followed by more choking sobs and a profuse apology.  I decide my job in this situation is to calm my sad student.  I am not used to this.  In high school, girls would walk in my office, ask what we were doing and then announce, "I don't like that.  I'm not changing."

During the course of this past week, there were a few minor injuries.  These were also followed by tears.  I spent several minutes each time teaching girls and boys how to take deep breaths and relax.

I'm discovering this is the age where the rollor coaster of hormonal emotions collide with the quick rise of the tears of childhood.  It will take a few years for the highs and lows of the roller coaster to even out and the tears to subside.  I will have to dust off my Mom skills for middle school PE.

The up side is the happy enthusiasm for physical activity.  When I announce the game of the day, it is usually met with some up-and-down jumping (a-la-childhood).  There is much less standing around and much more running around.  Given the opportunity, kids this age love to move.  There are the rumblings of the "inactives" starting by seventh grade.  A handful of kids (mostly girls because they are maturing faster) have an aversion to movement already.  It makes me sad because I have seen the weight gain, lethargy and depression that comes after kids decide they are not going to move anymore.  My sincere hope is that I can help to keep it fun so those kids decide moving is worth it, and nothing to cry over!