Right Fielders are People Too: Inclusive Approach to Teaching Middle School Physical Education

One of the most respected physical education teachers in the country shares his methods for effectively reaching all students, from those who fear physical activity to those who are accomplished athletes.

Right Fielders Are People Too helps middle school physical education teachers establish and maintain a positive learning environment that allows students to work to their potential. The inclusive, developmentally appropriate program described in this book helps students feel comfortable in class and develop a positive attitude toward physical activities. Students can learn skills without intimidation and experience the joy and exhilaration of physical activities, even if they can't perform the activities very well.

Author John Hichwa, 1993 NASPE Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year, shares the successful strategies he developed in 35 years of teaching K-8 students. The book's friendly, teacher-to-teacher format and nearly 150 unique drawings make the methods and activities easy to understand, whether you've been teaching for several years or are just beginning your first student-teaching experience.

Hichwa provides insights into the challenges of teaching middle school physical education and shares examples from his classes, offering a perspective not available in textbooks. He also presents more than 100 innovative games and activities for developing physical skills, cooperative behaviors, and problem-solving abilities. But Right Fielders Are People Too is not simply one teacher's ideas-the entire book is connected to the NASPE National Standards for Physical Education and follows the developmentally appropriate guidelines.

The format of the book resembles a doubleheader baseball game. Game 1 discusses various characteristics of middle school children and describes an effective middle school physical education program. By following Hichwa's practical advice, you'll learn how to

-integrate the teaching of respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness into the curriculum;

-get feedback about students' concerns and feelings and their understanding of the material presented;

-develop new teaching skills, such as debriefing and involving students in the grading process;

-motivate students by helping them track their own progress; and

-involve parents in their children's physical education.

Game 2 offers specific suggestions for planning day-to-day activities. From musical push-ups to the rolling river raft to school rugby, you'll find activities that will maximize class participation by making physical education fun!

John Hichwa taught physical education in grades K-8 for 35 years. In his words, "The gymnasium and the playing field were my laboratory. It was there that I had the opportunity to try out new ideas, make a difference in the lives of my students, and form my vision of how physical education can play an important role in the lives of all students."

Now an education consultant, Hichwa continues to influence the field of physical education. In the summer of 1997, he taught physical education activities to young Japanese children at the American School in Japan Summer Day Camp, located just outside of Tokyo. And he is still a popular featured presenter at conferences, conventions, and workshops across the country.

Hichwa has received numerous awards over the course of his career, including 1993 Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year, presented by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, and the 1997 CAHPERD Honor Award, presented by the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 1981 he started a Project Adventure program at the John Read Middle School in West Redding, CT. The program, which became an integral part of the school curriculum as well as Project Adventure's model for middle school adventure programs, was featured on national television in 1987.

Hichwa lives in Redding, CT, with his wife Marion. They enjoy tennis, bicycling, and traveling.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Pedro Leitão is a professional illustrator and cartoonist. He is a regular illustrator for the Portuguese versions of Sesame Street Magazine and Elle and a cartoonist for IPAMB, a monthly educational newsletter for the Portuguese Institute for Environmental Awareness. He illustrated O Casamento da Gata (The Kitten's Wedding), a 24-page, full-color children's book authored in verse by a well-known Portuguese writer of children's literature. A highlight of his career was working as an artist in residence at the Stivers Middle School of the Arts in Dayton, OH, from February 1991 through June 1992. Leitão is also a children's theater actor and scenographer. Born in Angola and a resident of Portugal, he holds a Licenciatura degree in painting from the Fine Arts School of Lisbon.