Ronnenberg's Blog

Maple Lake Elementary PE is on Twitter!

2018-08-16T11:30:00.002-07:00

Interested in what is going on in PE class? Follow MLE PE on twitter!!

@MLE_PE

This is one way I will try to share updates, important events, and the day to day activities of PE class.

Summer is winding down...

2018-08-16T10:45:00.001-07:00

Summer is coming to a close and we are all getting prepared for the upcoming school year. At my house the list of things we need to do before school starts is loooooooong.... But some of the list includes:

Haircuts
New shoes
School supplies
Earlier bedtime :)
Read before bed
and the list goes on...

However, I think it is time to add one more thing to that list. Check out this fitness calendar that provides a short workout or challenge on each day of the month of August. I think it would be a great way to engage the muscles and brain to ensure for a great first day, week, and month of school.

http://www.ssww.com/blog/august-printable-fitness-challenge-calendar/

I am looking forward to seeing you all back at school!

Track and Field Day!!!

2018-05-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

Track and Field day is tomorrow!! This is a much anticipated day for a number of different reasons. The Kindergarten group will kick off the track events by running of the 50 meter dash at approximately 8:30 a.m. From there, we will see our primary grades participate in the 400, 200, and 100 meter dash. The intermediate grades will begin the day at the field events. Prior to lunch the primary grades will culminate their track events by running the 4 x 100 meter relay.

After lunch the groups will simply switch, the intermediate grades will be on the track and the primary grades at the field events. More precise schedules will be posted on the concession stand.

Here are a few other reminders about the day...

***It is going to be HOT!!*** Please be sure to drink plenty of water.

1. Water bottles are acceptable and should have a name on them.
2. Wear your sunscreen!
3. Be sure to wear your class color.

Kindergarten--Purple
First Grade--Yellow
Second Grade--Blue
Third Grade--Orange
Fourth Grade--Red
Fifth Grade--Green
Sixth Grade--Tie dye

4. Students will be eating lunch in there classrooms to provide some time for them out of the sun. Parents are invited to join their child in the classroom if they would like to.

5. I have made an effort to talk about the competitive side of track and field day. I enjoy the competitive nature of the day as long as we keep things in perspective and recognize a few things.
a. The competition helps us put forth our best effort.
b. We compete with others not against them.
c. The results of track and field day do not define any of our students.

6. The value of this day is far greater than the races being run. Lessons in perseverance, integrity, respect, and responsibility take precedence over the race, results, and ribbons.

Here is a sneak peek of the field events...

Nutrition!

2018-04-10T14:37:00.001-07:00

I was recently contacted by Kennedy Haney, a Maple Lake graduate,who is currently in college studying to be a Registered Dietician (RD). Miss Haney has was kind enough to put together a newsletter about the importance of nutrition and how we can start to make healthy changes with what we eat.

Enjoy!

National Nutrition Month, a Month Late!

An “RD to be’s” suggestions…

Although we’re a month late, National Nutrition Month can be converted into any month we’d like it to be… it should be every month, in my opinion! This year’s theme is “Go Further with Food.” This month we’re promoting a healthy, waste-less lifestyle, highlighting that food decisions make an impact on our overall health and the generations to come.

This month I challenge you and your family to take your nutrition into your own hands, we all own the power to make small changes over time that will improve our health now and in the future. If you’re feeling especially ambitious, try some of my below tips to be active in your own and other’s nutrition:

Volunteer at your local food-shelf (Waverly, MN), the WCCA in town (Maple Lake, MN) is always looking for volunteers and they’ll work around your schedule. Ask for Alivia Boddie.
Plan your weekly meals in advance to help cut costs of unnecessary foods in your cart, this will save you time as well.
Meal prep, this helps deplete the urge to snack and eat junk foods.
Buy your produce from the Farmer’s Market, this benefits you and your local farmers. Plus, they really appreciate it, trust me.
Increase the colors on your plate. Each week try a new fruit or vegetable. Mango’s are hot in season right now and so good!
Include healthy fats into every meal; eggs, avocados, nuts, fish, chia seeds, full fat yogurts and whole milk.
Incorporate more complex carbohydrates to keep your fuller longer;

Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes:

Lentils
Kidney Beans
Chick peas (HUMMUS)
Soy beans

Whole Grains:

Brown Rice
Corn
Wheat
Oats – oatmeal
Quinoa

Fruits and Vegetables:

ALL OF THEM

Substitutions:

Instead of white breads or pastas, opt for whole grain breads and pastas
Switch rice for beans

Educate yourself on a new nutrition hot topic each week; Macronutrients (Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins), Conventional V. Organic produce, whole foods V. meal replacements, etc.
Increase your water consumption 1-2 gallons per day (128-256oz/day). Benefits include: clearer skin, more water leads to more toxins being flushed out of your system, maintains regularity, promotes weight loss, prevents fatigue, and SO. MUCH. MORE!

In accompaniment to my suggestions, www.eatright.org has tools, tips, and games for National Nutrition Month to help you all Go Further With Food.

Dazzling DAVE!!! National Yo-Yo Master

2018-03-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of March we invited Dazzling Dave, National Yo-Yo Master to our school to teach us about the Science of Spin and Yo-Yo fun in PE classes. Dave dazzled us with a "freestyle" and spent two days in PE teaching students how to use Yo-Yo's. I was a blast and kids learned a lot about hand-eye coordination, perseverance, and the importance of listening and responsibility.

Check out this link to learn more about Dazzling Dave...

https://www.youtube.com/user/dazzlingdaveyoyo

Here is a link to his website if you are interested in purchasing a Yo-Yo as a gift for your son or daughter..

http://www.dazzlingdave.com/

Not to mention a couple of pictures of his time here at Maple Lake Elementary!!

Team Building

2018-01-09T09:17:00.002-08:00

We are currently in the heart of our team building unit. Team building provides an awesome opportunity to talk about teamwork, communication, problem solving, positive encouragement/energy, and the importance of process over outcome.

The intermediate grades are taking on challenges like...

Ants on a log
Pass it on
The ball challenge
Minefield
Survival Island

The primary grades are attempting other challenges like....

The numbers game
Human Alphabet
Team memory
Parachute activities

Here are few pics to check out!

Stay warm, Stay active!

Morning Movers

2017-11-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

Since 2010, Maple Lake Elementary has been out walking around the playground from 7:45 - 8:00 a.m. It is a program designed to provide more movement opportunities for students throughout the school day. It has been a simple, yet effective initiative.

The rules are...

1. Walk or Jog.
2. On the path.
3. Without touching others.

The benefits are numerous...
1. Jumpstart the brain and body for the day ahead.
2. Great way to connect our older students with our younger students and create a sense of pride and belonging.
3. Students are who are active tend to have more focus following activity.

And the list could go on.

That said here is a short You Tube video of what it looks like...

Now the sun rise is not always this spectacular, but it is nice benefit on a cold day...

Please dress for the weather, it is getting cold outside. Morning Movers will take place outside unless it is raining or below zero!

Have a great week!!

Soccer fun!

2017-10-16T16:56:00.003-07:00

I am so sorry for the late blog post on soccer... I am attempting to post some videos of our time in PE and struggling, but it will work out. Until then...

Primary grades worked on kicking, passing, trapping, and even goal tending. We have spent time working on understanding our right from our left and figuring out which side we prefer to use. Intermediate grades are expanding on their skills with fun lead up games like "Endline soccer" and "Solf"! We culminated our soccer unit with small sided games. at the end of September

Here are some of the pics from the end of September.

Back in the swing of things.

2017-09-12T08:18:00.003-07:00

Life at school is almost business as usual. Learning the expectations, routines, lunch and recess times, what days do I have P.E, etc...

Before I get to too carried away I want to say welcome back! Summer was awesome, but I was super excited to come back to school on the 5th. The energy is so positive and contagious it is hard to not want to be around it. Summer at my house was very memorable from basketball camps and tournaments to lake days/nights to emergency rooms to carpentry and even the state fair! we had the pleasure of seeing it all. Here are a couple of pics...

The start of the school year has been great! Irish Pride is on display daily, morning movers is functional, and we have begun soccer in P.E class--dribble, pass, trap, and goal keeping.

Volunteer orientation is coming up on September 18th at 6 p.m in the elementary media center. This is important for any parent or guardian who is considering chaperoning the annual sixth grade ski trip to powder ridge. Ski trip is planned for Friday, January 19th.

As usual get in touch with me for anything that you may need and I will do my best to get the answer ASAP.

Have a great school year!
~Mr. Ronnenberg

Track and Field Day is Friday, May 26th!!

2017-05-22T21:36:00.002-07:00

Track and Field day is almost upon us. This is a much anticipated day for a number of different reasons. The Kindergarten group will kick off the track events by running of the 50 meter dash at approximately 8:30 a.m. From there, we will see our primary grades participate in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash. The intermediate grades will begin the day at the field events. Prior to lunch the primary grades will culminate their track events by running the 4 x 100 meter relay.

After lunch the groups will simply switch, the intermediate grades will be on the track and the primary grades at the field events. More precise schedules will be posted on the concession stand. Or you can contact me, the office, or the classroom teacher with questions.

Here are a few other reminders about the day...

1. Water bottles are acceptable and should have a name on them.
2. Wear your sunscreen!
3. Be sure to wear your class color.

KG - purple
1st - yellow
2nd - blue
3rd - orange
4th - red
5th - green
6th - tie dye

4. I have made an effort to talk about the competitive side of track and field day. I enjoy the competitive nature of the day as long as we keep things in perspective and recognize a few things.
a. The competition helps us put forth our best effort.
b. We compete with others not against them.
c. The results of track and field day do not define any of our students.
d. It is rare when people remember the results, but people will remember how others treated them.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a dry day on Friday!

Fitness testing is wrapping up...

2017-04-21T08:19:00.001-07:00

Typically, the month of April is consumed by testing... MCA tests in the computer lab and fitness testing in the gym. In the gym we talk often about doing your best and focusing less on the outcome of the tests. Fitness tests are not designed to define any of our students. They are a measure of flexibility (v-sit), muscular strength (pull-ups), agility (shuttle run), muscular endurance (sit-ups), and cardiorespiratory-endurance (half mile and mile run). I remind students that these particular tests are not a measure of character, intelligence, or even how great they are as a brother, sister, son or daughter.

Here are a few pics of the equipment we use for each test.

V-sit:

Pull-ups:

Shuttle Run:

Sit-ups:

1/2 mile and mile run:

Fun in March

2017-03-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

March has been a great month at MLE! We hosted our second annual arts and academics night and it was a huge success🎨🙌. We wrapped up our bowling unit and even learned how to keep score 🎳... We even challenged ourselves with some exergaming (exercise with video games) by playing "Just Dance 4"🎮🎶🎭! Needless to say it has been quite exciting in the hallways and gymnasium. The common denominator is they are all lifetime recreation activities that can be done at home with friends and family. Recreation or "play" can take place anywhere, but school has been, and will continue to be, a great place to be introduced to such activities. Not only are the activities active and fun, they are also a great way to gain and enhance social/interpersonal skills. Here are a few pics of the fun that has been taking place.

A pin's eye view...

Happy bowler!

Strike!

Just Dance!

Following the steps...

Spring break is nearly upon us and it is a great time to recharge the batteries for the stretch run of the school year. Play some cards, visit friends and family, and be active for 60 minutes a day! Have a great break!!

Jump Rope for Heart

2017-03-09T21:15:00.003-08:00

We are officially wrapping up our Jump Rope for Heart campaign and it has been another productive year to say the least. From talking about how the heart works, to identifying ways we can reduce heart disease, and recognizing signs and symptoms of a heart attack; we covered a ton of material that can lead us down the heart healthy path. In addition to learning, we also collected over $3,500 in donations for the American Heart Association. A huge "Thank you" to all the students who participated (approximately 40) and the families and friends who donated.

A couple of quick pics of the our jump rope fun...

6th grade ski trip!!

2017-01-23T06:21:00.001-08:00

Friday, January 20th the sixth graders took off for the annual ski trip to Powder Ridge. Conditions were not ideal, but that certainly didn't slow us down. Take aways from the day included

Foggy
Hard work
Determination
Coordination
Positive attitude
Friendship
Camaraderie
Responsibility
Respect
Safety
Empathy

The lessons of this day are endless! Here are few pics from the trip...

Happy Holidays!

2016-12-28T06:23:00.002-08:00

I hope this finds you well! Well rested, well fed, and well....ACTIVE!

This is certainly the time of year when we Minnesotans hibernate and it becomes all to easy to curl up with a blanket and bing watch your favorite movie, series, or tv show. Don't get me wrong, I love to curl up as much as the next person... However, this is one of the best times of year to get some exercise and have some fun!!! Take a hike, go sledding, make a fort, skiing, skating, and snowshoeing, are all great ways to be active in the winter. Here are a few pictures of our most recent family hike.

I know that winter can be miserable, but make the best of it and enjoy! Here are some links where you might find some winter fun!

Powder Ridge (tubing, skiing, snowboarding)--http://www.powderridge.com/

Lake Maria State Parks (Hiking, Snowshoeing, Biking, and Winter camping)--http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/lake_maria/index.html

If you find that it is too cold outside here are 4 creative ways to be active while indoors.

http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/4-ways-to-keep-kids-healthy-during-the-holidays/

Happy Thanksgiving!

2016-11-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

First off, I would like to wish you a very safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday. We all have many things to be thankful for and I encourage everyone to take time and share one of those "thanks" with others.

Personally, I am thankfully my family, my health, and a great community/school to live and work in.

Before we all depart for a day of overeating and indulging, I wanted to share a quick read from a blog I subscribe to. It is a great way to get active on a day that is easy to nap...

Check out this link for three great activities for a little family fun!

http://www.sparkpe.org/blog/3-thanksgiving-themed-games-to-play-with-your-family/

Throwing and catching

2016-10-24T06:29:00.001-07:00

Over the past few weeks we have been enjoying some great weather outside and playing catch. Although the temps have been great the wind has sometimes affected our ability to be outside as we continually search for ways to be successful with our motor skills like throwing and catching. We have used footballs, gatorskin balls, tennis balls, bean bags, and E-Z grab balls designed for easier catching. Activities included: toss and catch, centerpede, capture the bean bag, catch and switch, air it out, steal the ball, and many more. Here are a few pictures of our second graders in the gym...

This week we plan to use the calm days for a little Frisbee exploration! Have a great week!!

Mile Run week!

2016-10-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

It is was an exciting week in MLE PE!! The mile run is an incredibly challenging week for students for a number of reasons. First and foremost it creates some very real anxiety for kids. Second, it is physically demanding and difficult.

The mile run is a cardio-respiratory endurance "test" (I like to think of it as a challenge), which means it is testing (challenging) the heart and lungs to see how well they work together. Larger than that, this is a challenge that builds stamina, persistence, and teamwork. We do our very best to help all students do their best and overcome the fear of this "test"(challenge). At the end of the day, it is about finishing and proving to yourself you can do it even though it is difficult.

Check out our rainbow run pics as we prepared for the mile run! The rainbow run was a team scavenger hunt to find each color while jogging from one spot to another. Our rainbow run tattoo was 100% washable:).

3rd-6th grade students took on the full mile run, while our K-2 groups did the 1/2 mile. Thanks for persisting and making this past week great!!

Soccer Fun

2016-09-20T04:16:00.001-07:00

The second and third weeks of school have and will be spent out on the pitch, (soccer lingo for "field"). Dribbling, passing, trapping, goaltending, and teamwork are all a part of our plans. Check out one of the passing activities... It is a combination of soccer and golf, we call it "Solf"!

School is back in session!

2016-09-13T07:16:00.001-07:00

Well, we are in our second week of school and it is off to a great start. Last week we went through expectations, daily routines, morning movers and even had some time for some good ol' fashion fitness. Check out our Hula hoop Fitness!!

Track and Field day is May 20th

2016-05-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Track and Field day is almost upon us. This is a much anticipated day for a number of different reasons. The Kindergarten group will kick off the track events by running of the 50 meter dash at approximately 8:30 a.m. From there, we will see our primary grades participate in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash. The intermediate grades will begin the day at the field events. Prior to lunch the primary grades will culminate their track events by running the 4 x 100 meter relay.

After lunch the groups will simply switch, the intermediate grades will be on the track and the primary grades at the field events. More precise schedules will be posted on the concession stand.

Here are a few other reminders about the day...

1. Water bottles are acceptable and should have a name on them.
2. Wear your sunscreen!
3. Be sure to wear your class color.

Kindergarten--Purple
First Grade--Yellow
Second Grade--Blue
Third Grade--Orange
Fourth Grade--Red
Fifth Grade--Green
Sixth Grade--Tie dye

Perseverance...

2016-04-25T08:12:00.001-07:00

School provides students with difficult tasks on a regular basis. Whether it is cleaning out your locker, completing the MCA test, or even drawing a self portrait in art class, students have a choice--to give up or continue to work despite the complexity of the task at hand. Last week we completed the half mile run in kindergarten, first, and second grade as well as the mile run in third through sixth grade. In my opinion, a challenge, like this, is one of the best ways to teach perseverance in P.E. Very few students take the time to go run a mile on their own, making this particular activity daunting and often times creates anxiety for students. I am happy to say, nearly all students took the challenge head on and improved their time from the fall. Although the time is of little importance to me, it is a great way for the students to measure themselves and truly find the benefits of perseverance. So proud of all students--Way to go!!

Jump for Heart and Springtime P.E

2016-04-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

First of all, I need to apologize for the lack of blog entries over the last two months. To get things back on track, I would like to the recap our Jump for Heart event that took place throughout the month of February.

Jump Rope for Heart was a massive success for the second year in a row!!

Jump for Heart is a great service learning project for students because of the message it contains. By jumping rope and learning about the heart, several students took it upon themselves to collect donations for an incredible cause--the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association uses Jump for Heart to spread the word about heart disease and how it can be prevented. This February the students of Maple Lake Elementary raised over $4,000 dollars helping the AHA and their fight against heart disease!! Thanks to all the students involved, you truly make a difference.

Springtime in P.E

Spring brings on some needed sunshine, green grass, and MUD... Please remember to wear your gym shoes in the gym to limit the amount of dirt on the gym floor.

It also means we start thinking about physical fitness testing. In P.E we test students in five different areas--pull-ups, sit-ups, shuttle run, v-sit, and the mile or half mile run. As we begin these tests I like to take time to discuss physical fitness and its importance. According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, being physically active can increase academic achievement, reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity, and help improve academic behavior. Although we track the results of these tests, I am constantly reminding students that the results are not defining us as people. The effort we give throughout the test is what is really important. I am so much less interested in the outcome of each test than I am in the process of how we got there. Do you best, bring your positive attitude, and treat others the way that you like to be treated and tests will take care of themselves.

Have a great spring!!

Winter fun!!

2016-02-03T09:02:00.001-08:00

On January 21st the sixth grade students and staff took off for a day of skiing at Powder Ridge in Kimball, MN. We ran the gamut of emotions from excited to nervous, happy to frustrated, hopeless to hopeful, anxious to elated... Needless to say we learned a lot about skiing, we learned a lot about ourselves, and we learned a lot about empathy (understanding the feelings of others). This is a trip I look forward to each year, because of the challenge it presents to the sixth graders. For some it is a physical challenge and others it is an emotional hurdle that, at the end of the day, all were happy to have the opportunity to face.

Here are a few photos from our day at Powder Ridge.

Teamwork

2016-01-10T21:00:00.001-08:00

The month January brings team-building to the forefront in P.E classes. Students in grades K-6 are tackling activities with a team focus. For example the Primary grades are completing the human alphabet, the hula hoop rescue, and some incredible parachute formations. The intermediate grades are completing more detailed challenges like the human chair, shipwreck, and survival island. If you are interested in what some of these activities look like, please check out one of my greatest teaching resources https://physedgames.com/. Although the activities are great, the meaning of teamwork is what we are really after...

Teamwork--working together as a group to accomplish a goal. (As defined by most of our intermediate grade level classes.) Teamwork is also communication, compromise, integrity, unity, and leadership. Teamwork is in fact one of the most important life skills, in my opinion, we can learn. It is important to learn about teamwork, because it doesn't happen innately--we are actually very selfish by nature. The way I see it, we, as adults, rarely get through a day without having to communicate, compromise, show integrity, unite for the common good, or lead. Therefore it is important, maybe even vital, to teach, model, and learn this skill at all ages.

Think of families and how often they use teamwork... If it is anything like my house, I rely on my family for so many things and without them each day would be a struggle.

Something as simple as emptying the dishwasher takes teamwork... We all know how aggravating this task can be, but with teamwork it actually gives us a sense of belonging, gratitude, and achievement. Build the tower of teamwork early, it will pay off.

Shoutout to my kids for being awesome:).