Planning a Field Day 8-27-10 - PE Central Day_8-27-10.pdf · Planning a field day can be time ......
5
Click here to load reader
Transcript of Planning a Field Day 8-27-10 - PE Central Day_8-27-10.pdf · Planning a field day can be time ......
PECentralArticle:PlanningaSuccessfulFieldDay8/27/10
PECentral<pecentral.org>,[email protected],540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060
1
ArticleByCharlesSilberman.EmailCharlesatcharles.silberman@pgcps.orgtoaskadditionalquestions.PublishedonPECentral:82710.
Question:HowdoIplanasuccessfulFieldDay?–Ms.T.
Answer:
DearMs.T,
Planningafielddaycanbetimeconsumingandveryinvolved.However,ifyoucreateagoodsystemfordevelopingone,itcanmaketheprocessmoreefficient.Therefore,Iwilllayoutbelowsomekeypointstoconsiderwhenplanningyourfielddaytohelpitgosmoother.
Research
Beforeyouputpentopaperorhandstoakeyboardtostartplanning,dosomeresearch.Thisincludestalkingtoyouradministration,formerP.E.teacher,colleaguesinthebuilding,andotherP.E.teachers.Whenresearching,youarelookingtofindsomekeypiecesofinformation.
Whendiscussingfielddaywiththeadministrationinyourbuilding,youaretryingtofindoutseveralthings.Someofthisinformationincludesaskingwhatwasdonebeforeyouworkedthere,whataresometraditionsoffielddaythatyoumaywanttokeep,andwhataresomeneedsorconsiderationsyoumaywanttotakeintoaccountwhenplanningthisyear’sfieldday.Inaddition,youwillwanttofindoutanyimportantproceduralguidelinesyoumayhavetofollowinyourcountyforgettingvolunteersandotherdo’sanddon’ts.Thepeopleinyourbuildingcanhelpclarifythisaheadoftimesoitmakesyourplanningprocessmoreefficient.
Theotheraspectofresearchingyourfielddayinvolvesfindingoutwhatcolleaguesinyourprofessionhavedoneoraredoing.Thismayhelpsparksomeideasforyouorallowyoutotalkoutsomeofyourthoughtsinordertoclarifyyourvisionforyourfieldday.
Thelastpartoftheresearchcouldincludelookingforsomefielddayactivitiesorthemesinbooksoronwebsites.AcoupleofgoodreferencesincludethebookFieldDaySurvivalGuideortheWebsitewww.pecentral.org/lessonideas/fielddays/fielddaysindex.asp.Bothoftheseresourceshaveatremendousamountofusefulinformation.
Planning
Asthefamousquotegoes,“failingtoplanmeansplanningtofail.”Withfieldday,thisissotrue.Youaregoingtoneedtoplan,andplanasfarinadvanceasyoucan.Youwillneedtimetogetapprovalforthings,arrangeformaterials,creatematerials,communicatewithstaffandstudents,preparestudents,reviseplans,etc.Thistakestime,andwhenyoudothisinahurry,itcanleadtoproblems.BelowItrytoprovidealistofdocumentsandother
PECentralArticle:PlanningaSuccessfulFieldDay8/27/10
PECentral<pecentral.org>,[email protected],540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060
2
itemsyouwillneedtocreateandwhattodowiththemwhen.Whenplanning,considermakingbackupplansforwhattodoifitstartstorainandyouneedtomoveinside,ifitrainedthenightbeforeandyoucanonlyuseyourblacktopsordryareas,andanyotherforeseeablescenarios.Remembertodiscussallfinalplanswithyouradministrationandgettheirapprovalonanymaterialsenthome.
PacketCover–Thisisasimplecovertoapacketyouwillcreatethatprovidesteachersandparentswithinformation.Itisbesttomakeonepacketforcolleaguesandoneforparents.Eachpacketwillincludedifferentinformation.Youcancustomizewhatyouputineachpacket.Forvolunteers,Iincludetheactivitiesandstationssheet,schedule,andmaps.FortheteachersIaddthet‐shirtorderform.
LettertoParents/VolunteerRequestForm–Inthisletter,youwillinformtheparentsofyourfielddaydate,raindate,andattachatear‐offformaskingforvolunteers.Inthisletteryoumayincludewhatvolunteersmaysignupfor,thetimeallotmentyouwillneedthemfor,finger‐printinginformation,andanyotherparticularsthatyoumayneedtocallimmediateattentiontothatinvolveadvancedplanningornoticeonbehalfoftheparents.Inthetear‐offform,makesuretogetcontactinformationsoyoucancontactparentsaweekorsobeforetheeventtoremindthemabouttheirassistance.
LettertoTeachers–Inthisletteryouwillspecifythedatesforfielddayandexplainanypertinentinformationyouwanttomakeclearimmediately.Thiscouldrangefromexplainingyourthemetodetailinghowyouwantstudentstobebrokenupforactivities.Itwillvarybasedonwhatyou’replanning.
Activities/Stations–Inthisdocumentyouwilllistallyouractivities.Includeadescriptionofeachone,whatequipmentisneeded,andaspacetonotewhichvolunteersorstaffwillbeateachactivity.Youwillmostlikelywanttoordertheactivitiesbythestationnumberandspecialnameifyouuseathemeinordertokeepitassimpleaspossible.Thisalsomeanspreparingspecificinstructionsforhoweachactivityisplayed.Forexample,ifyouhaveaparachutestation,printoutparachutegamesforthepersonrunningthestation.Thisdocumentwillbecomeveryimportantasyoushareyourplanswithadministrators,parents,andcolleagues.
EquipmentNeeds–Inthisdocument,listyourstationsinorderandcalloutanyneedsyouwillhavethatrequireadministrativeorcustodialattention.Thismayincludethingssuchasbottledwaterforvolunteers,chairsforeachstationforvolunteerstositout,orgameequipmentsuchasspongesforwaterrelays.Thisdocumentwillhelpyouarticulatewhatyouneedfortheeventdaysoyouarereadycomethatday.
Schedule–Therearemanywaystopresentyourschedule.Ipreferanexcelspreadsheet.Ihaveseenothermethods.Itisdependentonwhatmakesyoucomfortable.Thisscheduleisgoingtobetheteacher’sbestfriendonfieldday.Makesuretoincludelunchtimes,bathroombreaktimes,rotationorder,andactivitynamesthatareconsistentinwhatyouusedinyourotherdocuments.
PECentralArticle:PlanningaSuccessfulFieldDay8/27/10
PECentral<pecentral.org>,[email protected],540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060
3
Map–Thisistheteacher’ssecondbestfriendonfieldday.Justlikechildren,adultsprocessinformationdifferently.Imaketwomaps.Oneisaverbaldescriptionofwhereeachactivityis.Forexample,“stationoneistotheleftofthebackdoor.”Thesecondmapisaverydetailedlayoutofwhereeverythingis.Iusewordsanddrawobjects.Imakeitcolorfulandmakesuretonotewherelandmarkssuchassidewalks,trees,fences,court,andotherplacessothatthereisnoconfusionastowheretogo.Imakeitsoitmimicswhatanarchitect’sdesignofthingsmightlooklike.Inaddition,Iwouldorganizeeventsinasimplecircularfashionifyoucansorotatinggoessmoothly.Placethewatereventsnearthehosesoitmakesrefillingthewaterstationseasy.Considerthismapasavisualdepictionofyourmasterplan.
ReminderSlips‐Thisisasimpleslipof3x5inchpaperthatwillgetsenthomewitheachstudentthedaybefore,andthepaperwillstate:fielddayistomorrow;makesurethatstudentsdressinlight,breathableclothes;wearhatsandsunscreen,andthedaystartsatacertaintime.”
VolunteersReminderLetter–Peoplearebusy,andscheduleschange.So,thisletterisverysimilartoyourfirstparentletteryousentout.Itstillhasasliponitthatnewvolunteerscansendin.Senditoutafewweeksbeforeyourfieldday.Also,inthisletteryouwillwanttoaddwherevolunteersgowhentheyshowupandiflunchisprovidedornotsotheycanplanahead.Youwillbesurprisedhowithelps.Again,emailsandphonecallstheweekbeforewillhelptoowithgettingfirmcommitments.
TShirtOrderForms/CollectionForms–Ifyouaredoingt‐shirtsforstudentsand/orstaff,youwillneedthisform.Onitshouldbeapictureofthedesignfortheshirt,coloroptions,pricingandduedate,handoutdate,andcollectioninstructions.Thecollectionformisaseparateformusedasawayforyoutocapturethedatafromtheorderform.IuseanexcelspreadsheetwithatitleofeachpieceofdataIaskedforontheorderform.Fromthereyoucanmaketheitemsintoliststhatletyoufiltertheinformation.Trustme,ithelpswhenyougotoplacetheordersoyouknowhowmuchofwhatsizeandcoloryouneed.Italsowillhelpwhencountingmoneytohavethisbreakdown.Eachcountyhasitsownmoneycollectionprocedures,andyouwillneedtobeawareofthoseandfollowthemtotheletterofthelaw.
NonFieldDayParticipants–Somestudentslosetheprivilegetoparticipateinfieldday.Thatisaschool‐baseddecision.Ifthishappens,Iliketogetanideaofwhichstudentsarenotparticipating.Ithelpsmeplanmoreefficiently.
PreFieldDayMeetingAgenda/Notes–Aboutaweekbeforetheevent,planameetingwithteachers.Discusssomeofthekeypointsofhowthedaywillrun,answeranyquestions,andhandoutyourinformationalpackets.Makesuretohaveanagendaandsigninsheetforyourrecords.
PECentralArticle:PlanningaSuccessfulFieldDay8/27/10
PECentral<pecentral.org>,[email protected],540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060
4
VolunteerSigninSheet–Thisiswhatitsays.Yourvolunteerssigninonthissheet.Keepitandusefornextyeartorecruitvolunteers.Also,thisshouldletsyouknowwhoispresentandwheretheyarestationed.
StationSigns–Havingaveryvisible,largesignforeachstationwillmakethetransitionsbetweenstationseasier.Thiscanbeaprojectstudentshelpyouwith.Ihaveseensometeachersputthescheduleonthebackofeachsignorotherinformationonthebackofthesigns.
WelcomeBanner/OtherGoodies–Theaimhereistomakethedayseemmorespecial.Haveanicewelcomebannerforalltosee.Youmaychoosetohaveballoonssetuporsomeonegoaroundblowingbubblesallday.Additionally,thismayincludemakingPAannouncementsleadinguptotheeventorrevealingoneactivityeachdaytothestudents.Spiceitupandbuildananticipatorycrescendo.
VolunteerSpace–Haveasetasideroomforvolunteerstogoandtakeabreakoreatlunch.Inityoumayhaveabanner,atablesetupwithwaterandsnacks,andchairstositin.
Certificates/Awards–Havethesereadyinadvancewithsignaturesonthemsoallyouhavetodoisfillthemin.Iwouldhaveappreciationcertificatesforvolunteers,awardsforstudents,andmaybesomethingtoshowappreciationforthestaff.
ScoringRubric/Awards–Detailhowteamswillbeassessedpointsforanyawardsyoumaygive.Thisway,nooneissecond‐guessingyourdecisions.
Website–IhaveawebsitewhereIputupsomebasicinformationincludingdates,times,activities,andavolunteerformthatparentscansubmit.Thismayhelpmakeyourcommunicationmorethoroughandengaging.
Execution
Sothedayisfinallyhere.Youhaveplannedandthoughtouteveryinchofyourevent,andyou’rereadyforit.Youhavecommunicated,andyouhaveprovidedwithasmuchinformationaspossiblesothedaycanrunsmoothly.Sonowwhat?Herearesomeadditionalthoughts:
• Setupthenightbeforeifyoucan.Thismaymeanlayingoutstationsignsandequipmentbystationinthegymsowhenyoucomeinthemorningit’salloutandreadytogetsetup.
• Gettoschoolearlyenoughtoleaveyourselftimetosetupandmakeanylastminutearrangements.
• Gethelpinadvancefromyourcustodialstaffandwillingteacherstohelpyousetup.
• Teachersandhelpersarestillgoingtohavequestions.Beavailableandopentoanswerquestions.
PECentralArticle:PlanningaSuccessfulFieldDay8/27/10
PECentral<pecentral.org>,[email protected],540‐953‐10431995SMain,Ste.902,Blacksburg,VA24060
5
• Arrangeforsomestudentsorsafetypatrolstohelpwelcomethevolunteerstotheschool,givethemtheinformation,andhelpshowthemtotheirstation.Thisfreesyouuptotakecareofanylooseends.
Iknowthisisalot.However,thereisnoreplacementforcreatingasolidstructureforabigeventlikethis.Youwillhavethisfortherestofyourcareertohelpyouplaninthefuture.Thetimespentupfrontisworththeinvestmentwhenyouseehowmuchthestudentsareenjoyingtheday,andtheparentsandstaffpaycomplimentsinsteadofcomplaints.Mylastpieceofadviceistohavefunandenjoytheexperience.Iwillalwaysrelishthewaterfightswiththekidsandthesheerenjoymentofmyfirst‐everwell‐planneddayusingthedocuments,techniques,tips,andresourcesIhaveprovidedabove.
ArticleByCharlesSilberman.EmailCharlesatcharles.silberman@pgcps.orgtoaskadditionalquestions.PublishedonPECentral:82710.
