'ROLL MODELS'
PE teachers who have been teaching the Skate in School program for many years and have great success stories to share.
Dave Battista (Pennsylvania); Jane Bergin (Massachusetts); Jeanne Fifer (Florida); Karla Harman (Idaho); Cathy Hill (Massachusetts); Cathrine Himberg (California); Georgia Krusell (Wisconsin); Misti Mitchell-Bain (Oklahoma); Sean Morris (Ohio); Meredith Potter (Kentucky); Diane Ruby (Colorado); Gale Strain (Florida); Anne Wheaton (Arizona)
DAVE BATTISTA
Physical Education Teacher
Fox Chapel Area High School
Fox Chapel, Pennsyvania
Grades: 10-12
Number of students: 300/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School: More than 10 years.
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating: Very positive.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
The students who are true (scared) beginners gain a lot of self-confidence. The more experienced skaters are able to further their confidence in a safe manner (backwards skating, using ramps, etc.).
Favorite thing about program:
It opens the door for so many new activities. We have speed skating relays, biathlons (skating and nerf gun shooting), hockey, and really any tag/running games take on a whole new life on wheels.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
A program that deserves attention. Consider how/when the skates will be used. If outside, what is your terrain like? If inside, consider gym usage.
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JANE BERGIN
Physical Education Teacher
Lexington Public Schools
Lexington, Massachusetts
Grades: 9-12
Number of students: 275/quarter
Number of years teaching Skate in School: 12 years
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
The students in our Skate in School Program love this Elective. We are fortunate to include a Fitness and Game Unit in the Curriculum. Our culminating activity for this program is to use the town Skate Park for our final two lessons.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
We have seen students improve their Fitness Levels and build greater confidence levels as they master the skills of in-line skating. The other aspect of this program is that it creates and enhances camaraderie amongst classmates.
Favorite thing about program:
Watching students improve their skating performances or personal fitness levels.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
This a great program that helps to improve Fitness Levels in children without using traditional methods. Once students master the skills of skating they do not even realize the amount of calories they will burn as well the overall improvement in personal Cardiovascular Fitness.
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JEANNE FIFER
Physical Education Teacher/IB Program
PEP Grant Administrator
Stonewall Jackson Middle School
Orlando, Florida
Grades: 6-8
Number of students: 210/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School: 11 years
Number of buildings the program is in: 24
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
Their favorite unit all year!
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
New type of activity in physical education, many have taken up the sport, and beginners are thankful for the opportunity to learn in a safe haven.
Favorite thing about program:
Seeing students achieve for the first time.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
Stick to the curriculum, cover the safety essentials and be organized!
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KARLA HARMAN
Physical Education/Wellness Teacher
Moscow High School
Moscow, Idaho
Grades: 10-12
Number of students: 200/year
Number of buildings the program is in: About 10 years.
Number of buildings the program is in?
One by me but it has been added at our four elementary schools from my encouragement.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
They love skating inside and outside. They especially enjoy roller hockey.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
They learn quickly and increase their cardiovascular conditioning without having to run!
Favorite thing about program:
The excellent teacher support through lesson plans and ordering new and replacement equipment.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
Call Rollerblade to have them help with sizing. Develop a maintainance schedule to change out wheels and brakes...have the students help you.
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CATHY HILL
Physical Education Teacher
Newburyport Schools
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Grades: K-4
Number of students: 350/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School:
Taught it for three years to 3rd and 4th graders.
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
They loved it and couldn't wait to be in third grade so they could do it.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Self confidence, enjoyment, willingness to try, increase in physical activity outside of school.
Favorite thing about program:
The excitement of a student who is just learning to skate and has finally gotten the sense
of balance and confindence.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
Give it a try with one grade first to try it out and get comfortable and then add other grades.
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CATHRINE HIMBERG
Physical Education Teacher Education Professor
Department of Kinesiology
California State University, Chico
Chico, California
Grades: University teacher preparation courses
Number of students: 100/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School: 10 years
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
They love it!
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
My students (future PE teachers) understand that in-line skating can be a fun, safe, and effective way to promote lifelong physical activity and fitness in the students they will teach. They also love learning how to break down the skills so that they can teach their own students in the future.
Favorite thing about program:
I love the fact that in-line skating is a lifelong, health-enhancing physical activity that can so easily be enjoyed both alone and with a group. Using the Skate in School program also helps me teach my students good teaching skills, teaching styles, class organization and management procedures, and motivation.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
At the university level: Make sure you take time to practice and learn the skills included in the
program. Get organized. Be prepared to answer questions about safety and liability issues.
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GEORGIA KRUSELL
Physical Education Teacher
Hudson Middle School
Hudson, Wisconsin
Grades: 6-8
Number of students: 350/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School: 10 years
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
Students love it. They can’t wait to skate.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
During the In-line Skate Unit students get their heart rates up, work up a sweat, and have fun doing it. Students that normally wouldn't ever try skating get a chance to tryout a new lifetime leisure activity.
Favorite thing about program:
My favorite thing about the program is watching the students that skate well teach/help the apprehensive skaters. All abilities can participate and have fun
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
You can do it! Organization is the key to making it successful. Students need to be taught to adhere to strict procedures of equipment use and return. A great strategy to help with the program is soliciting help from parents or older students with items such as putting on equipment and equipment maintenance.
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MISTI MITCHELL-BAIN
P.E. Teacher & Physical Education/Health Coordinator
Comanche Elementary School
Comanche, Oklahoma
Grades: PK-5th
Number of students: About 600; 45-50 At a time.
Number of years teaching Skate in School: Four years
Number of buildings the program is in: Elementary & Middle School
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
They love it. They always ask if we can spend more time skating.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Behavior problems are minimized because students want to participate in the program so they act on their best behavior, students are more active & are more involved in skating outside of school which contributes to more exercise.
Favorite thing about program:
The curriculum is already set out for you as a teacher and you don't have to look for ideas.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
It is very beneficial to you as a teacher and for students. It gives students an alternative to exercising cardio & they enjoy every minute of the participation.
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SEAN MORRIS
Physical Education Teacher
Fernway Elementary School
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Grades: K-4
Number of students: About 300
Number of years teaching Skate in School: Seven years
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
Love it, Love it. The in-line program is by far the most loved unit during the school year. Students in grades 1-4 participate 3 times/year in units focusing on safety and basic, intermediate, and advanced skills, as well as application of skills in games like in-line hockey, in-line basketball, in-line soccer, in-line team handball and many more. They run into the gym and do not speak, they are focused and motivated to have as much time as possible on wheels.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Positive self concept and increased confidence. Many of my students have purchased their own skates and are often seen zooming around on the blacktop afterschool. It is success oriented and allows all chidren to set goals, reach them, and experience success and enjoyment at their own level of comfort. Increase in coordination, balance, strength and dynamic movements with upper and lower body.
Favorite thing about program:
I love teaching activities that students can participate in for the rest of their life. I feel quite fortunate to offer such an innovative program to my students at the elementary level. I really enjoy skating with them and watching them develop over their 4 year term with me. Hockey is huge in Shaker Heights, but you can't tell my 4th grade hockey players from those who have had me for 4 years with the in-line program!
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
Your students will love you for it! Advice for funding: Have a "fund a need" at a school festival. Have a pair of skates, helmet, and wrist, elbow, and knee pads available to view. The parents can make donations by buying a wrist pad for five dollars, or a pair of skates for 40 dollars, etc. Before you know it, you will have enough funding to purchase for one or two grade levels.
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MEREDITH POTTER
Health & Wellness Coordinator
Covington Independent Public Schools
Covington, Kentucky
Grades: 3-5
Number of students: About 135
Number of years teaching Skate in School: Three years
Number of buildings the program is in: Three.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
The programs I teach are to fight childhood obesity. Already obese or overweight children do not like to engage in most physical activities but, they are very successful and enthusiastic with Skate in School. I get 100 percent participation, determination and follow through from the very heavy and obese population. They feel just like anybody else on skates. It is awesome! Every time I see a former student they want to know if they can be in Skate in School again.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
We use this as a behavior incentive program. Kids will do anything to get into Skate in School. The overweight students get a fantastic self-esteem boost and everyone gets a great workout.
Favorite thing about program:
How easy it is to put on and all of the rewards the students get from the program. This is the one lifelong wellness activity that I teach that I know students will do for a lifetime once they learn. I want to incorporate it into part of my staff wellness programs as well.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
I would recommend just doing it!!! If you have a passion for reaching children in a positive way and feel the need to see smiles on children’s faces when they are exercising, this is the program for you. It is so easy to teach and a blast to watch the smiles of successful children.
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DIANE RUBY
Physical Education Teacher
Longmont High School
Longmont, Colorado
Grades: 9-12
Number of students: In-line classes are capped at 24 students.
Number of years teaching Skate in School: 11 years
Number of buildings the program is in: One.
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
They love it!
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Confidence, cardio, muscle toning, lifetime activity, team building, skate maintenance, consumer purchasing, trail and bike rules of the road, right of ways, hill usage, safety.
Favorite thing about program:
Getting off campus, skating around/outside of main street, distance days (6-10 miles), having block schedule (90 minutes), the response from the students, faculty, parents and community.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
Do it!
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GALE STRAIN
Physical Education Teacher
Liberty Middle School
Orlando, Florida
Grades: 6-8
Number of students: 150/day
Number of years teaching Skate in School: Five years
Number of buildings the program is in: 24
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
Their faces just light up with the feeling of being successful and accomplishing a task that they couldn’t do before. I have had students rushing to class because that can’t wait to get the skates on and start skating.
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Along with being a great fitness activity, it has proved to be a great socializing activity as they interact with their classmates as they are having fun in-line skating.
Favorite thing about program:
I enjoy the program because it has introduced in-line skating to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to skate. In-line skating allows students to learn and enjoy a fitness activity that can do for years to come. It is great when a student that doesn’t know how to skate finally gets up and can make it around our skating area.
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
It is important to be organized as you do have to deal with a lot equipment. Be enthusiastic when presenting and you will see that even those who had doubts about the activity will soon be fully involved and having fun.
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ANNE WHEATON
Physical Education Teacher
Mesa Verde Elementary School
Tucson, Arizona
Grades: K-5
Number of students: 500/year
Number of years teaching Skate in School: Eight years
Number of buildings the program is in: One
Reaction of students to in-line skating:
It is a highlight unit during the school year! They love it!
Positive benefits from students in-line skating:
Many of my students through the years have gone on to purchase their own set of skates and make in-line skating one of the activites they do to keep their bodies healthy. Many of my student could not afford to take private Skate lessons , but because of the opportunity they have had in PE class they have the skills to in-line skate on their own.
Favorite thing about program:
The enthusiasm observed my students when we in-line skate in school!
Advice for colleagues who might be interested in starting a Skate in School program:
To throughly think through the implementation and study the skill and technique of in-line skating. It is imperative if you are teaching in the elementary grades that you have plenty of parent volunteers for safety as well as for support in getting into the gear properly. It is also very important to have a well organized system for getting out and putting away the gear. I have a cabinet with cubbies for the skates and protective gear so that all the gear stays in order as we go from class to class.
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