The mini-convention

So I saw pretty much everybody at the mini-convention yesterday, and I'm really interested to see what everybody thought? I had a good time, and it was cool to see a lot of teachers who are in the same field get together and share ideas and stories. There some sessions that I honestly wasn't that excited to see, but there were a few that i saw that were really good. I really wanted to hear what the first year teachers had to say about finding a job and other first year expectations. But...........I was to busy making 135 Peanut and Jelly sandwiches with bread that would tear as soon as you put the jelly on. I felt sorry for this kids, those were pathetic sandwiches.....but hey, we did our best with what we had.

And Mendi, dont think I didnt see you sticking your finger in the jelly!

Jk

Pens Flyers last Sunday.

So I headed down to Philly this past weekend to hit up the Pens Flyers game on Sunday. It was my first time at the Wachovia center for any type of event. After going to the Mellon arena for the past 10 years, and recently attending the Wachovia center, I realized just how important technology plays in the Fan experience and enjoyment. When I walked down to my seats in Philly, I was shocked by all of the visual stimulation from all the screens and lights that circled around the entire arena. Not to mention the effects they had going on throughout the game. Don't get me wrong, I love Mellon arena. But as far as the Fan enjoyment, the Wachovia center had much more to offer as far as getting the fans into the game. But not only for the fans, the players are equally affected. The More the fans are into the game, the more energy the players get for the game.

The moral of the story is... I cant wait till the 2010 for the opening of the new home of the Pens.

late

Autism walk at Heinz Field

So the annual Autism walk is about 2 months away. I haven't been able to participate for the past 2 years because I've had weddings to attend each summer on the same date. Since I work with kids with Autism the walk has a special meaning for me. But it really is a great event that everybody should consider participating in. It's down at Heinz field on June 7th, I know its 2 months away....but its never to early to start fundraising. I'm on a team with one of the families I work with, both of their children have autism. They have a big family, so its a lot of fun when everybody gets together for a great cause. The statistics are crazy with rising rates of autism, we need to help find a cure. I'm not trying to preach, just trying to get awareness out there. I'm sure there are some students in the PE major who are effected by Autism in some way.

Here's hoping for good weather.

Using CAI software in the classroom.

I was just wondering how everybody felt about using CAI software in the classroom? I think it definitely has its benefits if used properly. For example, I believe that a student would learn much quicker by seeing a particular skill done on video and then followed up by the same skill broken down by the teacher or a volunteer student. It just seems to me that watching your P.E. Teacher demonstrate every skill you learn in class would kind of become redundant. I mean the important way a student can learn is to actually perform the skill, but visually, I think it is beneficial for the student to see it from multiple outlets. I mean would you learn more from your teacher taking a foul shot, or by watching Michael Jordan break down the keys to a foul shot? Im not saying you have to be a professional foul shot shooter, but students will definetly take it more seriously if you incorperate a higher level of skill and knowledge.

Let me know what yuns think?

Interactive powerpoint

I'm actually looking forward to putting together the interactive PowerPoint. Anytime Ive used PowerPoint it has been the same old routine. Text flying in from all angles and just bulleting my information. This is actually something I would definitely use not only in my classroom, but in other classes that I have to take at Slippery Rock. I plan on getting it started this week, no time to waste with all the projects that are due coming up. Will I ever be caught up?

Go PENS!!!!!

The Mid-term

Well.....I can honestly say that I think I did fairly well on the mid-term. I put in between 2-3 hrs total study time give or take, and feel pretty confident. There were definitely a few questions that I had to guess at, but I felt comfortable with all of the main points. I did kind of slip on my last quiz with a 6, but the first two were 9's so I gave myself a little cushion. Hopfully this mid-term grade will help bring my grade back up......or.....maybe it wont.

cha cha

Back to work.

So were down to the home stretch of the Spring semester...gigidy goo. My break was OK, I didn't really do much......but that in itself was a break. Now were only 2 days in and I have 2 tests, 1 quiz, 1 presentation, and 2 projects due in the next 5 days. It just doesn't seem fair! O'well, what ya gonna do. Any way if there is anybody out there who has started their E-Folio, let me know how it is going? I plan on starting soon, but it always nice to have some kind of time frame for long its going to take. Anyway, looks like its back to work....have fun everybody.

Peace and chicken grease

Finally finished the Web Page.

Well its the day before Spring break and I finally got done with my Web Page. I have to admit that I would have liked to have done better on it, but time limitations had an effect on my final results. I only had time to work on my Web Page while on campus due to the fact that I don't have Front Page on my home PC, and I'm not about to go buy it. Like I said before, I feel if I had more time to work on the Web page that I would have been able to be a little more creative with it. Don't get me wrong, I got all the required information that we need as far as the rubric goes on the page.....but its not exactly a work of art.

out

Are we too dependent on technology?

Well, it finally happend. Some how I managed to lose my jump drive. Im pretty sick about the whole thing, I had pretty much everything Ive done up to this point in my second go around of school on it. I did have all of my 352 lesson plans saved to my email, so I guess I got lucky in that department. Plus I saved all of my assignments for Tech class on the Z drive, thank God for that. So do yourselves a favor and learn from my major mistake. Always! back up your work. For those of you that do, well done. For those of you like me who dont do as often as they should, live and learn.

These 2 hour Delays are killin Me!

Well....so far I've been in "Field" for 2 weeks now, and I've only got to teach 1 time. 2 out of the 4 times I was supposed to teach there either was a 2 hour delay, or school was just cancelled. Normally I would be happy with a 2 hour delay, who wouldn't? But it also means that I have to find another time to make it up. I have to admit that the toughest thing that I've had to face this year is just finding time to fit everything in my schedule. Don't get me wrong, I do have some challenging classes. But overall finding time to do it all, sooooooo tough. Anyway, the one teaching experience that I did get to do was teaching the Badminton serve to 27 girls. It was fun to finally get to teach your "own" class, but lack of excitement over the Badminton serve was definitely visible on their faces. But once they got a chance to get into game play they seemed to be having a good time. Overall it was a good experience, I'm looking forward to my next lesson.

Chao!

Another trip to SRH

Well today I got to go over to the Slippery Rock Highschool and meet the teacher who is going to be my mentor for the next 3 weeks. Im pretty excited about having the opportunity to teach a real class for the first time. With my regular job I do spend a lot of time in Pittsburgh public schools, so I am pretty comfortable with being in a real class environment. Anyway, my mentor seems really helpful and it should end up being a good experience for me. I will check in next week after I teach my first class.

toodles

Let it snow

Well....looks like John Hamed's Dad was correct. Slippery got slammed with a snow storm. Most people laughed when he predicted 6-10 inches, but who's laughing now...huh....who? Fortunetly because of some good freinds, I got the update that SRH had been closed for the day do to inclement weather(Jeff Kline). And what made all of this possible you ask? Technology, thats who. With out things like television, cell phones, and the internet. I would have had to drive all the way to Slippery Rock just to see if the highschool had gone on with classes or not. To this I say thank you friends, and thank you technology.

later

Teaching at SR Highschool

So tuesday our 352 class will be heading over to the Slippery Rock Highschool to meet our mentors for the upcoming classes that we will be teaching. I guess Im a little nervous, but everybody says it easier to teach the students than it is to teach our fellow peers. I felt pretty comfortable talking in front of my fellow peers, so I guess Im in good shape for the real thing. I will let everybody know how it turns out after I teach a few lessons.

stay posted.

Video for class

Well...I went and worked on my 3 min video of teaching a skill that due for class, it was an interesting experience. I decided to teach the forward roll in gymnastics. I have to admit that I sound like I know what I'm talking about, and thats really the most important thing. I think that it can be useful to use video sometimes when teaching a new skill. Since your students might zone you out as the school year goes on, it might be a helpful tool to mix it up a bit. When I become a teacher I can see myself using videos when introducing a new skill.

ta ta.....

Trifit personal fitness program

In my last Fitness Education class with Dr. Nichols we took a personal fitness test that included strength and flexibility, cardiovascular strength, and your BMI. We then had to take our test results and input the information into a computer program that broke down our level of physical fitness compared to the average of people within our body type and age range. This software is a great way to let people see the hard data on how fit they "actually" are. I myself found out that I was below average for fitness compared to people in my demographic. I think that the Trifit program is a great example of Technology improving Health.

Out.

Heart rate monitors

One thing that should be pretty interesting in my upcoming class schedule is the idea of working with heart rate monitors. Ive never worked with them before, and am interested in being able to use them in a functional way. They are an important tool for PE majors when it comes to the promotion of life long physical activity in the classroom. So hopefully by the end of the semester I will be a expert when it comes to the heart rate monitors.

bye.

About me

For people that dont know me, my name is Matt Casamento. I live in Pittsburgh and commute to Slippery Rock as a full time student in the PETE program. I also work around 20hrs a week, so with class, working, and my commute, I have little time for anything else. My goal is to graduate in 2 years, so hopefully putting up with this crazy schedule will pay off in the end. Ive already made it through 1 semester, and I only have 3 more semesters to go. Here's hoping to my ability to remain some what sane.

until next time.