Lindsey Steuer

Teaching Philosophy

 Important skills I want to teach my students

I believe the most important things we teach in Lotspeich PE are a focus on individual skill development, personal wellness, and sportsmanship. We want the students to understand that they are all different and will develop at their own rate. Skills that may be difficult for some are easy for others, and that is OK. We are more focused on the improvement of each student’s individual skills as they progress through the program. Second, we stress the importance of participating in physical activity, which will lead to improved wellness for a healthy lifestyle. We strive to find an activity that every student enjoys so that they can stay active and healthy as they grow. Finally, we stress how to respectfully treat each other and consistently encourage sportsmanship during all activities. Students are taught to respect the efforts of their classmates and to acknowledge that each of us has our own gifts to share with each other. 

Teaching methods to reach these goals

Our curriculum focuses on individual skill development, sportsmanship, and cooperation utilizing a variety of methods. We have the students work individually, in pairs, in small groups, and as a team/class to do so. Younger students engage in lead-up activities to help develop fundamental motor skills. As the students grow, we add more complex skill competencies that can be used in game-like situations. Working collaboratively with each student, we find the best methodology to help them stay engaged and reach their full potential. 

My favorite projects

One of my favorite units we teach is our jump rope unit. We start with long rope jumping skills, where students learn the basics of turning, jumping, and how to enter and exit a turning rope. By the time they are in fourth and fifth grade, students are introduced to Double Dutch. We then move to individual jump rope skills, where students are challenged to learn multiple tricks while jumping. They work on everything from basic two-foot jumping to more complex skills like scissors and crisscrossing and difficult skills like cowgirl (squat jumps) and cowboy (rump jumps). Another favorite is our Field Day Celebration at the end of the year. Students engage in a variety of fun activities and challenges to celebrate the successes of the year. All teachers are there to help and it is a fantastic event to bring everyone together before leaving for the summer. 

What I like best about teaching at Seven Hills

I love that we see our students multiple times a week for classes. It allows us to get to know our students well and to dig deeply into and spend time working to improve the skills we are teaching. We also have a variety of spaces (multiple gymnasiums, turf fields, tennis and squash courts, etc.) to use while teaching which allows us to provide students with a diverse curriculum of activities to enhance their growth.