Stay ConnectedThe PE Umbrella is a podcast for primary teachers & those working in the primary PE space who want practical, actionable ideas they can use straight away.
Hosted by Ryan Ellis, each episode features honest conversations with educators from around the world, sharing real strategies, lessons, and experiences from the field.
With over 200 episodes to date, the focus is simple: cut through the noise and help you deliver better primary PE with confidence, clarity, and impact.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Dr Gerald Griggs for a thought-provoking conversation about what meaningful learning in primary PE really looks like.
Together, we explore how we can create lessons that are more than just physically active, considering how children think, connect, grow in confidence and, most importantly, enjoy the experience of learning through movement.
We discuss what progression really means in primary PE, why periods of struggle or plateau can actually be valuable learning opportunities, and how some of the routines or practices we use with the best intentions may unintentionally exclude certain children from fully engaging.
We also reflect on the purpose of primary PE within the wider curriculum, question whether schemes of work should be viewed as a guide rather than a script, and explore how creative, unconventional approaches can help children develop skills in more meaningful ways.
As the conversation unfolds, we touch on an idea close to the heart of The PE Umbrella: have we become too focused on the physical aspects of PE, while overlooking the equally important cognitive, social and emotional experiences that shape children's lifelong relationship with movement?
Whether you're a class teacher, PE lead or simply passionate about giving children the very best experiences in PE, this episode is packed with ideas to challenge your thinking and inspire your practice.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under The PE Umbrella
On this episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast I am joined by lecturer of Health and Physical Education at Deakin University, Cameron Van der Smee.
Amongst many things, we delve into the essence of great primary physical education, emphasising a learning-focused approach, engaging lessons, and the impact of negative experiences on student engagement.
The conversation covers inclusive teaching strategies, the wider learning in physical education, managing a wide range of abilities, quick fire tips, and the long-term impact of physical education on students. As always, there's something for everybody, whatever capacity you hold in the Primary PE space across the world.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by primary PE teacher and founder of Play Folke, Gareth Williams.
The conversation covers Gareth's journey to teaching, the concept of Playfolke and changing perceptions of PE. Key takeaways include the importance of inclusive and engaging primary PE, building confidence in teaching PE, and the significance of relationship-building.
If you're looking for practical advice, look no further. What are you waiting for? Come and join me under the umbrella.
On this special episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by best-selling author and co-host of the enormously successful High Performance podcast, Damian Hughes.
In this conversation, Damian and I discuss the power of consistency, the definition of high performance, the concept of the say-do gap, and the building of confidence and resilience in children. We also talk about the power of feedback, the importance of challenge and failure, and creating a culture of kindness and acceptance.
Above all, this conversation is grounded in the art of the possible, for those who work in schools every day. This is a truly remarkable conversation and learning opportunity that you can't afford to miss, so what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me under the umbrella.
Don't forget to check out the School Coat Charity below.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Education research consultant, Vicky Randall.
This episode discusses the topic of movement competence and delves into fundamental movement skills, transitional movement skills, the proficiency barrier, the impact of upbringing on movement competency, transitional movement skills in PE lessons, and signs of progress in movement learning. We also explore practical ways to support movement development in lessons, emphasising the importance of repetition and simplification.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
Get that note pad and pen at the ready!
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by reader in PE & sport pedagogy at the Carnegie School of Sport, Dr Tom Quarmby
The conversation explores trauma-informed practice in primary PE, discussing the impact of trauma on children's behaviour and the role of physical education in supporting pupils who have experienced trauma. Tom shares insights on trauma, its manifestations, and the principles of trauma-aware practice in PE.
We also delve into facilitating and responding to youth voice, creating routines and structures, and reframing competition in a trauma-informed way. This is a conversation you can't afford to miss.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Elementary Physical Education Teacher at the American International School of Budapest, Rhys Meredith
The conversation explores the key elements of great primary PE, focusing on student voice, choice, and meaningful experiences. It delves into the concept of just right challenges, student autonomy, and the impact of student feedback. The discussion also addresses the challenges of implementing student-centered approaches within the constraints of existing PE schemes and the importance of giving students agency in their learning.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by primary PE teacher at the United Nations international school of Hanoi, Matt Magowan
In this episode we explore what excellent primary PE looks like, including show favourite questions from years gone by. The conversation covers the importance of transitions in PE lessons, the concept of student agency and choice in learning, effective classroom management and structure, and the significance of personal relevance in learning. Matt shares insights and strategies related to these themes, providing valuable takeaways for everybody working in the primary PE space.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
This week I am joined by Josh Candy joins me for another conversation on all things Physical Development.
In this podcast episode, the conversation covers the definition of physical development in early years, the transition from secondary to primary PE, the distinction between PE, sport, and physical activity, the role of sports in PE lessons, and the importance of creating a consistent environment for PE lessons in early years.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
This week, Dominique Chiquet (founder of the motor skill learning academy in Switzerland) joins me for a conversation on all things Physical Development.
This conversation delves into the philosophy and practical application of physical development in the early years, emphasizing the importance of exposure to diverse movement experiences. It explores the balance between structure and free exploration, the role of stories and make-believe, and the development of other skills beyond physical development.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
In this conversation of The PE Umbrella podcast, Shane Pill and I discuss the key elements of great physical education, including pedagogical content knowledge, challenges for general primary teachers, and the impact of previous generations on physical competencies.
Shane also explores the game-based approach and the importance of designing the environment for play, providing valuable insights for educators and specialists in the field of physical education.
So what are you waiting for, come and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 102 of The PE Umbrella Podcast.
I am delighted to welcome my first 3peat guest to the show this week, a cracker of a PE teacher and an all-round great guy, Andy Hair!
During this episode we catch up on all things Aussie Physed, finding out about the game changing initiatives that Andy has recently brought to his school, including his Movement Based Hallways and Check-In floor markings! Not only that, we both share some incredibly exciting news about a future project that myself and Andy will be teaming up on together! Watch this space...
Note pads ready folks! Knowledge bombs incoming. Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
In this episode, I discuss the fine balancing act that teachers must play in enhancing the fundamental physical skills of a child in their class while ensuring their enjoyment and enthusiasm for physical activity remains intact.
I look at the argument from both a coach and a teacher perspective and suggest ways in which we can strike a happy medium.
Welcome to episode 131 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is sports coach and founder of Fitter Future & Challenge Sport Education, Ricky Lawrence.
With many years of coaching under his belt, and a team of coaches now working for him, Ricky is on the front lines delivering PE and PPA in our Primary Schools. During our conversation, we try to put to bed the differences between Sports and PE, we talk about how at Challenge Sport Education, they assess each and every child and we also ask Ricky what makes their approach to PE delivery Innovative and Creative. Not only this, we dive into Fitter Future and discuss its application for getting your classes more active!
In addition to all of this goodness, we ask the show usuals and have Ricky share his top class-management tip, all-time favourite warm-up game, as well as the worst lesson that he ever taught!
So what are you waiting for? The rant cannon is loaded! Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Hello and Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast Episode 93!
In this episode, I bring you my deep thoughts on a book I recently read titled 'The Power of Moments'. Sometimes when you read a book, it just clicks. The way it translates to the education sector is seamless and in my opinion a must read. Everybody in the world has a series of defining moments in their life, and the great thing is, we can be the author of these ourselves...We don't just have to let them happen to us! I explore how we, as teachers, can create 'defining moments' for the children we teach so to leave the greatest legacy. I discuss the Peak-End rule and the four Pillars that can contribute to creating a 'peak/defining' moment and how you should consider doing so in the classes you teach!
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me Under the PE Umbrella!
In this episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I am joined by Early Years Physical Development Specialist, Tania Swift. As the director of B Inspired, a company specialising in training, tools and resources for teachers delivering early years PE, Tania has years of experience delivering CPD and workshops that improve the quality of provision in Early Years Physical Education. I feel that early years provision is sometimes overlooked for the 'shiny object' and 'cool' things that can be delivered to older children but in this episode we discuss the importance of a sound early years PE curriculum for laying the foundations towards a more physically literate life and boosting the enjoyment of physical education. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella' for some early years knowledge bombs!
Welcome to episode 217 and the return of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by children's book author and leadership and education consultant Dr Beth Brown. In this episode we take a deep dive into character education, life skills and how to best nurture them in our own children and pupils. During this chat, we talk about Beth's book, The adventures of Divot & Swish and how she was inspired to write the stories as a means to instil life skills such as resilience in our children.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 115 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is elementary school PE teacher of 36 years and soccer coach, Mr Jim Harte!
Through a career spanning over 3 decades, it's fair to say that Jim has seen it all and with that comes a wealth of experience to draw upon. The greatest strength of Jim, in my opinion, is his willingness to innovate and continually reinvent himself as a teacher, pushing his teaching pedagogy and ideas to this day.
During this episode, we talk about the changes to education that Jim has witnessed, as well as some huge creative successes that he has brought to the PE program at his school! Not only that, but we have the usual show favourites to sink our teeth into as well...
- His top, class management tip
- The worst/best lesson he ever taught
- His favourite warm-up activity EVER!
- His biggest learning curve this past year
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 85 of The PE Umbrella podcast! This week I am delighted to bring you a new game creation of my own, made up using a combination of wonderful existing games. I have always found it pretty hard to 'completely' switch off from 'work mode' and during my recent 3 week holiday, I had the urge to create a new game ready for my return to the Holiday Camps that we run at Sporting Influence. As such, 'Yoda Rescue' or 'Capture the Yoda' was born! I have trialled this game out several times now on my return to the activity camps, tweaking it as I go and in this episode I bring you the most successful version to date. Taking you through step by step, I explain how to set the game up, how to introduce the rules and which progressions to add. To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Yoda Rescue. Simply find it on the podcasts page or type 'Yoda' into the search bar and the episode will pop right up.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
On this episode 'Under the Umbrella', I bring you yet another tremendous activity that is perfect for our sunny summer afternoons and complements traditional summer sports perfectly! The game has a central focus on throwing and catching but you will soon discover there is so much more to it than that. I explain how the game is set up, how to play, draw out key teaching points and even sprinkle in a selection of excellent progressions for good measure. All of this and more is discussed 'Under the Umbrella' today so come and join me to listen, and head over to www.peumbrella.com to download the FREE PDF so you can start playing King Ball with your class NOW! Who will Reign Supreme?
Welcome to episode 118 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is primary school headteacher Ian Holmes.
During this episode, we talk about how Ian utilises Physical Activity as a driver for his school ethos to make a difference to the physical and mental health of his children. We discuss the barriers he has overcome, how he has spent the PE budget and what plans he has for the school going forward. Ultimately, Ian is a remarkable example of a forward-thinking headteacher who is looking at the bigger picture, and one who has successfully integrated physical activity and quality PE into the lives of the children of his school!
Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through his worst ever lesson, top class management tip and favourite warm up!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
In this interview episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by 1:1 health and PE teacher, presenter and iBook writer Andy Milne. Originally from England, his teaching journey has seen him teach across the globe before finally settling in the Chicago suburbs. In this episode we talk about the importance of health education, how writing iBooks has revolutionised the way he teaches and his top things to read, watch, listen and do this summer!. It was a real pleasure recording this episode with Andy and his enthusiasm is infectious! As always there is so much useful advice to take away and apply! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
In episode 39, the first of three special '8 minute episodes' I talk about the app BAM Video Delay. Although the app itself has been around for some time, I myself am still relatively new to the scene and finding ways to maximise its use in my classroom. After my interview with Jarrod Robinson in episode 19 in which he shared this as his MUST HAVE app, I knew I had to take the plunge. This week, I used it to great success in a year 4 cricket lesson teaching the 'front foot drive' batting shot. During this episode, I explain how the app works, the context in which I used it, why I felt it was of benefit, my setup and what I intend to do next. Whether you are new to this app or an old timer, I'd love to hear about your BAM video delay experiences too, so come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by PE teacher Daniel Zito. Currently living and working in Melbourne, Australia, Daniel is a huge supporter of IPad education in the PE setting and Parkour enthusiast! In this episode we chat ALL things primary PE including the best use of IPads in the PE classroom, introducing Parkour in your teaching and even his #peexpressionsessions. You simply don't want to miss this! As always, it was a true pleasure to speak to Daniel, as somebody I have looked up to and followed on Twitter over the past year he produces such inspiring content and he shares an INCREDIBLE amount of ACTIONABLE advice and takeaways in this interview. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
Hello and Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast Episode 94.
In this episode, I take you on a journey about Play, and why it holds huge significance in the education of our children and our own lives. During the episode, I explore exactly what we mean by 'play'. Why it is so useful for our development and share with you 8 play personalities, which, if understood, may unlock your potential to live a more playful life!
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me Under the PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 123 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is primary school headteacher Chris Willan.
During this episode, we talk about how Chris has firmly embedded a culture of high-quality PE, Physical Activity and school sport across his school, and the exceptional impact this is having on the learning of his students.
Chris takes us on a journey, from his early days coaching to becoming a forward-thinking and ambitious head that uses PE as a driver for his school's success. We dig deep into the PE spend and what has worked for him to ensure impact and sustainability. We also dive into the new Ofsted framework announcement and what that means for our beloved subject.
Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through his worst ever lesson, top class management tip and favourite warm up! It's simply one knowledge bomb after another in this outstanding interview, so buckle yourself in and get the note pad and pen ready! Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 208 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by primary PE leads Sam Woodruff & Jordan Jawandha to chat ALL things Primary PE! T
alking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more to help you in your own Primary PE teaching journey! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 63. In this episode I am joined by Jorge Rodriguez, PE teacher in Houston, Texas and host/producer of the stunning Global Physed Voxcast! In this phenomenal episode we talk about all things PhysEd including what he has learned about his teaching this year, his biggest takeaways from producing his own podcast, what a typical lesson looks like and what is his BEST LESSON EVER! Plus, I ask Jorge the regular show favourites including why PE, favourite warm up and top class management tip! I hope Santa brought you a note pad and pen because you're going to need it! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
Today I bring you a superb indoor Primary PE activity for those days when poor weather means going outside is simply not an option. This activity can be done in even the most spatially challenged schools with enormous success. Problem Solving, Leadership and Communication are just some of the key skills your children will be working on. Don't worry about lack of space again and have your class playing the Team Maze Challenge!
Welcome to episode 127 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am fired up to bring you yet another awesome resource activity! Avengers Assemble is a collection of carousel activities running through an underlying challenge of collecting the 6 Infinity Stones. Best suited to EYFS/KS1, but equally applicable for LKS2, your students will be rehearsing their agility, stability and object manipulation skills as they take on a variety of Physical & Mental challenges. As you listen along you'll learn:
- how to set the activities up
- which umbrellas you can focus on
To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Avengers Assemble from the show notes page or the activities section of the site! So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 97 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is EYFS PE teacher Zack Smith. During this episode, we centre our discussion around delivering Physical Education to students 3, 4 or 5 years of age and how we can best set them up for a journey of lifelong physical activity!
Intertwined into this detailed and insightful discussion, we delve into the show favourites and ask Zack about his worst ever lesson, how he would describe himself as a teacher and what his favourite Insta/warm up activities are. As you can see by the length of this episode, it really is packed with a wealth of awesome advice and information as we discuss strategies, activities and books that Zack has found useful during his teaching!
So get that note pad at the ready! Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
In this Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I share my equipment list that absolutely MUST be in any primary school PE cupboard. With the PE funding in full flow there are no more excuses for having a sub par PE cupboard that lacks equipment. However, the equipment, or lack of it, is still a barrier to high quality PE in many primary schools. In this episode I take you through the bare minimum 'must have's' for your school PE cupboard and explain why it is essential! I would love to hear your thoughts on any items that I have missed and what your own 'must haves' are too so please get in touch! What are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 59. In this episode I am joined by Andy Vasily, a true fountain of knowledge and experience, all things Physed. In this bumper episode we talk about Andy's own goals, what he has learned so far this year and how we can help develop a growth mindset so we don't feel defined by our mistakes. Plus, I ask Andy the regular show favourites including his top warm ups, resources and favourite use of tech in the PE classroom! Note pad and pen at the ready to prepare for some Physed knowledge bombs... Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 190 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE, Physical Activity & Forest School leader Niall O'Brien. On this episode, we dive deep into Primary PESSPA and uncover the incredible work that Niall is doing at his school.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- Tell us about your school Active Enrichment offer?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and many more tangents as Niall and I put the PE world to rights!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 114 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is football coach and PE teacher working at Leicester City for the Premier League Primary Stars scheme, Ryan Bromyard!
During this episode, we talk about the advantages of having a coaching background before undertaking a role teaching PE, as well as the differences and how Ryan has overcome those barriers. We also dive into a discussion about his own teaching traits and how they are helping inspire the next generation of children to stay active! Not only that, but we have the usual show favourites to sink our teeth into as well...
- His top, class management tip
- The worst/best lesson he ever taught
- His favourite warm-up activity EVER!
- His biggest learning curve this past year
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 101 of The PE Umbrella Podcast. As we embark on the post 100 leg of The PE Umbrella journey I am delighted to welcome Craig Harrison to the show for episode 101! During this episode we dive deep into the psychological aspect of physical activity in younger children. The cornerstone of our discussion is centred around confidence and how we can hope to foster this as a desirable trait in our students. We also chat about the role of parenting and if there are pitfalls of over praising as a parent, perhaps we're setting our children up to fail? All in all, this is another belter of an episode that I'm certain you'll take plenty away from! What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 172 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined for a record 4th time by the legend that is Ryan Forwood for this special edition in which we chat about ALL things Sport Education!
As a teaching model, I've enjoyed some success using it over the past few years but much of my learning, ideas and understanding has come from Ryan, the resources he's shared and the reading he has recommended.
In this episode, we break it all down with the following questions and more...
- What is Sport Education?
- What is lesson zero?
- What sports can we use?
- Why should we give it a try?
- Can anybody deliver a Sport Education season?
- Gymnastics as a Sport Education season!?
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 103 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is PhysEd teacher Tanner Roos!
During this episode, we discuss...
- His aims for his school as a PE co-ordinator
- How Tanner would best describe himself as a teacher
- What could I expect as a student in a Mr Roos PE lesson
- The worst lessons that Tanner has ever taught and what he learned from it
- Favourite warm up activity.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
Join me today as I share with you my 'aha' moment that has inspired me to teach KS1 PE a different way. I share my ideas on how I enthuse, engage and excite KS1 children once again to make them fall in love with physical activity.
In Episode 53 of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I embark on the first of what will be a series of episodes that explores the 'Five Steps to a Winning Mindset' as described in Damian Hughes latest book. During this episode I explore step one, Simplicity, and how the worlds best leaders and teachers are able to articulate instructions and directions in their simplest form. I reflect on my teaching week gone by and highlight my concern over my own teacher talk time and how I intend to minimise 'pointless talk' going forward. As a result of this podcast, I will be conducting a teaching experiment this week to see if I am able to explain my activities in 140 characters or less, as Professor Hughes urges leaders (teachers) to think like they tweet...this will be documented over twitter and subsequently on the show notes page at www.peumbrella.com. After all... 'It's not about how many balls (instructions) you can throw, It's understanding how many your children can catch'. I would love to hear your own views on my weekly reflections and if you have similar experiences, so what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Simon Blower, a former primary school teacher, deputy headteacher and co-founder of a wonderful resource called 'Pobble' that uses an online platform to share children's writing with a worldwide audience. We delve into his experience to chat ALL things Primary PE including his top tips, favourite resources, how physical activity impacts on attainment and how it is used to enrich Pobble writing days! So come and join us Under the Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 75 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Physical Education teacher from here in the UK, Kate Tiffen. As a teacher of 17 years, Kate has experienced working on both sides of the fence, both in State schools and Independent school, where she currently teaches. As the first Independent school PhysEd teacher I have had on the show, I was keen to find out 'How the other half live' and if the PhysEd side of things is all it's cracked up to be. During the episode I probe Kate about the value placed on PE as a subject in both sectors and what core differences she sees between the two. Do both provide a high quality Physical Education? Is the curriculum coverage the same? Is Independent PhysEd the pinnacle, or is there still more to be done? All of this as well as the show favourites are discussed during todays show, so come on over, and join us under The PE Umbrella!
In this Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I reflect on my teaching and whether or not it is promoting 'Learned Helplessness' amongst the children I work with.
Having recently read 'essentialism' by Greg McKeown, I was intrigued by the term 'learned helplessness' and actually, how prevalent it is, not only in education, but every day life.
I explore the meaning behind the term, how it relates closely to education and PE, and share ways in which we can ensure we are doing all that we can to stop our children taking the path of the 'I can't do it culture'.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 108 of The PE Umbrella Podcast and another superb episode as I interview assistant producer for BBC Learning Michael Farnell.
This episode seeks to unpick the ins and outs of the wonderful Super Movers Initiative launched by the BBC and English Premier League, seeking to get children moving more in their school day. Michael talks about what the 'initiative' actually is and shares WHY it was even launched. We then talk about success stories from the initiative so far and how as busy teachers we can find time to fit it into our school day to gain maximum benefit!
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 195 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by director of the centre for PE, Sport & Activity at Kingston University and the founder of the Mi Move app Greg Dryer. The conversation with Greg was so incredible and eye-opening that it had to be split into two parts, just to give you time to digest what he has to say before indulging in more!
Talking points of our chat in part 1 include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What is your teaching background and what did you learn from your time in India?
- Importance of early PA experiences
The conversation flowed so well that we covered dozens of topics that everybody can learn from.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad(s) ready!
Today, I share with you a resource that is not only what I believe ALL primary PE cupboards should have, but also one of the most under utilised by the schools that currently do have them! The equipment in question is a SPEED LADDER. They are a real hook to your lessons and give the children the opportunity to challenge themselves in Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) challenges. With uses in KS1 and KS2, come and see how you can dust them off this week to start your lessons with a bang. Fear not if your school doesn't have any, I provide you with an alternative that you can all access. So what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella' to grab your FREE downloadable PDF and put it into action yourself!
Welcome to episode 201 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by former teacher and founder of Dance to School Eve Murphy.
On this episode we once again dive deep into the world of Primary PE, with a particular focus on the area of dance, drawing out some incredible advice on delivering your own unit of work! Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about PE/Dance should be banished?
- How would you plan/structure a unit of dance in line with the National Curriculum?
- What would your ideal Dance lesson look like?
- What is your worst ever PE/Dance lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more as we salsa our way through many side conversations to bring you the best advice for delivering Primary dance around!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 216 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by lecturer and researcher Rachael Jefferson-Buchanan.
On this bumper length episode, we dive into all things Primary PE with a mixture of rabbit holes explored too! From PE misconceptions, the importance of FMS to finding the balance between challenge and exclusion, there is something in here for you! Not to mention the show regular questions such as:
- What currently excites you in the PE space
- Favourite warm-up/Instant starter?
- Worst ever PE lesson taught and what you learned?
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 186 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the head of PE in a SEND school, Simon Roadley. On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE, with a particular focus around inclusion and teaching students with SEND.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Teaching tips/advice if we have students with SEND in our class?
- Strategies and activities for inclusion
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 182 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by specialist Primary PE teacher Victoria Bull.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Victoria as we reflect on her journey into and then through teaching to her current role now. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- What is your favourite PE unit to teach and why?
ALL of that and SO much more as Victoria and I travel down a couple of rabbit holes too! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 198 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by former primary school teacher and founder of The Children's Health Project Ilse Brockling. On this episode we delve into all things health & wellbeing on the back of our 3rd lockdown in the UK and look ahead to the coming year.
Talking points include:
- Health & Wellbeing at home
- Healthy Habits we should all be adopting
- What should health & wellbeing look like in schools moving forward
As expected, we venture off down many side conversations to bring you plenty of value and food for thought so make sure you have a note pad and pen handy.
What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 214 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the headteacher of Water Primary and now a two-time guest of the show Chris Willan. His first appearance on the show back in episode 123 was a huge hit and changed the way that many viewed the PESSPA landscape in their schools.
Now, Chris is back to talk us through how he's coped in the Covid pandemic and why PESSPA remains as important as ever at the heart of his school.
All of this and so many other side conversations, consider this your FREE Primary PE CPD on the go! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 119 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today for this episode is gymnastics consultant and PE teacher Nikki Linsdell as we look to further break down the barriers to primary gymnastics and build upon the discussion I had with Gemma Coles in episode 117!
In this episode, Nikki breaks down exactly what gymnastics should look like across the primary age range and shares with her tools for planning whole units/single lessons. In addition to this, we talk about the importance of having gymnastics as a staple to any PE curriculum and how we can still deliver high-quality gymnastics regardless of space/equipment available to us.
Of course, we have the show favourite questions as we talk about Nikki's worst ever lesson and share her all-time favourite warm-up activity.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 51, in which I am joined by Physed Teacher, teacher trainer, author and all round fountain of knowledge Aaron Beighle. In this episode we dive into a whole host of topics including how to find a better balance as a physed teacher, specialist PE teachers, top tips for managing a class and we even find out how Aaron would start a lesson with a class he has just met for the first time... Plus, I ask Aaron the regular show favourites including his top warm ups and other great physed resources that we all need to go and check out! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 110 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am excited to bring you TWO more awesome PE games to try out with your class! Lasting the test of time and first used over a decade ago, these activities are a must to have in the locker when teaching dribbling skills to your class. Heaps of fun with lots of practical teaching covering the 4 umbrellas, what's not to love about them?
Having used them successfully in KS1 and KS2 it's safe to say they will be an enormous hit! To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of The Lion King and Sharks & Lifeguards. You can pick it up on the show page for this episode and also on the activities page of free resources!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 128 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined again by Mr Energetic Education himself, Dale Sidebottom! As you would expect, Dale brings the energy, passion & knowledge bombs to the show in this action-packed episode. I'm excited for you to hear all about Jugar Life, Dale's latest adventure of wellbeing, kindness and play. We could all do with more of this in our life and Dale explains to us how to make this a reality!
So strap yourself in for knowledge bombs and laughter as we talk about how you and your own students can experience the Jugar Life yourselves!
Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 159 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am delighted to be joined for a second time on the show by Rachel Ford. On this episode, we simply chat about ALL things PE, with a particular focus on the power of a theme/story to hook children into their learning.
Having recently been through a 3-month lockdown in China, we then discuss the first 2 weeks back teaching face to face and what this has meant for Rachel. How have things changed? What has surprised her? How has she adapted?
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 177 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined for part 2 of my interview with special ed PE teacher, YST inclusion lead and GB age group athlete Rachel Bown.
In part 2, we explore Rachel's life in more detail, from her early PE experiences to her early career into teaching and her battle with her brain tumour 'Tooties'. This episode is as much a chat about mindset, character, resilience and positivity as it is about PE and I can't wait for you to listen!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome and prepare yourself for episode 100 of The PE Umbrella Podcast.
I had to mark the occasion with an ALL STAR guest, and the one I chose certainly does not disappoint. In this very special episode I am joined by Dale Sidebottom as we converse all things Physed, Books, Ice Breakers and Moving to Learn! During this episode Dale really brings the ENERGY to the show and I feel there was a mutual connection between our outlook and perspective on teaching. He shares some great stories from his teaching days, why moving and learning is so important and a load of actionable activities and games that you can take away...We even played a podcast icebreaker of my own during the show! All in all, this is one cracker jack of an episode that I don't want you to miss out on!
What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 155 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary PE consultant Owen Denovan.
On this episode we simply chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Owen and his many years of experience teaching Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- Describe yourself as a teacher in 3 words?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What was your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Owen brings YOU the knowledge bombs that you seek! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 157 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined for a second stint on the show by Elementary PE teacher Cliff Roop. On this episode, we squeeze in questions that we simply couldn't fit in first time around to understand better how Cliff works and thinks. We then jump in and focus on the importance of team building and cooperative type activities and units to set your students up for success in the coming year and build solid foundations. Cliff shares his recent success in using my 'crack the codes' activity and details the modifications and learning that both he and his students got from it. Not to mention the several rabbit holes and tangents we venture down, this makes for a fascinating listen and brings the PE knowledge bombs...
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 147 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am fired up to bring you probably my best resource to date and one that I'm immensely proud of. This 40-page PDF pack provides you with everything you need in order to start and set up your own SportEd unit of work, from team sheets, reflection sheets, team roles and activity cards, it's all here! During this episode, I take you through my SportEd journey with a year 6 class and exactly how each of the accompanying sheets should be used. I'm not here to give you a breakdown of the SportEd pedagogical model, but rather share with you some resources that may inspire you to take the plunge and start your journey!
To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of this incredible SportEd pack from the show notes page or the activities section of the site. So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 143 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the superstar of ALL things Moving & Learning, international speaker and co-author of The Kinesthetic Classroom, Mike Kuczala. On this episode, we simply chat about ALL things Moving and Learning and how movement itself is absolutely critical to the teaching and learning process. We dive into some knowledge bombs all about the brain-body connection and how to best prepare it for learning, how to utilise movement breaks and how physically active learning can enhance retention and motivation to learn. Not only that, but Mike shares plenty of actionable tips and strategies that you can take away and try out this week in classroom teaching or PE.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 151 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE teacher Tim Mills. On this episode, we simply chat about ALL things PE with the show favourites followed by a focus on inclusion and creating positive experiences for children with SEND.
This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- What is your all time favourite warm-up game?
- What barriers/issues do teachers often have when it comes to including SEND children in PE?
ALL of that plus SO much more!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 149 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by superstar teacher of Primary School PE, Stuart McKenzie. On this episode we simply chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Stuart and his experience teaching Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- How would you describe yourself as a teacher in 3 words
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as we venture down a few rabbit holes along the way!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 154 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE teacher from across the pond in Canada, Mr Dan Vigliatore! On this episode we simply chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Dan and his many years of experience teaching Primary/Elementary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Dan brings YOU the knowledge bombs that you seek!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 142 of The PE Umbrella Podcast, and the last episode of this decade!
This week I am bringing you a reflection of the year gone by with some of my most thought-provoking discussions and clips from guests of the show! I urge you to go back and tune in to the full episodes with these guests and every other person who has jumped under the umbrella with me. It's been quite a ride and I can't wait to see you all under the umbrella again in 2020!
Jump under the umbrella with me and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 153 of The PE Umbrella Podcast! This week I am joined by ex Primary School Teacher, PE Lead and founder of Burn2Learn Alex Ogden.
On this episode, we take a trip down memory lane and chat about ALL things PE from his time leading the subject. We find out what his favourite warm-up activity is, which PE misconceptions he would banish forever and what he considered to be his worst ever PE lesson! Not only that, we then talk about all things Physically Active Learning (PAL) and how his concept of 'Burn2Learn' came to be. From its conception to the amazing impact on students across the country we find out all about Burn2Learn and how it can create a path for greater success at your school!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 137 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week, all the way from China, is Rachel Ford. Having spent her whole career, since qualifying as a PE teacher, abroad, Rachel has a great depth of experience teaching in different settings and with children ranging from secondary to primary.
This week, we take a deeper look at her recent venture into teaching kindergarten PE and her learning curve throughout this. She shares with us her greatest successes and what she feels are her 3 strongest qualities as a teacher. Not only that, but we delve into the show favourites of class management tips, favourite warm-ups and worst ever lesson!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Today, I am joined by Kate Thornton-Bousfield. Kate is the primary lead and development manager for physical literacy at the Youth Sport Trust and has teaching experience that spans both primary and secondary schools. We chat about all things primary PE, sharing her favourite teaching practice, helpful resources and her thoughts on where primary PE will be in 5 years time! You simply don't want to miss this!
"From below the national average to the TOP 10% nationwide"
Join me as I talk to Maths of the Day founder Jon Smedley and discuss how active learning helped transform attitudes and attainment in maths at his old school!
Welcome to episode 130 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Elementary Physed teacher, Cliff Roop. This week I'm excited to return to more of a 'regular' show format as I interview Cliff and dive into his teaching experience. He shares with us his PE philosophy and how he turned a corner in his life and profession and fell back in love with teaching PE again.
Not only that, but we delve into the show favourites of class management tips, favourite warm-ups, best and worst ever lessons!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 87 of The PE Umbrella podcast! This week, I bring you some in depth reflection of managing the Pride and Ego of the children you teach as a result of reading the book 'Ego is the Enemy' by Ryan Holiday.
Is too much Positive really a Negative?
What brought me crashing down to Earth when I was 10?
How can you possibly fly 30 kites at once?
Lots of food for thought and an opportunity to share your own experiences awaits. So what are you waiting for, come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 90 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is another Aussie Physed rockstar who is always providing great value in the online space, Christina Polatajko. During this episode, we discuss...
- What inspired Christina to become a PE teacher.
- What has Christina fired up in the world of PE right now.
- What could I expect as a student in Christina's class?
- The best/worst lessons that Christina has ever taught.
- Favourite warm up/insta activity.
- Top class management tips.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella for some Aussie Physed Knowledge Bombs!
Today, I discuss the one activity/drill I simply couldn't live without as a primary PE teacher. I explain how it can be best used, and how its versatility has served me well over the years!
Visit www.peumbrella.com for the write up of this drill on the blog.
Welcome to episode 68 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is middle school Physical Educator and PHYSEDagogy collaborator, Sarah Gietschier-Hartman! During this episode we discuss how Sarah keeps herself fulfilled outside of teaching with mind and body, before diving head first into her teaching experience, with knowledge bombs and actionable takeaways for you to try! New games - Check Favourite Warm up - Check Class Management tip - Check Top resources - Check Get your note pad and pen at the ready and come on over to join us Under the Umbrella!
Today, I share with you another one of my MUST HAVE PE activities. This activity, called 'cone to cone' has served me well for over 7 years. It has been used by myself as a coach and as a PE teacher with equal success and enjoyment! It really is one of those teaching activities that I couldn't live without and is essential for any PE teachers locker!
Hello and Welcome to episode 67 of The PE Umbrella Podcast. This week, you have me all to yourself as I reflect and preview some changes that are coming to the podcast interviews in the coming months, testing out some of the content on myself first. I am a firm believer of: "Live What You Preach" During this episode I talk about my mind and body in particular, and how I keep myself fulfilled and in the best state of mind to teach the children I work with without hitting burnout. After all... "you can't serve others from an empty vessel" So come and join me Under the Umbrella and see how i try to keep my own vessel firmly afloat!
Today, I discuss the importance of 'variety' in the development of children in sport and physical activity during their primary years. I share with you my personal experience and 'aha' moment in seeing first hand, how exposing children to a diverse range of activities can open your eyes as a teacher, allowing you to see your children in a different light. So why wait, come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 96 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Neila Steele, a real superstar in education, mindfulness and PE.
During this episode, we discuss the importance of taking time for yourself, ensuring you are in the best place both mentally and physically to teach your students. We also dive into the benefits of bringing mindfulness to the classroom, how we can do it and how it impacts positively on our students. Finally we delve into the world of visualisation, and how as a tool, it can help our children and students succeed. Can we instill it into all of our students?
This episode was a real beauty to record and I love the unstructured nature of our conversation. Just two people with aligning views, conversing over some hot topics in the world of education today! What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Join me today for the first episode of 2016! I chat with Dave Bamber, a lead Primary PE teacher and the founder of Primary Energise, a wonderful wake up shake up resource that is hassle free and packed with benefits for children in both KS1 and KS2. In addition to this, Dave talks about the PE activity he couldn't live without and shares his advice for all primary teachers who may feel like they are in a rut with their PE teaching. So come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week for episode 132 is Richard Cheetham MBE.
With numerous years in his field, Richard is currently the leader of coach education, research & development at the University of Winchester. He draws upon and reflects on his role and those he has worked most closely with to drop some serious value bombs under the umbrella today. We start off by diving into a coaches skill set and ask Richard what role they can/should play in primary PE. There was (and continues to be) an interesting debate around this and Richard shares his thoughts. This leads us down various Rabbit holes including the importance of enthusiasm, learning environments, creating continuation desire, moving stories and much much more!
Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through his top class-management tip and favourite warm-up! If you don't own a notepad, it will be worth investing in one just for this episode, trust me!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Hello and Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast Episode 92!
In this episode, I bring you a collection of my top 15 warm ups, as shared by the amazing guests of the podcast. Selecting only 15 wasn't easy but I'm sure you'll agree there is a great variety here and the featured guests all have an interesting take on what their favourite ever warm ups are. I'm certain you can pick some great actionable ones to use yourself this week, month or year ahead!
If you missed the full interviews with any of these guests first time round then be sure to head back and listen to all of their amazing content by scrolling through iTunes or visiting www.peumbrella.com.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me Under the PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 113 of The PE Umbrella podcast! This week I am fired up to bring you yet another awesome resource activity, PLUS my warm-up of the week, a last-minute inclusion into today's show!
SHHHH! Don't wake the bears is a unique twist on the old classic 'Rob the Nest' and seeks to fully engage the students in some wonderful learning. Best suited to EYFS/KS1 age groups, your students will be rehearsing their agility, stability and object manipulation skills as they take food from the forest...Just be careful though, the bears won't be happy!
As you listen along you'll learn:
- how to set the activity up
- which umbrellas you can focus on
- how to build up the layers
To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of 'SHHHH! Don't wake the bears' from the show notes page or the activities section of the site! So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 78 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is K-6 Physical Education teacher, Mike Ginicola. During this episode, we discuss...
- How Mike lives what he preaches and serves from a full vessel!
- What I could expect from my first day in Mike Ginicola's Physed class.
- What Gamification means to Mike and how it benefits his class.
- How he fosters Growth Mindset both personally and in his classroom.
All of this plus all of the show favourites are crammed into this awesome episode! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
This is episode 80 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Middle School Physical Education teacher, and woman of many talents Jessica Shawley. During this episode, we discuss... - How Jessica lives what she preaches and serves from a full vessel! - What I could expect from my first day in Mrs Shawley's Physed class. - What Jessica has learned about herself and the physed profession in the past 6 months. - What her worst experience of teaching PE was and what she learned from it. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
With me under the umbrella this week is another one of the most high-profile guests I have ever had on the show. He is the other half of the Ellis clan, Jiu Jitsu savage, master doodler, and all-round kind-hearted soul, my son, Oliver.
In this episode I learn about how he views PE as he approaches his final few months of primary school and summarise how these may have been shaped.
I'm very proud of both Oliver and Penelope and the honest and articulate answers they have shared over the past few weeks.
Welcome to episode 112 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella today is senior lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University, Sarah Williams!
Originally from New Zealand, Sarah spent her early years teaching as a classroom teacher before becoming a primary PE specialist and then onto her current role.
During this episode, we dig into Sarah's teaching past and discover her joy for teaching and how we believe primary PE should be structured.
We also discuss plenty of the show favourites to bring you some real PE knowledge bombs.
- Her top class management tip
- The worst/best lesson she ever taught
- Her favourite warm up activity EVER!
- What we should be teaching in Early Years PE
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to the half century episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, Number 50! For the first time in the short history of The PE Umbrella I welcome a dance specialist to the show. In this episode I talk to Caroline 'The Dance Lady' Newman, A specialist from Wiltshire, England that delivers CPD, Cheer and Fun Fitness Sessions across a number of Primary Schools across the region. During this episode we discuss key points including, Why is Dance an important part of the physed curriculum? How to structure a unit of work on Dance? What is her favourite warm up to use in her Dance sessions? All of this and more can be found in this weeks episode so what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the PE Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 120 of The PE Umbrella podcast and a very special episode indeed! This week, I teamed up with Jorge Rodriguez from The Global PhysEd Voxcast for his second appearance on The PE Umbrella!
The rulebook for the usual interview format is somewhat ripped up this week as we take on a less structured interview and general PE chat around the transitions that Jorge has made in the past year, taking him to Saudi Arabia and teaching alongside some of the best in the business at KAUST school!
Jorge is an intelligent, thoughtful and articulate educator and he really brings his A-game in this episode, sharing more knowledge bombs and insights into his PE setup. We dive deep into the cultural shift he has experienced and how he has had to build relationships fresh from the ground with the help of 'positive discipline' techniques. We also dive into the social and emotional aspects he has brought to his PE classroom as well and hash it out over a variety of pressing issues.
You don't want to miss this one, so I'll see you Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 88 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Physical Education teacher Dan Popescu. During this episode, we discuss...
- The Best and Worst Lessons Dan has EVER taught!
- How he continues to learn from failure.
- His favourite warm up/instant activities.
On top of this we just have a cracking chat based around all things PE. You're sure to pick up some great nuggets of information to try out with your class this week. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 91 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Aussie Physed legend and now repeat guest of the show, Andy Hair! During this episode, we discuss...
- What inspired Andy to become a PE teacher.
- What could I expect as a student in Andy's class?
- The best/worst lessons that Andy has ever taught.
-What units he has enjoyed teaching this year that we can try ourselves.
There were so many golden nuggets from Andy in this episode he could write a bestselling book so you really don't want to miss the discussions we had! What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 121 of The PE Umbrella podcast and another absolute belter of an episode!
This week, I welcomed Victoria Randall to the show, a key figurehead behind the writing and then publishing of the report into the Primary PE and Sport Premium, that sought to unpick how effective it truly has been! This episode dives deep into many of the findings from the report and we discuss some key recommendations that have been subsequently put forward.
- Teacher training
- Use of coaches
- Teacher workload
- Getting core status
- What is a 'specialist' and is this dangerous?
As the interview progresses, many interesting points are raised, and as a classroom teacher myself, one who empathises with teacher workload and how schools view PE, I was keen to throw my opinions into the hat. Even more so than other episodes, I'd like this to spark off some professional dialogue over social media, so please get in touch @ryansporting to let me know your thoughts on any of the topics raised in this episode!
What are you waiting for? I'll see you Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 125 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Seth Foster.
With over 15 years of experience working with the children and young people of Yorkshire schools, Seth has accumulated a wealth of knowledge when it comes to PE. He uses his experience being a disability sports coach, a mindfulness paws B teacher and his extensive PE teaching experience to share with you his thoughts Under the umbrella today.
Much of our conversation talks about the current PE landscape in the UK and how it has evolved during his 10 years working for the Pennine Sports Partnership. We share ideas of how being present and mindful should be a focus of our lessons and how to create a great learning environment. Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through his top class management tip and favourite warm up!
As always, this is simply one knowledge bomb after another, so get the note pad and pen ready! Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 122 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is National Board Certified PE teacher Kyle Bragg. As the 2018 Arizona Elementary teacher of the year, Kyle brings lots to the table for this PhysEd chat. During this episode we talk about the importance of student voice/choice and how undertaking his NBC qualification has supercharged his teaching, amongst other PE dialogue!
Not only that, but we have the usual show favourites to sink our teeth into as well...
- His top class-management tip
- The worst lesson he ever taught
- His favourite warm-up activity EVER!
- The one piece of equipment he absolutely could not live without!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 61 of The PE Umbrella Podcast. This week, I dive into more reflections and delve into the world of language and motivation, dancing around both issues as I seek to suggest ways in which the language you use can impact your students. In the episode I cover thoughts around Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset concept and guide you towards The Physical Educator to become a YETI as well as share an inspiring 'Yet' story from the professional world of sport. I also question the use of 'Practice' as part of teaching vocabulary and voice how I think it can be seen as a negative and uninspiring way to look at doing things. I offer up alternatives and set you, the listeners a challenge ready to take up in your own teaching this week. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 60 of The PE Umbrella Podcast. In this episode I am joined by our second EVER repeat guest, Primary School PE Co-ordinator and models based practice advocate, Ryan Forwood. It was a real pleasure to speak with Ryan again and this episode runs as more of an informal discussion than a Q+A. I check in with what Ryan has been doing at his school in the past 9 months and discover how he is able to serve morning, lunch and after school clubs five days a week! He also shares with us his major successes and insights into the Sport Education and Co-operative learning models, highlighting how persistence pays off. Not people to shy away from controversy, we also dive into the topic of dodgeball and whether we feel it has a place in any school setting and what lessons (if any) can be learned from it! So fasten your seatbelt and Come join us both 'Under the PE Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 163 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Early Childhood Movement consultant Helen Battelley.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, movement and music in the early years setting and beyond. There is no doubting the importance of 'getting it right' in the early years in order to cement positive attitudes mentally towards Physical Activity and prepare the body physically for a life long love of movement.
During this episode, we talk about WHY it is so critical to get it right in EYFS and the potential consequences if we do not. Helen then tells us what we CAN DO to make sure we do get it right and throws so many knowledge bombs you can take away that you'll probably have to listen to the episode twice! We dive into lots of rabbit holes of interesting discussion backed by research and I'm certain there's plenty for you to think about no matter the age group you teach!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 162 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary PE consultant Steve Busby. On this episode we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Steve and his many years experience teaching Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- Why is EYFS Critical?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Steve really brings his A-game to the show. Not to mention the odd rant cannon from me thrown in there for good measure too! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 77 of The PE Umbrella podcast! This week I bring you a wonderful resource episode and share with you a game born out of a recent activity camp I worked on...Ellis Ball! Inspired by Joey Feith on his recent appearance on the show, and mentions of 'Calvin Ball', a game with rules that are essentially made up as you go along, I thought I'd give the concept a go myself and the results were awesome! Ellis Ball was born and plenty of fun was had! So if you're approaching your Summer units and want to kick off your striking and fielding unit with a BANG, give this a go! You won't be disappointed. To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Ellis Ball. So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 167 of The PE Umbrella Podcast! This week I am joined by Primary School PE specialist Ben Kirk.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Ben and his experience teaching both secondary and Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Ben brings shares some cracking advice for you. So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast, Episode 65! In the first episode of 2017, I interview David Hazelgrove and Jonathan Moore, the brains behind SucceedIn, an online platform that is a one stop shop for all of your Primary PE needs. Providing a platform for the planning, delivery and assessment for your entire program of work, David and Jonathan explain how SucceedIn has helped transform the delivery of PE in many schools and why it can be a real asset to any primary teacher that has had little to no training in PE. Worry no more and dive in to see how SucceedIn can help you! I'll see you 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 181 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Sports Broadcaster, Journalist and Presenter Jacqui Oatley. During this episode, we dive into the recent concerns that Jacqui has expressed over social media regarding PE in our children's primary schools.
Not only do we talk about how she entered this space, I seek to unpick some of the findings her questions have uncovered and the implications this may have in the PE sector moving forward. It was pleasing to chat so freely with Jacqui around the wider reach of PE too, and recognising the holistic benefits that a well planned and delivered curriculum can nurture.
In and amongst all of our PE discussion, I also had the opportunity to travel back in time and ask Jacqui about her journey into the world of sport, her own experiences and memories of PE and what has shaped her career trajectory.
This is an interview that you simply can not afford to miss!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad at the ready!
Welcome to episode 175 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am delighted to tell you all about The PE Umbrella Library and the incredible downloadable content that will change the game for you and your PE teaching!
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 145 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am podcasting solo and incredibly excited to bring you this reflection episode. Without exaggeration, this week was one of my most favourite few days teaching that I've probably had in at least 2 years, and I'm going to share with you why! It took courage and a realisation that I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone, and I mean REALLY out of my comfort zone. It involved dancing. If you'd like to find out more then jump under the umbrella with me and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
In this very special episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Mary Corder and Simon McLoughlin. Mary is the content marketing manager for a magnificent classroom resource called 'GoNoodle' and Simon is a busy Primary School teacher who uses it on a daily basis! We delve into how the 'active learning' inspired videos can help transform your classroom and provide your children with not only healthy bodies, but healthy minds too. So come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
In this episode, I share a simple yet effective PE assessment tool that can be used across primary school. This gives teachers a hassle free and simplistic method to visually see how their children are performing! So what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella' to hear all about it!
Grab the FREE PDF of the assessment tool and success criteria at www.peumbrella.com
In this episode I share some top PE teaching tips for current and trainee primary school teachers. I explain how these tips have helped improve my own teaching practice and shaped me into becoming a better practitioner.
"Many a false step was made by standing still"
Welcome to episode 180 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am kicking off the first of what will hopefully be many 'Bite-Sized Knowledge Bombs' episodes in which I throw out an idea for you to mull over, consider, action or dismiss completely!
The first of these episodes has a focus on 'The Power of Simplicity'
What are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella with your #teachlikeyoutweet challenge!
Welcome to episode 124 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I'm excited to bring you a reflection episode in which I share with you my top tips for delivering PE to the EYFS age group. There are 8 tips in total, many of which can be applied across the primary age range but are particularly effective in EYFS.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me under The PE Umbrella for some EYFS PE knowledge bombs!
Welcome to episode 106 of The PE Umbrella Podcast and part two of my interview with Stuart Owen.
This week we continue our quality conversation and turn our attention to Sport Diddy and skill acquisition in children. We talk about nature vs nurture and decide whether ANYBODY can truly master a SKILL. Through this discussion, we elaborate on the 3 stages of skill acquisition and the importance of Stuarts ten golden rules as a means to promote the best possible environment to learn. Underpinning all of this, we make strong links as to how this would look in the Primary PE classroom and highlight areas in which there are clear opportunities for crossover.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 95 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Primary PE Co-ordinator, Andrew Gregory. During this episode, we discuss...
- His aims for his school as a PE co-ordinator
- How Andrew would best describe himself as a teacher.
- What could I expect as a student in Andrews class?
- The worst lessons that Andrew has ever taught and what he learned from it.
- Favourite warm up activity.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 197 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
Joining me Under the umbrella this week is inspirational headteacher of The Academy at St James, Chris Tolson.
Having recently heard about the simply wonderful provision at his school through Niall O'Brien, this week we take the plunge and gain a headteachers perspective on the trajectory of his school and the decisions behind it.
Amongst our discussion we talk about:
- What is the importance of a great PA provision in your school & how does this impact pupil wellbeing?
- How has your school shifted its approach? What changes had to be made? What pushback did you have?
- How has your provision assisted in supporting your school during the pandemic?
- Advice for budding PE leads listening who may want to go on a similar journey
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad(s) ready!
Welcome to episode 193 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by co-founder of the Succeeding PE platform David Hazelgrove On this episode we take a stroll through topics focused on ALL things primary PE and gain insights and advice from David's time teaching PE.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished? - What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and many other side conversations just waiting for you! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 70 of the PE Umbrella podcast. This week marks a very special episode as I welcome my older brother Rob to the show. The inspiration behind much of my own career path, Rob is a Secondary physed teacher of over ten years now and has experienced being head of years 7-13. In this episode I seek to understand how secondary PE teachers view what is going on in Primary PE and if it is good enough. The fact is, you may be triggered by some of what we discuss in this episode, but remember, we are not generalising the whole population, rather speaking from our own experiences. So sit back and enjoy a brotherly chat about all things physed Under the Umbrella!
This week Under the Umbrella, I use the concept of the 'Six Thinking Hats' and share with you how it has helped clear my mind when reflecting on my PE lessons and teaching as a whole. For quick, straight to the point thinking with concepts that YOU can use right away, this episode is a MUST listen!
Welcome to episode 69 of the PE Umbrella Podcast. This week, I am sharing with you my recent journey into the power of creation. What do I mean by that? Well, I have recently being creating specific resources for the work I am currently delivering and it has been awesome! By using the App 'Comic Life' I have breathed new life into my teaching resources and created ones that are teacher specific, student specific and some that are both. During this episode I share with you and discuss a resource that fits each of those categories and explain how I have used it and what benefits it has brought to my teaching. Make sure you head over to www.peumbrella.com and grab all three as they are on there for FREE! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me Under the Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 86 of The PE Umbrella podcast! I am delighted to be returning to regular podcast broadcasting this week by easing you into how I kicked off my school year with my new groups. Using an idea picked up from The Physical Educator Joey Feith, I take you briefly through my first lesson of the year and how it's helped me have a more purposeful PE class this year (touch wood!) So what are you waiting for, come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 107 of The PE Umbrella Podcast and another awesome interview episode with Mr Dan Fallon.
Dan is a movement specialist coach and ex-member of the royal navy. So when it comes to functional movements he really knows his stuff! In this episode, we dive into the obesity crisis in our Primary Schools and discuss how 'Lifelong' functional movements should and could become a greater staple in the school day of all children.
What is a 'Lifelong' Movement?
What does it mean? What age can they start?
What benefit would the children get?
All of this and so much more in this episode! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 140 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am podcasting solo and bringing with you a deep reflections episode all about cognitive biases. Having been fascinated with this topic for the past month or so, I took it upon myself to select some cognitive biases that many of us (and our students) will display (whether we think we do or not) and how we can look out for/manage them in our daily lives. I am by no meant an expert in this area, but rather somebody who feels there is value in acknowledging that they exist and the advantage it can be if we understand them more. During this episode I discuss:
- Self-serving bias
- Anchoring bias
- The Ikea Effect/Sunk cost fallacy
- Confirmation Bias
- Bandwagon effect
- Social Loafing
Jump under the umbrella with me and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I reflect on the importance of 'Enthusiasm' as a key teacher trait and argue that true enthusiasm is only achieved if you Love what you are doing. I use the example of the famous quote" 'A fish will forever think it's stupid if it's judged by its ability to climb a tree' Why do so many people focus on improving their weaknesses rather than perfecting the things that are already their strengths? If we focus on our strengths, we are likely to be happy and more enthusiastic in what is is we are doing. This has certainly been the case for myself as I have transitioned from full time primary classroom teacher delivering the whole national curriculum into a primary PE adviser and specialist, my true passion. I explain why I no longer have the 'living for the weekend' mentality and urge you to be a fish that swims, not one that tries to climb trees. I would love to hear your own views on my reflections, so what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 98 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is PE teacher Dave Carney.
During this episode, we talk about some of the setbacks of delivering Physical Education to groups sometimes upwards of 100 students. Of course, Dave shares his top tips and solutions for how he still delivers a quality PE curriculum with the resources at his disposal. All of the show favourites are here...Dave's worst ever lesson, his top warm up game and class management tips. We even Segway into some co-operative learning and jigsaw discussion!
So what are you waiting for, come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 176 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by special ed PE teacher, YST inclusion lead and GB age group athlete Rachel Bown.
For part 1 of my interview with Rachel, we stick with a discussion about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Rachel as we reflect on over 20 years of teaching experience. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- Differentiation
ALL of that and SO much more as Rachel brings her A-game to the show. As for what's next, this is only the tip of the iceberg in the grander scheme of things and I'm certain you will be blown away by part 2!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 148 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by co-founder of the revolutionary fitness tracker Moki, James Huggins. On this episode, we talk about Moki and the journey it has taken into the education sector. We dive into a recent study and the implications from this on what is next for Moki. Most importantly, we discuss how Moki could have a huge role to play in the direction your school take to try and get more children moving more often, linking it with the recent Creating Active Schools Framework.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 150 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the fountain of knowledge on ALL things Physically Active Learning and mastermind behind the development of the Creating Active Schools Framework, Andy Daly-Smith.
On this episode, we chat all about the Creating Active Schools Framework. From the creation of the framework, the underlying reason behind it, the benefits it can have and the impact it's already having, we talk about why YOU need to consider giving this a serious look over for your school, no matter where you work!
So what are you waiting for? Grab that note pad and jump under the umbrella with us! Join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella or use the hashtag #CASframework
Welcome to episode 144 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Jenna Hope & Yasmin Alexander, founders of The Yoghurt and Juice Network and qualified nutritionists who specialise in nutrition education for children, parents and teachers. As a first for the PE Umbrella podcast, and a deviation on more traditional interviews, this episode centres around the importance and amazing benefits that good nutrition and a high-quality diet plays in wellbeing, cognitive performance, concentration and even behaviour.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 139 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the CEO for the AfPE, Sue Wilkinson. On this episode, we simply chat about ALL things primary PE and where we currently are on our journey as professionals to continue striving for improvement.
I could go into all of the details here, but that would be spoiling it. Want to know more? Then come and join us!
Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 135 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Brianne Turner. Brianne has a background of Primary Teaching and being a PE lead in a primary setting before joining her current role as head of Primary School engagement at Burnley FC in the Community.
During this episode, Brianne describes herself as a teacher in 3 words only, she provides us with a recipe for her perfect Primary PE Lesson and we talk about PE in the Early Years setting!
Not only that, but she even takes the time to talk us through her top class-management tip, her favourite warm-up activity and the worst lesson that she ever taught!
Get that note pad and pen ready for some Primary PE sharing... Come and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by the founder of Tagtiv8 himself, Bryn Llewellyn, as we talk about active learning and a whole lot more. As a former deputy and acting headteacher, Bryn discusses his favourite resources, activities and how we can feel confident in our PE teaching once more. This episode is filled with simply brilliant advice and ideas that you won't want to miss!
A warm welcome to The PE Umbrella. All about me, your host, Ryan Ellis. I take you through a whistle stop tour of my humble beginnings in Leeds, to my current position as a PE teacher at Sporting Influence Ltd and founder at The PE Umbrella
Welcome to episode 129 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Youth Sport Trust schools director, Stuart Kay. On this episode, we dive into what it means to take a whole school approach to PE, School Sport and PA. How can we accomplish this? How can we get staff to buy in? Are we playing a 20-year game? Is it even possible? We lay the cards on the table and have a completely honest discussion of where the land lies and where we think it is going!
So what are you waiting for? Join in the discussion with us Under the PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 126 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Matthew Alan. With over 7 years of experience teaching Primary school PE, Matthew now teaches in Dubai in a school with 4000 students!
We are able to dive into work-life balance challenges as he shares his own tips. We also dive into strategies for working with students who have SEN and how we can best accommodate them in our lessons!
Not only that, but we delve into the show favourites of class management tips, favourite warm-ups and worst ever lessons! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Primary Education student Rob Shaw. Specialising in Primary PE, Rob has a vision of becoming a PE co-ordinator and is also a voting member of the International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA). It was incredibly refreshing to hear the views of somebody starting out on their journey as a teacher and their opinion of the Primary PE landscape as it currently stands. As always, we chat ALL things Primary PE as Rob shares his favourite resources, fun warm up and go to activity! What are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by Ben Landers, known by his online name 'The PE Specialist'. Ben is a Physical Education teacher from South Carolina, and has been teaching K-5th grade for seven years! Running his website www.thepespecialist.com alongside his day to day career, Ben is a treasure trove full of phased knowledge. We open up this trove to chat ALL things Primary PE, as always including his top tips, must have warm ups, killer games and behaviour management strategies! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella' for an episode that is simply filled with actionable content for YOU to take away and try!
Today, I bring you yet another magnificent team game, ideal for both KS1 and KS2 aged children. Inspired by my time coaching at UKElite soccer, I have adapted this football activity and created a variation non sport specific that can be played as a result of a unit of work, or just as easily as a one off competition. This game is HERO WARS! Although the game centres around a 'tag' focus, there really are so many learning outcomes and discussion points that can be raised from playing it and strong links with traditional sports can be made. All of this and more is discussed 'Under the Umbrella' today so come and join me to listen, and head over to www.peumbrella.com to download the FREE PDF so you can start playing this awesome game with your class NOW!
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by PE teacher Adam Llevo. Originally from from the North West of England, Adam currently works as a PE teacher and athletic director in Saudi Arabia. In addition to this, he runs a successful blog and resource website www.mradampe.com packed full of great content. We delve into his vast experience to chat ALL things Primary PE including his top tips, favourite resources and how bin liners and basketballs exposed some children to an otherwise unaccessible sport! So come and join us 'Under the Umbrella' for an information packed episode.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Rob Wilkinson. Rob is the Director of 'Moving Matters', a London based company who are responsible for delivering high quality PE to over 40 primary schools across the city. As well as sharing his top tips, advice and resources, we talk about the inspiration behind Moving Matters through research conducted in a document named 'Designed to Move'. This document holds stark truths about the possible future pathways for our children if we don't act on the current 'inactivity' crisis now. Moving really does Matter. So what are you waiting for? I'll see you all 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 169 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I had the pleasure of welcoming two wonderful guests to the show in running mogul and former teacher Martin Yelling & now repeat guest Victoria Randall! On this episode we talk about Stormbreak and mentally healthy movement, exploring the place that movement has in nurturing positive mental health in our children and ourselves. Amongst other things we explore:
- The impact of Covid-19 on activity levels of our youngsters
- How movement contributes to improving mental health What is 'Mentally Healthy' Movement?
We really dig deep in this episode and explore all that 'Stormbreak' is and hopes to be. Physical Education, Physical Activity and Movement have never been more important than they are right now and there are many questions answered and rabbit holes explored!
What are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 160 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by co-founder of Yoginis Yoga Susan Hartley. On this episode we simply chat about ALL things Yoga, Wellbeing and Mindfulness in relation to primary school children. You could argue, with the current circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, that never has the physical and mental wellbeing of our children been more important, and this presents us a unique opportunity going forward. In a way, our hands are being forced to make changes during and (hopefully) off the back of this.
During this episode we talk about the great benefits of yoga, stretching beyond the physical and how these can be easily intertwined with a school day. We also learn what a stand-alone yoga session might look like in a Primary School and how we might engage those reluctant learners.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Joining me under the umbrella this week is senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and now repeat guest of the show, Sarah Williams.
On her first outing, Sarah gave us some of the shows most talked-about moments to date and in this episode, there's plenty more of those. So grab your note pad and pen, and come and join us for a conversation about all things primary PE.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by PE teacher of 20 years, Head of student opportunities at International school in Kindom of Saudi Arabia and author of the book Happiness factories – a holistic approach to PE, Phil Mathe.
So what are you waiting for? Grab that note pad and come and join us under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 138 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am fired up to bring you another awesome resource activity, just in time for the festive season starting :D Crack the Codes is a team building, communication-focused activity that is perfect for an OAA unit of work and can be played indoors or out. I have used this activity with students in Year 3 all the way up to adults! It could even be used in KS1 in my honest opinion.
During this episode, I will talk you through the setup of the activity, the layers/progressions & how to make the activity easier or harder. To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Crack the Codes from the show notes page or the activities section of the site. This downloadable includes an activity sheet, codes to crack, a key words poster and a reflection sheet.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 111 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Primary PE teacher, straight out of Yorkshire, Gareth Jones. Doing wonderful things just down the road from me in York, Gareth works alongside 21 schools to improve their offering of PE provision and is making a real difference. During this episode, we reminisce about our classroom teaching roles, the current state of primary PE and where we think it needs to head. Not only that but we dive into the show favourites as Gareth talks about:
- His top, class management tip
- The worst/best lesson he ever taught
- His favourite warm-up activity EVER!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella for some Primary PE knowledge bombs!
Welcome to episode 207 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by deputy headteacher and PESSPA director at Clavering Primary School Neil McAvoy. In this knowledge bomb packed episode we dive into ALL things Clavering and the truly incredible PE and PA offer they have for their pupils.
Talking points include:
- Breaking down the Clavering vision statement
- Aligning the program with the school culture & ethos
- The 30:30 physical activity strategy
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Worst ever lesson you've taught?
All of this and so much more to help you in transforming the PE offering of the schools that you work at! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
In episode 45 of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by PE teacher and lover of being physically active, Jo Bailey. In this episode, Jo talks about her PEInstitute16 highlights, why and how we can help children find their fun as well as regulars such as her favourite activities and best class management tips! As always, it was a genuine pleasure to talk with somebody with the experience and presence as Jo. Her knowledge and advice really is invaluable and I'm sure you will find yourself nodding along to what she talks about, just as I was myself. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella' and get inspired!
Welcome to episode 187 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Sports Champion & PE Teacher Lee Molland.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE to give you tips, advice and actionable points to takeaway! Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your favourite PE resource?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so many more side conversations, you simply can't afford to miss it. So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 210 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by teacher educator Will Swaithes to discuss ALL things PE.
On this feature-length episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Will about a whole host of topics that provide amazing insights into PE and life. From books that need to be read to the importance of modelling vulnerability, we then dive into curriculum design through understanding context and implementation.
Not only that, but we also field many of the show regular questions to Will to get his take from his many years of experience.
These include:
- What currently excites you in the PE space
- Key ingredients for a Primary PE lesson
- Worst ever PE lesson taught and what you learned?
This is a cracker!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 116 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella today are two of the finest PE minds in Yorkshire right now, boasting a wealth of experience and knowledge in Primary PE. They are Niall O'Brien and Dan Wilson!
During this episode we discuss the role and importance of Health & Wellbeing in schools today, and if it is given high enough priority over other areas. We also dive into what things we can do to have the greatest impact on the trajectory of a school and how it utilises PE as part of its ethos. In addition to this, we talk about healthy competition & preparing children for life!
Not only that, but we have the usual show favourites to sink our teeth into as well...
- Their top, class management tip
- The worst lesson they have ever taught/seen
- Their favourite warm-up activity EVER!
- Their biggest learning curve this past year
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 54, in which I am joined by my first EVER repeat guest Aaron Beighle. As a quick reminder, Aaron is a Physed Teacher, teacher trainer and author with a number of years experience under his belt! In this episode, we deviate from our standard Q+A format and simply discuss some of the finer points about classroom management. The discussion itself is formed largely around an article that myself and Aaron both read online titled: "Good Classroom Management is Nothing to be Proud of" This somewhat controversial title sparks us into action and allows us to get our teeth stuck into a number of talking points including... Does Classroom Management Matter? Should I worry about class management and will it impact my teaching? Can I really be a great teacher without the ability to control a class of children? Should we be changing what we do as teachers as a result of poor student behaviour? So what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella' for insights, knowledge bombs and golden nuggets of information!
This is episode 81 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Evolve Regional Manager and PE co-ordinator, Chris Lincoln. During this episode, we discuss... - How Chris lives what he preaches and serves from a full vessel! - How Evolve are impacting schools across the country. - How Chris had staff signing up to do Tough Mudders! - Where has children's imagination gone? - What I could expect from my first day in Mr Lincolns. - What Chris has learned about himself and the physed profession in the past 6 months. - What his worst experience of teaching PE was and what he learned from it. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
With me under the umbrella this week is assistant headteacher and author of the book 'Making every PE lesson count', James Crane.
In this episode we find out exactly how to do just that, make every PE lesson count! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the PE umbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by PE mentor and coach for primary PE teachers who teach or want to teach in an international school, Gemma Craker.
We talk through Gemma's own PE story and unpick her perspectives on the subject that we all love. From lesson advice to practical tips, it's all here, so what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
Today, I bring you another superb resource ready for the Summer term and a spot of Tennis. The Aegon Tennis Activity Packs 1 & 2 are filled with brilliant warm up games, skills and activities that will ensure you have enough ideas for a whole terms worth of tennis! This high quality resource is highly accessible and is simply a MUST HAVE for all Primary teachers and PE specialists. In this episode I share with you my TOP 3 activities from these packs, but there really are so much more as I only really scratch the surface! / What are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella' today , and head over to www.peumbrella.com to download the FREE PDF of the Aegon Tennis Activity Packs so you can start your own unit of work this week!
Welcome to episode 164 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary PE, health and wellbeing advisor Karen Breen On this episode we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out stories and experience from across Karen's career that are applicable to you and your PE lessons. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as we venture down PE shaped rabbit holes to talk about the subject we love so much! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 211 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the director of Dream Big sports and Active Education Co Dale Harris. On this episode, we learn more about Dale, what makes him tick and his desire to help change the Primary PE landscape for the better!
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so many other side conversations, consider this your FREE Primary PE CPD on the go! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 215 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the co-founders of School Sport Psychology Helen Davis & Liz Barker In this episode we talk about the power of psychology both from a teachers perspective and also what this brings to our pupils if embedded in their education. Through this discussion, we learn about the 5 modules of school sport psychology, mind, feelings, drive, talk and me. For each module, we break down what they mean for a pupil and how they help foster skills that are transferable throughout everyday life.
At a time when wellbeing has never been a higher priority for everybody, this is the perfect listen.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 174 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by a Primary PE specialist with over 17 years experience, Brendan Rouse. On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Brendan as we reflect on the highs and lows of his 17 years working across the primary age range.
This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What has been a stand out career highlight for you and how did it impact you?
- Coaches in PE?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Brendan brings the Primary PE fire! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 152 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE teacher, lead and now 3 times PE Umbrella guest Ryan Forwood!
With the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic causing grief, panic and heartache around the world and closures to many businesses and now schools, a hot topic amongst PE educators this week is what exactly will PE at home look like in the coming weeks and months.
During this episode, Ryan and I talk through some useful resources and ideas we have seen and try to understand what PE in the home might/could or should look like in these testing times as well as some barriers that we may face.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 72 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Former Primary Teacher, Personal Trainer & Founder of the Childrens Health Project, Ilse Fullarton! During this episode we talk about the ever changing landscape of Physical education and the ever growing need (in our opinion) to have a year round focus on health education with the children we teach. Ilse shares her own powerful story and talks us through The Childrens Health Project, a passion of hers born out of personal struggles, one of which can impact on thousands of the children we teach! Don't worry, we even had time to delve into how Ilse takes care of her own priorities both mentally and physically, on top of sharing her own best teaching practice, including favourite warm up and top class management tip! This episode really is bursting at the seams with knowledge bombs, So what are you waiting for? Come on over to join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 62. In this episode I am joined by Pete Charrette, a K-5 Elementary Physed teacher & 2009 GAHPERD Elem PE Teacher of the Year, Pete has 29 years teaching experience under his belt. Perhaps better known under the name of "Cap'n Pete", he is the proud creator of some 450+ resources for Physed on Teachers pay Teachers and a big advocate for driving physical education forward! In this episode we delve into some of Pete's favourite resources, top class management advice and his plans for delving into the TGFU model in his teaching during the new year! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
With me under the umbrella this week is educator, researcher and practitioner, specialising in physical development and movement in the Early Years, Dr Lala Manners.
Come and join us for a rich conversation on the importance of early movement opportunities and be sure to grab that notepad!
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 56. In todays show, I am joined by Physed Teacher and founder of @PEPEPtalk Bob Knipe, AKA Coack K! During this packed episode, we delve into the meaning behind The PE Umbrella, how we can continue stoking the fire in our practice and discover the origins of PEPEPtalk. Plus, I delve into the regular show favourites with Bob, including his class management tips, favourite resources and must have warm up activity! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 52. In this episode I am joined by Physed Teacher and IronMan competitor Andy Hair. In this bumper episode we discuss a whole host of physed topics including goal setting, risk taking and teaching philosophies. Want to hear how Andy incorporated skateboarding in his curriculum? Want to play 'Finding Nemo' as an ice breaker? Then look no further! Plus, I ask Andy the regular show favourites including his top warm ups, resources and class management advice! So prepare yourself for action and grab a note pad and pen as Andy drops knowledge bombs galore! Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 49 of the PE Umbrella Podcast! In this episode, I share with you my Physed Masterclass, detailing what I consider to be one of the best PE lessons that I've ever taught. I breakdown the build up, warm up, skill progressions and main focus of the session with the hope of inspiring you to take snippets of it to use yourself. As an accompaniment to the new PE Umbrella Academy YouTube channel, the podcast audio allows you to not miss a thing! If video is your thing, head on over to The PE Umbrella Academy YouTube channel to watch the Masterclass there! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast, episode 48! In this episode I am joined by PE development and Technology specialist Naomi Hartl. In this episode we delve into her favourite uses of tech, must have warm up (IT IS SUPERB!), reflect on her best lesson ever as I gear up for the launch of The PE Umbrella Academy YouTube channel and discuss her highlights from PEInstitute16, including her keynote to finish the conference. Have you or your students found your tipping point yet? Well let us help nudge you ever closer as we share knowledge bombs in this killer episode! What are you waiting for? Come and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
This week on The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by former secondary PE teacher, PE lead and author of the hugely successful book 'Wanna teach PE?' Ben Holden.
In this episode I was keen to explore the implications for secondary trained practitioners and their place in the primary PE landscape, and ultimately the views held on what primary PE is and what it could/should be!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me under the umbrella!
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by PE lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University and host of The PE Insights Podcast, Nathan Walker.
In this episode we go deep into ALL things primary PE as Nathan shares all with us. From theory, practice and his own practical PE insights, it's all here.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under the PE umbrella!
This week I am joined under the umbrella by Senior Lecturer at Birmingham Newman University and author of the SHARP principles Dr Emma Powell.
During this episode we discuss, check and challenge all things primary PE, sharing actionable advice for you to think about, take away and implement in your own setting.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under The PE Umbrella!
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by Leeds Beckett professor of PE, David Morley and professor of athletic development at the school of sport, Kevin Till.
In this episode we have an in-depth conversation around physical literacy, the new consensus statement, the launch of the centre for child and adolescent physical literacy at Leeds Beckett and how all of this ties in with the Primary PE landscape.
This is an episode well worth a listen. Join in the conversation and be sure to let us know your thoughts on the socials.
Welcome to episode 209 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by primary PE specialist and now repeat guest Brendan Rouse. In this episode we talk with Brendan about the past 12 months and teaching through Covid, including his thoughts, reflections and ideas of what moving forward may look like.
Talking points include:
- What excites you right now in the PE space?
- Are pupils ready to learn upon returning to school?
- What does/should/would a catch-up curriculum look like?
- What did you learn over lockdown that you will continue to do?
All of this and so much more to help you in your own Primary PE teaching journey! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 213 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the director of Moving Matters Rob Wilkinson.
On Rob's second PE Umbrella appearance we find out how he has evolved in the past 5 years and talk about the current primary PE landscape. Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so many other side conversations, consider this your FREE Primary PE CPD on the go! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by K-8th grade PE teacher Adam Metcalf. In this episode we chat ALL things primary PE including his highlights from PEInstitute16, favourite uses of tech in PE, must do warm up activities and even class management tips! We even talk about his early career transition from a business accounts manager to becoming an outstanding PE teacher! It was a pleasure speaking to Adam as he shared his in depth knowledge with a real passion and articulated them in such an easy to understand way. You are sure to hear some content and advice that you too, can take away into your own PE classroom this week. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
Episode 41 is the third and final part of my '8 Minute Musings' series of podcasts. During this episode, I discuss the concept of keeping and displaying school sport and athletics records from KS2 (8-11 years old) upwards. Inspired by a recent sports day at a private school that I worked on, my eyes were opened to the fact that every other state school that I have/still do work in do not have such a thing. In my opinion, keeping records can only be a good thing surely? I explain how I think they are of benefit, what I'll be doing to set the wheels in motion in some schools next year and how to keep it sustainable! So what are you waiting for? Come and join me under the umbrella and let me know if you too keep, or are planning on keeping school sporting records! Simply email ryanellis.peumbrella@gmail.com or tweet me @ryansporting
Episode 40 is the second of a three part series of my '8 Minute Musings'. During this episode, I discuss the statistics behind a recent Twitter Poll that I conducted. Primary Teachers, Do You Enjoy Teaching PE? I voice a breakdown of the answers I received and offer my take on what this means for the current state/future of Physical Education for our children. So what are you waiting for? Come and join me under the umbrella and share your opinions by emailing ryanellis.peumbrella@gmail.com or by tweeting me @ryansporting
Welcome to episode 206 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by primary PE specialist teacher Ben Anderson for one of the most insightful episodes of the show yet! On this bumper episode, we learn about what makes Ben tick as a practitioner and discover the ways in which his school is thriving as a result of his excellent PE leadership and teaching.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more to help you in your own Primary PE teaching journey! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 200 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the Director of Sport at Alice Smith School in Malaysia and host of the Infinite Leaders Podcast Lewis Keens.
In this episode, we find common links between our past before learning about what makes Lewis tick in the world of PE.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- Something that has made you go 'wow'
All of this and a plethora of other tangents were explored in this milestone episode of the podcast! So what are you waiting for?
Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 199 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the founder of The PE Train and Primary Teacher Anthony Seaman.
In this episode we take our usual stroll down conversations ALL things Primary PE and find out what makes Anthony tick, sharing knowledge bombs for you to take away in the process. Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more, you can't afford to miss it! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad and pen ready!
Welcome to episode 194 of The PE Umbrella Podcast! This week I am joined by senior lecturer and primary PE subject lead at St Mary's University Julie Pearson.
In this episode, we delve into a myriad of topics around Primary PE and delve into the backpack of Julie's experience on the ground and into lecturing!
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- How did your early PE experiences shape who you are? Did your peers all have the same experience?
- How have your views on PE shifted from your early experiences to now?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and of course, the many side conversations that you can always expect on The PE Umbrella! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad(s) ready!
Welcome to episode 218 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined for a second time on the show by Mark Carter. Mark was first a guest in episode 184 so if you haven't listened to that yet, be sure to delve back into the archives!
In this episode, we take a look at Mark's new book 'A year of Primary PE' and start to unpick the principles and teachings behind how it was put together. The discussion was deep and there were plenty of knowledge bombs to take away, from tips, activities and teaching ideas.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 141 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Nikki Linsdell & Jessica Foster to talk about all things Gymnastics and how the 'Partner School Programme' can reignite and support your curriculum gymnastics provision as well as extracurricular offer. We delve into what the programme is and the support it can offer you as a teacher, coach or PE lead. Nikki & Jessica also share their favourite activities from the programme itself and explain how it caters for the least to the most confident teachers out there!
Gymnastics is always an area that I find teachers and coaches alike 'struggle' with and are more apprehensive about teaching, so if that's the case, this episode is for you!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 136 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Primary PE Teacher, Dominic Tollan. Dominic has taught PE for 15 years with secondary PE training and has worked in an ASN (Additional Support Needs) school as part of his journey towards becoming a Primary PE teacher.
During this episode, we jump into the discussion about WHO should be teaching Primary PE? Class teacher? PE Specialist? Coaches? We sift through the pros and cons for all of these! Dominic also describes himself as a teacher in 3 words only and tells us his recipe for a perfect Primary PE Lesson!
Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through some show favourites including his top class-management tip, favourite warm-up and the worst lesson that he ever taught!
As always, get that note pad and pen ready... Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 191 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by superstar Elementary PE teacher, The PE Specialist himself, Ben Landers. On this episode, we talk ALL things PE and share stories, tips and advice for you to take away and use immediately!
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
We also talk about Ben's new Teaching Tips YouTube series that is just a goldmine of teaching knowledge and share some of his thoughts regarding just a few of these tips. All of this and much more to discuss as Ben and I finally caught up after nearly five years since his first show appearance in episode 26!
So what are you waiting for? Get your note pad(s) at the ready and jump under the umbrella with us. Join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
On this week's episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by the author of 'Inclusive PE for SEND children', occupational therapist and SEND parent, Faith Newton.
During this episode, inclusion is the focus of our discussions as we explore strategies that cater to all learners, whether neurodivergent or neurotypical. Faith shares with us practical tips and pieces of advice that I wish I had known earlier in my career that might make a huge difference in the work that you do.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
Welcome to episode 220 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by primary school teacher and PE lead Mr Peter Harding.
On this episode we talk about life as a PE lead and class teacher, diving into his worst ever lesson, key ingredients for successful PE and class management tips.
So what are you waiting for?
Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 219 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined for a second time by the inspiring Mike Kuczala. In this episode we take a look into what it takes to become a 'peak performing' teacher.
We dive into 'living the physical life' breath work, gratitude and much more, so what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 189 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE teachers in Singapore, Greg Thurlow & Lachlan Mclellan. On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE to give you tips, advice and actionable points to takeaway!
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- One resource they both couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and many more side conversations, you simply can't afford to miss it.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I reflect on the importance of celebrating small wins to help contribute towards positive classroom management and progress. If harnessed correctly and performed consistently, this is the leading factor driving motivation in children!
I share real life working examples that have seen an increase in positive behaviour by being proactive and 'catching the good' as opposed to being reactive and 'punishing the bad'. Follow some of my suggestions and stay consistent to help your own PE classroom management!
So what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 168 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the director of Primary Sports UK and the hugely popular Healthy Futures Tom Leeming.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions as we seek out actionable advice and tips for you to use in your own PE setting. This includes:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- What was your most successful lesson and why?
On top of that, we dive into the online course world as we talk about Healthy Futures. From its creation to future aspirations and the next edition of the free magazine, come and find out about this new CPD opportunity and how it could benefit you!
What are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Today, I bring you a truly wonderful activity called Hula Hut Throwdown. Inspired by Ben Landers @thepespecialist, I have adapted his amazing game and created a variation that is accessible for most primary schools, but still keeps all of the excitement, engagement and inspiration of the original! The true beauty of this game is how inclusive it really is. Centring around a variety of 'roles' in a team, children of all ages can compete together and each play a part towards their teams success. So come and join me 'Under the Umbrella' to listen, and head over to www.peumbrella.com to download the FREE PDF.
In this reflection Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I talk about the game of Four Square. A staple of playgrounds of Elementary and Middle schools across America during recess, this fun, fast paced and adaptable game surely has a place across the pond here in the UK? I break down the fundamental rules of the game, share my experiences of using it for the first time this week and offer my views as to whether it needs to be introduced into more UK schools! I would love to hear your own stories and views on this game, so shoot me a tweet @ryansporting or email at ryanellis.peumbrella.com. What are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 99 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am excited to bring you a truly wonderful Orienteering and Team building activity that will be a huge hit with your students! A twitter poll confirmed you wanted to hear more resources so here we are, this is the perfect start of year activity allowing students to work with others and solve problems. With an emphasis on the Green Umbrella (cognitive) and Red Umbrella (social) it is a corner stone for developing life skills that will put them in good stead for their life in and out of school!
To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Cone Orienteering on the resources page as well as the Umbrella reflection tool also mentioned in this episode!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 212 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by primary PE specialist teacher and PE lead Dan Brewer. It was a treat to sit down and talk with somebody who is on the front line delivering and leading primary PE and gain their perspective on a number of topics.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
Don't forget the many side conversations and topics that we regularly tap into, this is an episode that you're going to love! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 205 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by the director and founder of Totally Runable Natalie Jackson. Totally Runable use the power of running to help close the sport gender gap across schools in the UK and have a fascinating story to tell.
During this episode, I speak with Natalie about some stark figures when it comes to boys and girls participation in sport and physical activity. We learn more about the sport gender gap and factors that play into this widening or narrowing.
This was a truly insightful discussion and I am certain that it will leave you with more questions and strategies that you can take away to try in your own school setting.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 204 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE coordinator Joe Danquah. We talk about ALL things primary PE during this episode and gain insights and advice from Joe's daily teaching.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
You can expect all of this plus lots of other side avenues that our discussions take us down. So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this Episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I reflect on the impact (positive and negative) that rewards can have on the motivational drive of children. Specifically, I discuss the implications of using contingent 'If-then' rewards and the outcomes of doing so. I delve into 3 elements that drive intrinsic motivation and share thoughts on how, as teachers, we can incorporate them into our PE lessons to nurture self directed, intrinsically motivated children, and not disengaged, compliant externally motivated individuals. How do you manage this at your school? I would love to hear your own views on my reflections so what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
In this interview episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by elementary PE teacher, tech enthusiast and the founder of www.iphys-ed.com Nathan Horne. He has taught around the world and experienced a diverse landscape of education that is often changing. In this episode we talk about the 'true' aims of primary teachers, share opinions on the inevitable physical activity drop off that lots of our children suffer from and as always, he shares his favourite warm ups, games and resources. It was a real pleasure recording this episode and as always there is so much useful advice to take away and apply! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
In this interview episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Primary PE Co-ordinator, rugby enthusiast and co-author of 'Sport Education in the Primary Games Curriculum' Ryan Forwood. As the first PE co-ordinator that I have interviewed, I discuss the implications of the PE budget and how Ryan himself is using it at his school to ensure maximum impact. He shares his must have activities, resources and explains all about a 'Sport Education' approach to Primary PE and how you can try it out too (including a FREE give away!) You simply don't want to miss this in depth, knowledge filled episode with plenty of actionable advice for you to take away! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 202 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE lead Abby Miles. On this episode, we take a wander through topics focused on ALL things primary PE and gain insights and advice from Abby in her short time teaching and leading PE in her school.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this plus many other side conversations are waiting for you! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this episode, I discuss how you can host your own LEG-A-THON fundraising event in your school to support Sue Ryder hospices across the country. Let's get those children ACTIVE!
For more information check out www.sueryder.org/schools and www.peumbrella.com
This is episode 82 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Children's Health Educator and former Team GB Olympian Peter Bakare. During this episode, we discuss... - How Peters early PE experiences shaped his career path. - How his experience as an athlete impacted on his subsequent career choices. - Where the most alarming gaps are when it comes to Children's Health Education. - Nutri Troops, what is it and how will it make a difference? So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 79 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is Middle School Physical Education teacher, Stephanie Sandino. During this episode, we discuss...
- How Stephanie lives what she preaches and serves from a full vessel!
- What I could expect from my first day in Stephanie's Physed class.
- What Stephanie has learned about herself and the physed profession in the past 12 months.
- Why Stephanie fosters the 'Red Rubber ball' outlook and how she helps her students find theirs.
In addition to this, we discuss the show regulars and find out what her top instant activities are and her top class management tips. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
In Episode 57 of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I delve right into the third step from 'The Five Steps to a Winning Mindset', as highlighted by Professor Damian Hughes, but with a slight twist. Initially, my focus was going to be all around 'Emotion', but after digging deeper into the book, I decided to base my reflection around 3 key points that contribute towards delivering a powerful lesson and creating a purposeful learning environment. These 3 areas are... CONNECTION ATTENTION INTENTION This episode is a brain dump of sorts, as I reflect on my own practice in these areas as well as ask you, the listeners, questions about your own teaching. How are you forging and building relationships? Do you honestly show an interest in your students? How do you get the attention of your class? Is there an intention and purpose to your teaching? All of these questions arise from this episode and as always I hope there is at least one golden nugget of information you can take away and think about. Please do get in touch and share your own experiences and thoughts because I love hearing from you!
Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast, episode 71! Today, I reflect on the use of 'Gamification' in a physical education setting. Does it add value and purpose or is it causing problems in the long run? Buckle in for some honest truths as I unpick what is truly going on. I'll see you Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 178 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Trainer, Author & Speaker Mark Collard. When it comes to speaking about the power of Play & building connection as a means to amplify learning in students there really is nobody better.
Come and join us as we explore concepts around the importance of Play and building connections between our students and ourselves, as well as actionable tips and advice on how to go about doing this!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 203 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Adam Price who works as a PE coordinator in a SEN school.
On this episode, we once again dive deep into the world of PE and particularly inclusion as we learn how to best cater for the diverse range of needs that we may have from pupils in our classroom.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What does inclusion mean to you?
- What are some of your top tips for including pupils with SEND?
- Can you share some specific working examples of how to support SEND pupils?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more, you can't afford to miss it! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 104 of The PE Umbrella Podcast.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome an all star PE teacher from across the world in New Zealand to the show, Mr Carl Condliffe.
During this episode we unpick some of the show favourite questions, sharing his top warm up and his worst moments. We then dive into areas of his speciality and discuss flipped learning and gamification, elaborating on the benefits/pitfalls it may bring to a primary PE classroom.
So What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 74 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is top Physical Educator and Ironman athlete from Down Under, Sean de Morton! As a dedicated professional and creator of 'Aussie Physed' alongside his good friend Andy Hair, Sean is making a difference to the children he teaches on a daily basis by providing them with an outstanding learning environment in which to flourish. Alongside this he is an exceptional Ironman athlete and self proclaimed Irondad to his own children! During this episode, we discuss... - How Sean Lives what he preaches and serves from a full vessel! - What I could expect from my first day in Mr Morton's PhysEd class - What is Flipped Learning? - How to engage and motivate through the use of video. - His favourite warm up/instant activity. - Physed Expression Sessions All of this and more in yet another BUMPER episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
Welcome to the PE Umbrella podcast. In this episode I am joined by K-12th grade PE teacher and 7th-12th grade Health teacher Ryan Armstrong. In this episode we reflect on ALL things primary/elementary PE including his highlights from PEInstitute16, Pokemon themed warm ups and killer class management advice. The enthusiasm that Ryan has for PE is contagious and it was evident from the outset that he just LOVES what he does! During this podcast he shares so much actionable content that is relevant to your own teaching on a day to day basis. For example, Could you be contradicting yourself when using a whistle teaching PE? Come and find out in this episode and join us both 'Under the Umbrella'
This week on The PE Umbrella Podcast I am joined by Adrian Bethune to talk about all things Primary PE, Physical Activity and Wellbeing.
It was a pleasure speaking with Adrian as he opened up about his own struggles and then shared strategies he has successfully used in his own schools to put pupils wellbeing at the heart of what he did.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under the umbrella.
Welcome to episode 89 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today for his second stint on the show is Physical Education teacher and technology rockstar Adam Llevo. During this episode, we discuss...
- What inspired Adam to become a PE teacher
- What PE looked like during his days as a student
- What constraints impact on the quality of Primary School PE. How we overcome them?
- The best/worst lessons that Adam has ever taught.
- Coaches vs Teachers
If you heard the first episode that Adam joined us (episode 22) then you can expect some more knowledge bombs this time around too! So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 83 of the PE Umbrella Podcast. In this reflection episode, I put the education world to rights about the emphasis it has on 'measurement' and how, in my opinion, all it seems to be achieving is churning out robots at the end of it. Let's drop the measurement and data driven education system and instead look at helping children find their inner genius, develop confidence and work on life skills/knowledge that really matters!
Inspired by Jamie Oliver and his 'Made by Dyslexia' video. Catch it HERE!
Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast, Episode 66. In this reflection episode, I discuss the beginnings of my journey to reshape my teaching pedagogy and take it down a co-operative learning based route. This week saw me dive in head first into using some key 'indicators' that define a co-operative learning classroom and use them with a year 1/2 class. What did I teach? What resources did I use? Why am I doing it? Jump Under the Umbrella this week to find out these answers and more!
Welcome to The PE Umbrella Podcast, Episode 64! In this very special end of year review, I look back at my 'What I've Learned' moments from all of my guests over the past 12 months and condense them into my top 5! I share with you key takeaways that have helped shape my own teaching and views on being a teacher in positive ways, with the hope they do the same for you as we head into 2017! So note pad and pen at the ready... I'll see you 'Under the Umbrella'
In Episode 55 of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I delve right into the second step from 'Five Steps to a Winning Mindset', as highlighted by Professor Damian Hughes This episode is all about 'Thinking'. Did you know that in any given day our brains make up to 10,000 trivial decisions? Exhausting work! As I began thinking about thinking I devised a series of key questions to build this episode around and uncovered more along the way. - As teachers, do we think enough? - Are you guilty of over thinking? - As teachers, do we challenge our students to think enough? Is it important? It was immensely enjoyable recording this episode as I was able to pick apart scenarios from my own teaching practice and verbalise inner feelings that others may, or may not be able to relate to. For one, I know I am still paving my own path towards clarity in my teaching and working on living in the moment when I am teaching. As John Wooden said himself: "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today" Please do get in touch and share your own experiences and thoughts on this topic, I'd love to know your opinions. So what are you waiting for? Jump out of the rain and join me 'Under the Umbrella' for some Physed chat!
Welcome to episode 165 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary PE teacher at a SEND school Evelyn Roberts. Evelyn was born with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that impacts her muscles, in particular making it difficult for her to walk. In this episode, Evelyn takes us on a journey through her negative childhood experiences of PE into ultimately playing professional sport and now teaching PE herself. She opens up about her struggles and successes and ultimately how her condition positively impacts on all of the students she teaches. Not only were my eyes opened further, but I was truly inspired.
As well as that, we also take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Evelyn, particularly centred around her role working in a SEND school. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 133 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week is Rich Allman. Rich is THE guy when it comes to Primary PE. I spent a long time working around North Yorkshire and kept hearing his name. "You have to speak with Rich" or "He is the best Primary PE teacher around", were phrases I regularly heard. I simply had to connect with him. Rewind to May 2019 and at long last, I met Rich in person at the Active Schools Conference in Leeds. Safe to say he didn't disappoint and we had a great connection. He agreed to appear on the show and I'm delighted to finally be bringing you our chat for episode 133.
During this episode, Rich describes himself as a teacher in 3 words only, he gives us tips for maximising a small teaching space, he tells us all about Physically Active Learning and provides us with a recipe for a perfect Primary PE Lesson!
Not only that, but he even takes the time to talk us through his top class-management tip, favourite warm-up and the worst lesson that he ever taught! You will understand after only a few minutes that Rich is the real deal, so you best get that note pad and pen handy!
Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Joining me Under the Umbrella this week for episode 134 is Non-Perfect Dad, Richard Shorter.
As somebody working alongside sports teams to help deliver their culture and environment to nurture their players' character, I knew immediately I had to have Richard on the show. With three children of his own, he knows the trials and tribulations that come along with parenting, but equally, understands what an important job parents play and the impact it can have on their children, particularly from a sporting perspective. As non-perfect Dad, Richard spends his time speaking to parents and large organisations to help them transform their own way of thinking and this is something especially applicable to the Primary classroom and PE setting. After all, other than their parents, children probably spend the next most amount of time with their classroom teachers, upwards of 30 hours a week, meaning our influence and impact is huge, hopefully stretching far beyond the classroom walls.
You will be immediately captivated the second you hear Richard speak, I can promise you that. During the episode, we have many talking points, but the bulk centres around how we, as teachers & parents, can develop character, self-confidence and self-esteem in the children we work with daily. Buckle yourself up for some fascinating, deep conversation! Get that note pad and pen ready.
Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 109 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
This week I am excited to bring you another lovely activity and accompanying PDF to use with your students called Mix Your Palette! Versatile and heaps of fun, your students will love working on their throwing accuracy and competing head to head with each other to be the first to mix their colours. Want less competition? Don't worry, students can play cooperatively to build their palette and choose their own level of difficulty!
With links to all four Umbrellas, this will give you plenty to discuss and is a delightful way to continue building the PE Umbrellas of your students whether they're in EYFS, KS1 or KS2!
To assist you in your listening, head over to www.peumbrella.com and pick up the FREE accompanying PDF of Mix Your Palette on the resources page, as well as the Umbrella reflection tool also mentioned in this episode!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 184 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by former teacher & founder of The Primary PE Cook Book Mark Carter.
On this episode we chat about ALL things Primary PE, and what exactly makes Mark tick. As an experienced teacher and coach, Mark started the incredible Twitter account 'The Primary PE Cook Book' from which he produces and curates incredible threads of ideas and top tips for anybody working in the PE field. I for one am always looking out for his posts as sources of inspiration and ideas!
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is the secret sauce to your own lessons?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
- What is your favourite PE resource?
- Can you give us any small space teaching tips?
ALL of that and SO much more as Mark and I travel down the usual rabbit holes on our PE conversation!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 192 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE advisor and the director of Complete PE Catherine Fitzpatrick On this episode we once again dive deep into the world of Primary PE, unpicking Catherine's story and experience from her time in the sector. Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- Success story/most inspiring moment as a teacher?
- A PE Resource you couldn't live without?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and so much more to help you in your own Primary PE teaching journey!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 185 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by two experienced PE consultants in the shape of Paul Quinn and Steve Waide. From holding roles in secondary PE through to working for The FA PE Unit, Paul & Steve now work day to day for Beyond the Physical, helping Schools, Universities and SCITT's enhance their PE offering.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE, and the philosophy that both Paul & Steve hold with regards to Primary PE. Understanding that PE is central to the development of the whole child, it was fascinating to hear the passion and expertise of both Paul and Steve, and how they are hoping to push the boundaries for what we expect/accept in PE at primary level.
Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- How do we factor in developing the whole child?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as both Paul and Steve keep the conversation bouncing along with ideas, insights and reflections!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 171 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary School PE teacher Tom Feighan. I had the pleasure of hearing Tom speak earlier this year at the Dream Big Sports Conference, in which he shared the incredible work that he and his school have done with the Primary School PE & Sport Premium and I knew immediately I wanted to speak with him on the podcast.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE and how things have been going for Tom through the Covid-19 pandemic. He tells us about his expectations and preparations for returning to school and how he things the PE landscape may change. Of course, we also take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Tom and his hands-on experience teaching Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Tom shares some tremendous advice that you can try for yourself.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this very special episode of The PE Umbrella Podcast, I am joined by Professor Damian Hughes. Damian is an the author of several best selling books including 'Liquid Thinking' 'Liquid Leadership' and 'The Five Steps To A Winning Mindset' to name but a few. On top of this, Damian has worked as a change management consultant and sport psychologist for Sale Sharks, West Bromwich Albion FC, France Rugby League, Warrington Wolves and the England & GB Rugby teams too! In this episode we stray in a completely new direction from past interview episodes and delve into the mindset of children in Primary PE. How much praise is too much? How important is goal setting? Should we rehearse visualisation techniques with our class? All of this and more is answered in this action packed episode! You simply don't want to miss this! It was a genuine pleasure to speak with Damian. He was such a humble and welcoming man, willing to share his wealth of knowledge & experience, describing in actionable terms how we can apply it in Physical Education. So what are you waiting for? Grab your note pad and pen because you will need it! I'll see you 'Under the Umbrella'
In this episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Jarrod Robinson, otherwise known as The PE Geek. Jarrod is a Physical Education teacher from County Victoria, Australia, with a passion and enthusiasm for the role emerging technologies play within teaching and learning. Jarrod runs his online community at www.thepegeek.com and has his own amazing podcast of the same name, sharing top advice all year round! We delve into his vast experience to chat ALL things Primary PE including his top tips, favourite resources and how the Physed landscape compares across the globe! So come and join us 'Under the Umbrella' for an episode you simply do not want to miss!
Join me today as I chat with Kurt Boyd. Kurt is the president of 'Stack 52', a unique card based exercise game with the aim of making fitness fun! Kurt shares his own experiences linking physical activity and happiness and why 'functional' bodyweight exercises are so important. So come on over and join me 'Under the Umbrella'
Today, I share with you another one of my favourite warm up activities! This activity, called 'Shark Attack' has served me brilliantly over the past year working with 'Sporting Influence' and yet again It really is one of those teaching activities that I couldn't live without. It works equally well with KS1, KS2, KS3 and even with adults! So what are you waiting for? Come and join me 'Under the Umbrella' to grab it and put it into action yourself!
Welcome to episode 179 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by former guests Jorge Rodriguez, Andy Vasily & Zack Smith as we form a roundtable discussion centred on this statement:
"The pedagogy behind creating meaningful experiences in PE"
With no script and plenty of experience between the guests, it went as expected. Pure fire!
I found myself taking notes aplenty and jumping in where possible as we particularly focused on what is suggested by 'meaningful' experiences before highlighting pedagogical approaches/strategies that can contribute to achieving this.
If you have your note pad ready, maybe go and grab a second one! What are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 58 of The PE Umbrella Podcast. This week I delve right into step four from 'The Five Steps to a Winning Mindset', as highlighted by Professor Damian Hughes in his latest bestselling book. This episode is all about 'Practical Language'. I stress the importance of not only 'simplicity' when giving instructions, but the practicality of the language we use with the students we teach. I reflect on my own language when teaching and highlight case studies when my language has been too abstract, and examples when I have perhaps got it just right. During the episode I also answer the questions... - What is practical language? - Why is practical language essential for learning? This really is a short reflection episode that packs a big punch. It really did have me questioning my own teaching right now, as well as my past experiences. I am a notorious 'ranter' and having recently worked hard cutting down on my teacher talk time, this gave me another dimension to now consider that will impact greatly on the quality of my teaching. So before you begin, ask yourself...How practical is your language when teaching? So what are you waiting for? Come and join me Under the Umbrella.
Joining me on The PE Umbrella podcast this week is the Head of PE at the Alice Smith school Kuala Lumpur and the chair of FOBISIA PE and sport executive committee, Anna Sheppard.
PE perspectives, insights and advice are just some of what Anna shares, so what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by senior lecturer in sport, PE and development at the University of East London, Mo Jafar.
I can't wait for you to hear this one, it was a truly fascinating and organic conversation with Mo about PE and the current implications across the landscape. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join me under the umbrella!
With me under the umbrella this week is PE teacher at Capital Tokyo international school Hugo Pires.
Lots of people have asked for Hugo to join me under the umbrella and I am delighted that we were finally able to make it happen. This was an insightful conversation into Hugo's perspectives on PE and how he has brought Parkour to his students in Japan.
I can't wait for you to listen to this episode, so what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under The PE Umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I invited my daughter to talk with me about Primary School PE.
This brief chat provides an insight into the inner workings of Penelopes mind when it comes to the subject of PE and how she perceives it. As with everything, context is key. Penelope has a dad who lives and breathes primary PE. I afford her the opportunity to attend out-of-school activities to further her physical, social and emotional development because I value it so highly and I am under no illusions that these can, and probably do bias some of her views.
However, this short episode was recorded in one take and Penelope had no prior warning of the questions I was going to ask beyond knowing they would be about PE. It was fascinating to hear the thoughts of essentially our 'target audience' as practitioners, and the messages, whether intentional or unintentional, she is picking up.
Stay tuned at the end of the recording as I try to unpick and make sense of some of her answers...
Welcome to episode 84 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella this week are two exceptional practitioners in their field, Bryn Llewellyn, former teacher, deputy head and acting headteacher and now the founder of Tagtiv8 and also Andy Daly-Smith, a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University with a particular focus on physical activity and behaviour science in young children. This episode has a key focus on Physically Active Learning as we share opinions, research and tips on how we can endeavour to make this common practice in our schools. Topics discussed include: - What do we mean by Active Learning (AL), What does it actually look like? - Why is AL important from a physical perspective? - What are the wider benefits of AL? Why should teachers bother? - How does Tagtiv8 provide a pathway to achieving this? - What impact are we seeing from Tagtiv8 and other studies? - What does the wider research into AL say, both in the UK and around the world? - What are the current barriers to AL in our Schools? Can we overcome them? So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella for some in depth Active Learning chatter and advice!
Welcome to episode 105 of The PE Umbrella Podcast.
In this episode, I am fired up to welcome a good friend and outstanding teacher/coach to the show, Stuart Owen. During part 1 of this podcast, we delve in deep about all things PE, drawing upon the years of teaching and coaching experience that Stuart possesses. These topics include:
- The power of observation
- Optimum learning environments
- Top warm-up activities
- Is Primary PE good enough, What should our focus be?
- Motivation
- What does secondary school ready look like in PE?
Trust me when I say this episode really is filled with some amazing ideas, philosophy and discussion going both ways, you absolutely need your notepad and pen ready! So What are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
Welcome to episode 146 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I talk you through the recent fork in the road presented to me in running and producing the PE Umbrella podcast. I have set up a Patreon account in support of the show and the future direction of the podcast and wanted to fill you all in on the details! Fear not, the show is going nowhere, but I wanted to make you aware of the WHAT, WHY and HOW behind creating my Patreon page and how you may be able to support. If you could take even 1 minute of your time to check the page out I'd be super grateful. www.patreon.com/thepeumbrella
If you'd like to find out more then jump under the umbrella with me!
Welcome to episode 156 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by former England, Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls Women's Rugby League player, Lois Forsell.
On this episode, we chat about Lois' journey from a PE loving young girl into an elite athlete playing at the very highest level. We discuss environmental and psychological factors that contributed to the journey that Lois went on leading to her representing her country. I also dive into the early experiences of PE that Lois had, and how this shaped/contributed towards her career trajectory. We also enjoyed chatting about the peer/social pressures that can negatively impact on girls enjoyment/willingness to continue being physically active/sporty and what Lois saw of this herself, particularly through her high school years. It all provides some fascinating insights into what it takes to make it to the top.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella.
Welcome to episode 170 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PhysEd teacher and Host of the coach Pat Chat Podcast, Patrick Hughes. On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Patrick and his experience teaching internationally. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Patrick brings the knowledge bombs just for you! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by PE Lead Shauna Pemberton.
As an experienced primary teacher leading the subject, Shauna is making a real difference to the lives of the pupils in her school community, putting PE and physical activity at the heart of change. She shares with us her relationship with the subject before offering her insights into how you can embrace PE in your school too.
It's all here, so what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under The PE Umbrella!
Happy 2019, and welcome to episode 117 of The PE Umbrella podcast!
Joining me Under the Umbrella today for this episode is Gymnastics superstar Gemma Coles. During this episode, we unpick primary Gymnastics and talk over issues relating to lack of confidence amongst teachers to small spaces to what we should ACTUALLY be teaching!
If you want some actionable advice and ideas to take away that you can implement, then this is your one stop shop! Gemma shares activity ideas, modifications and a breakdown of what a gymnastics lesson should look like for you!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the PE Umbrella.
With me under the umbrella this week is the primary PE lead at British school Jakarta, Jo Heaume. In this conversation we learn about Jo's journey to teaching internationally and exactly what makes PE tick in her school. Ideas, tips and thoughts to mull over are all here in this episode, so what are you waiting for?
Come on over and join us under the PE Umbrella.
With me under the umbrella this week is national PE subject advisor for PE New Zealand (PENZ), Marisa McKay. Another wonderful conversation on ALL things primary PE awaits, so get that note pad and pen ready.
This week on the PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by PE and swim lead, Sam Horton. As somebody living and breathing leading the subject on a day-to-day basis, Sam is somebody who is in the know and it was fascinating to hear his perspective on the subject.
In this episode you can expect some great nuggets of information that you can take away and try in your own setting. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by the deputy headteacher at the British International School in Riyadh and co-host of the infinite learners podcast, Lewis Keens.
We discuss all things PE and in particular the importance of moving the 'right' way and staying true to our roots of movement as the unique USP of Physical education. You won't want to miss this one.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by professor of Physical Education and Pedagogy at Loughborough University, Dr Ash Casey.
In this conversation, we learn how Ash formed his relationships and perceptions around Physical Education and how these have been challenged and evolved through the years. We also learn some insights into Models-based practice and in particular, Cooperative learning as a model through which to deliver a Physical Education unit of learning.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under the umbrella.
Joining me under the umbrella this week is professor at the University of Kentucky Aaron Beighle for his third appearance on the show.
In this episode we talk about aspirations for PE and the curriculum in the UK and America as well as his take on concept-based learning, sports and all the other show favourite questions. This is an episode that you just can't afford to miss.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
In this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast I am joined by former Primary school teacher, PE lead and now PE consultant for Beyond the Physical, Dan Wilson.
I have known Dan for a number of years right back since the beginning of my own teaching career and when it comes to primary PE, he is the real deal. Having seen him at work and teaching children and adults alike, he is an outstanding practitioner and it was wonderful to finally sit down and chat with him about all things Primary PE.
So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under the umbrella.
On this episode of The PE Umbrella podcast, I am joined by the assistant deputy CEO of the Association for Physical Education (AfPE) Dr Vanessa King.
Join us for a conversation on ALL things Primary PE, from actionable tips to deeper thinking scenarios, it's all here. So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella.
Welcome back to The PE Umbrella podcast, your CPD on the go for ALL things Primary PE.
This week I am joined by lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, Dr Tom Van Rossum. In this episode we talk about Early movement and Fundamental Movement skills. Are they important? Are children achieving a good level? What does the current landscape look like? All of this and so much more!
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us Under the Umbrella.
On The PE Umbrella podcast this week, I am joined by qualified primary school teacher, Sam Gregory.
Sam brings a unique and fresh perspective to the primary PE landscape having only recently qualified as a teacher. He has a deep passion for physical education and is pursuing some interesting work in this space for his PhD studies at Leeds Beckett University.
In this episode, we explore Sam's journey into teaching and investigate some of the actionable tips and advice that he has learned along the way. So what are you waiting for? Grab that notepad and join us under The PE Umbrella.
Joining me under the umbrella this week is head of PE, author of 'Is PE in crisis?' and co-author of the Primary Concept Curriculum, Lee Sullivan.
In this episode we unpick whether PE is in crisis and delve into a myriad of primary PE-related topics. So what are you waiting for? Come and join us under the umbrella.
This week I am joined on The PE Umbrella podcast by PE specialist, Ben Shields. Ben has worked in the space for many years now and this has seen him teaching all over the world before now settling down in Australia. He has many tips, tricks and stories to share that will help you in your teaching of primary PE and I can'tt wait for you to listen.
So what are you waiting for? Come on over and join us under the umbrella!
Welcome to the very first episode of The PE Umbrella Archives.
This mini-series will run as a thread through the main PE Umbrella podcast as a means to re-visit classic episodes of the show that have truly stood the test of time. As the show approaches its' 9th Birthday, I have reflected on the many incredible episodes from years gone by and just how much I learned from producing them and having those career-defining conversations. I also acknowledge that there are newer listeners of the show who may never have heard some of the very best conversations from the shows roots.
Thus, The PE Umbrella Archives will bring back the very best episodes from the early years of the podcast (2015-2018) and re-master them for your listening pleasure. The messages and knowledge bombs are timeless, so what are you waiting for? Come and join me in The PE Umbrella Archives, episode 1, with the sensational Professor Damian Hughes!
Welcome to episode 188 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by PE instructor Paul Showell.
On this episode, we chat about ALL things Primary PE to give you tips, advice and actionable points to takeaway! Talking points include:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- How important is your School Sport Offering?
- How do you manage competition?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
All of this and many more side conversations, you simply can't afford to miss it. So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
In this interview episode of The PE Umbrella, I am joined by Amanda Stanec. Born in Canada, her journey in education has led her to founding Move, Live, Learn, speaking at a number of physed and sport events in the USA and working as a Physical Education and Sport Contractor. In this episode we talk about Physical Literacy, the importance of motivation and goal setting, and share books and articles that are a must read! As always there is so much useful advice to take away and apply! So what are you waiting for? Come and join us 'Under the Umbrella'
Welcome to episode 76 of The PE Umbrella podcast! This week I embark on another reflection episode, mulling over a recent student essay that I read, suggesting that PE shouldn't be mandatory. I share my own opinions on why PE absolutely should be mandatory and challenge some of the 'negative' perceptions that the author has on the subject that I and many others love so much! Be sure to tweet me your thoughts @ryansporting or email me ryanellis.peumbrella@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing what you have got to say! So come on over, and join me under The PE Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 196 of The PE Umbrella Podcast! If you haven't listened to part one of my chat with Greg, I highly recommend jumping back to episode 195 before proceeding!
This episode picks up exactly where the last episode finished and continues with some deep conversation and side tangents across a range of PE topics including:
- What is an ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is the worst lesson you taught and why?
- How do our experiences of PE shape our teaching practice?
- MiMove app and the positive impact on movement and emotion
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad(s) ready!
Welcome to episode 73 of The PE Umbrella podcast! Joining me Under the Umbrella today is non other than The Physical Educator himself, Joey Feith! As the creator of www.thephysicaleducator.com, Joey is and has been making a real difference to the lives of teachers around the world, as well as the students he teaches for years now! Sharing creative and innovative practice on a regular basis, Joey is held in the highest regard for many physical educators as he drives the profession forward through all of his endeavours. As a huge fan and advocate of his work myself, it was a real pleasure to have him on the show! During this episode, we discuss... - How Joey continues to produce amazing resources weekly. - How Joey Lives what he preaches and serves from a full vessel! - What I could expect from my first day in Coach Feith's Physed class. - The best lesson Joey has ever taught and why. - His favourite warm up/instant activity. - The best post he has shared since the relaunch of his awesome website! All of this and much much more in this HUGE episode! So be like Joey and get your note pad and pen ready... Come on over to join us Under the Umbrella!
Welcome to episode 183 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Primary dance specialist Louise Jaggard & Creative dance specialist Jo Cone. On this episode we chat about ALL things dance in a primary PE setting and why now, with the Covid restrictions, is the perfect time to salsa out of your comfort zone and give teaching dance a go.
After getting to know Louise and Jo better and finding out about their background and what currently excites them in the world of dance teaching, we learn about the holistic benefits that teaching dance promotes to all children and how any teacher is in a strong position to deliver exciting sessions if they are willing to give it a go!
I pick their brains for their favourite warm-up dance activities, ask what a dance lesson 'should' look like and how we can deliver a session following social distancing guidelines.
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 161 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by coach for the Ebor Academy Trust Steven Jeff. On this episode, we chat about ALL things PE, and take a trip down the regular show questions, seeking to draw out knowledge bombs from Steven and his experience teaching Primary PE. This means you can expect answers to questions such as:
- What currently excites you about PE?
- What misconceptions about our subject should be banished to room 101?
- Describe yourself as a teacher in 3 words?
- What is your ideal PE lesson recipe?
- What is your worst ever PE lesson and what did you learn from it?
ALL of that and SO much more as Steven shares some real pearls of wisdom! So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
Welcome to episode 158 of The PE Umbrella Podcast!
This week I am joined by Teacher and founder of Motion Dance Initiative Jessica Livock. On this episode, we simply chat about ALL things Dance in relation to primary PE and the wider reach it can have around a school. We dive into the past experiences Jess has faced in teaching, her favourite dance warm-up activities and how a typical unit of work would be structured for dance, contrasting KS1 & KS2 expectations.
Not only this, but we share top tips throughout for winning over those reluctant learners, including dance in creative ways throughout the curriculum and so much more!
So what are you waiting for? Jump under the umbrella with us and join in the conversation by tweeting me @thepeumbrella. Note pad ready!
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