Back to School diary - Michael Gallus - Part 2

Three weeks into teaching primary P.E. and memories of the summer holidays are quickly fading. Beach trips, golf games, long dog walks and family and friend catch ups seem a long time ago. However, I have to touch on one summer experience which really helped set me up for the year. I went sky diving for the first time. Let me tell you, jumping from a small plane 14,000 feet in the sky really makes you believe you can handle anything the teaching year can throw at you.

Much like the prospect of the school year starting, when they opened the roller door on the plane I wasn’t sure I would make it. I jumped out and it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life. After free falling at 200kph my parachute opened and I then enjoyed a relaxing 5-minute glide back to Earth. As my feet met the ground, my body shouted out, “Bring on 2023! I am ready!”

I was however still similarly nervous to start my new role as a P.E. teacher. I’m a huge sports fan though so I also couldn’t wait to start inspiring and motivating Foundation to Year 6 students. Before the actual teaching could begin though, you have to lay the foundations which means meticulous and precise planning to give your students the best chance to achieve their learning goals.

I start big picture with a year overview then break it down to a semester one and two overview which is also broken down to a termly plan. Each term is broken into weeks, weeks into days and finally individual lessons. Once the planning was done, it was time to check the sports shed for the necessary equipment. Before I knew it, the year was ready to begin!

To raise the profile of sport across the school and create a real sporting culture I set up a lunch time indoor soccer competition which helped each year level to play each other in their house groups. I did have doubts if the students would engage with the lunch time sports but the enthusiasm levels of all children was very high. There was also an unexpected bonus from this competition as 40-50 students from other years came to watch and cheer their house sport team. World cup support had nothing on my school’s crowd noise levels!

The other thing I was proud to achieve in my first few weeks was setting up a sports achievement shout out wall in the stadium. I put up photos of students and their inspiring sporting achievements from their after-school sporting interests. The display helps acknowledge and reward the effort they’ve put in while also hopefully inspiring students to set and achieve their own sporting goals and dreams.

I was so pleased when my deputy vice principal approached me to let me know that the chatter at the school gate most mornings amongst students has been about the new lunch time soccer competition. Another student, as we were discussing trying your best in P.E. came up to me to say that all you have to do is, “Give what you’ve got.” I couldn’t agree more. It was all so nice to hear, after all you know you’re achieving success in your goals and plans when students are talking about it and excited by it.

The last thing for me to say is, all the best for your 2023 teaching year ahead and remember as my young student said, all you have to do is “Give what you got!”

P.S. There are still plenty of teaching vacancies available Down Under in all areas of Australia and in all areas of Primary and Secondary teaching so come down and say G’day. I’ll put a shrimp on the Barbie for you.

You can find teaching jobs across Australia on Tes, here: https://www.tes.com/jobs/browse/australia