OM DENNE EPISODE
In this episode, host Dexter Pendergraft sits down with Ali Konnerth—former health teacher, PhD candidate, and PE Teacher Education (PETE) instructor at the University of Georgia.
Together, they break down the spectrum of physical education teaching styles and address common misconceptions about what effective PE instruction actually looks like. Ali shares actionable insights on moving away from "roll out the ball" physical activity to intentional, standards-aligned instruction.
Key topics covered in this episode:
Challenging PE Misconceptions: Why keeping students "busy" isn't enough, and how to eliminate elimination-style games.
Health Integration: Practical strategies for embedding national health education standards into elementary physical education.
The Spectrum of Teaching Styles: Exploring teacher-directed vs. student-directed instruction, including practice style, reciprocal/peer assessment, and self-check.
Guided Discovery & Problem-Solving: How to use divergent vs. convergent inquiry to build critical thinking and physical literacy.
Inclusion as Pedagogy: Utilizing the S.T.E.P. framework (Space, Time, Task, Equipment, People) to modify instruction for all learners.
