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Home-School Students Provide Experiential Teaching and Learning for CSU-Pueblo Students

Release Date: December 03, 2019

Haley Sue Robinson

Director of Communications/PIO

Marketing, Communications, Community Relations

(719) 549-2810

Students in Massari Arena teaching physical education

On Tuesdays and Thursdays in Massari Arena you can find Colorado State University-Pueblo undergraduate and graduate level students with pre-kindergarten through high school aged students. CSU-Pueblo students in the Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Recreation department offer physical education to home-school students as part of their course work. 

“This is both undergrad and graduate level learning,” said Christine Rochester, Ph.D. Professor in Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Recreation. “It’s really cool because it’s extremely experiential.”

This is the third year of the class Methods of Elementary and Methods of Secondary Physical Education. The class is offered at the 300, 400, and 500 level for course offerings for both undergraduate and graduate level students.  Students spend an hour in the classroom prior to teaching and facilitating activities for the home-school students in Massari for for an hour. Then they meet to recap what went well and what needs adjustment and end with more course work for another hour. 

The course uses a national curriculum called Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) which meets national standards. In addition the curriculum includes an enrichment swim program on Fridays, students from CSU-Pueblo are in the water with the home school students teaching them water safety and how to swim. 

“This program gives our students the confidence for when they move on to student teaching,” said Karen Marley, Lecturer in Exercise Science and Physical Education. “I teach them to modify, adapt, and be flexible. They have to be able to pull out other activities to modify if these kids in the program aren’t understanding or engaged.”

There are sixteen students total enrolled in the class, which divides them into groups of three to teach and engage the home-school students. There is always one lead instructor and two that work in collaboration. The home-school students range from two and a half years old to 15 years old. They’re separated in age groups of two and a half to five years old, six to nine years old, 10 to 12 years old, and finally 13 and up.

“I like that we get to work with each group and we can adjust to their needs,” said Destiny Allen, Exercise Science ’15 and current graduate student in Physical Education K-12. “The students get interaction that they don’t normally get. Also for us [CSU-Pueblo students], working two times a week, we get each group four times and switch. The lesson planning is beneficial.”

Home-school parents sign a photo and video release, an insurance waiver, release of liability waiver, and they fill out a medical form. This allows both professors and students to know the needs and limitations of the home-school students.

“As home-schoolers we do a lot together, but even in co-op settings you don’t get this age group separation,” said Shandra Jameson, parent of seven children in the current program. “I love this program because of the access to resources like swimming, climbing, and the facilities.  My kids just love it and at all age groups and they’re engaged.”

To find out more information about the home-school physical education program offered at CSU-Pueblo please contact Karen Marley at Karen.marley@csupueblo.edu or 719-549-2449 or Dr. Christine Rochester at Christine.rochester@csupueblo.edu or 719-549-2660. You can also find them on Facebook at Colorado State University Pueblo EXPER or @CsupExhprK12. 

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