3/13/02
Following is a story lead. Feel free to contact the source, Lori Smith, directly.
Educational videos depicting 'best practices' in elementary physical education being taped at UNI's Price Lab Thursday, March 14
Lori Smith, Iowa's 2001 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year and an instructor in teaching at UNI's Price Laboratory School, will be completing the last in a series of videos Thursday, March 14, that depict "best practices" in elementary physical education. She will be working with 3rd- and 4th-graders in groups from 11 to 12:30, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. Earlier, videos were made using 2nd-graders.
Of particular interest may be the taping from about 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., when they will be doing an "Integration Video." This video will feature activities that can be done in physical education classes that help children with math, reading and spelling concepts. Smith says this is a direction many PE teachers have been going with the curriculum as well as toward the creation of activities that provide maximum participation and success.
Smith and two other PE teachers in Iowa were selected by Championship Books & Video Productions to "pioneer" the elementary PE video series. The company's goal is to provide elementary teachers with videos and books designed to present the most up-to-date training methods, strategies and techniques, much as they have been doing for coaches in 15 sports at the college and professional level.
"I am honored to be selected for this project," said Smith. "With the budget cuts all teachers are experiencing, it is difficult to leave schools for professional development opportunities. We have a shortage of substitute teachers as well. We are hoping that this will be an excellent opportunity for educators to still get professional development while creating 'best practices' in their classrooms using these videos."
In addition, Smith said Gopher Sports from Minnesota has donated $1,300 worth of equipment to the elementary PE program with the possibility of featuring the videos in their catalog as well. With this donation, she said her classes have been gradually introduced to wearing heart rate monitors to ensure that the students are exercising at a healthy level.
Also the president-elect for the Iowa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Smith said the Surgeon General has stated the need for quality physical education across the country, and the federal government has just allocated $50 million for grant money to help improve the quality of physical education in the country. "Our children and adults have reached an all-time high record of obesity and Type II diabetes because of our poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles," she said. "Now is the time to move forward in a positive direction to help our young people live a healthy active lifestyle. These videos will be a part of that process."
Contact: Lori Smith, UNI instructor in teaching/Price Laboratory School, (319) 273-2558
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations (319) 273-2761
3/13/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Christopher Denison, assistant director/informal recreation and aquatics, Wellness and Recreation Services, (319) 273-7263
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
UNI Wellness and Recreation Services names December/January employee of the month
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Wellness and Recreation Services has chosen Becca Geffers, a freshman communications major from Grand Mound, as the December/January employee of the month.
Geffers has served as a lifeguard and aerobics instructor at theWellness and Recreation Center.
"Becca has great supervisor evaluation and is extremely popular with her co-workers," said Christopher Denison, assistant director of informal recreation and acquatics.
###
3/13/02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lynne Ensworth, UNI instructor in teaching, Price Laboratory School, (319) 273-7235
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
Note to assignment editors: Mr. and Mrs. Fish will be available for interviews at 10 a.m. To arrange other times, contact Lynne Ensworth.
'Mr. and Mrs. Fish,' world renowned marine educators, to perform at UNI's Price Laboratory School on March 15
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- A pair of marine educators, known throughout the world as "Mr. and Mrs. Fish," will bring their bright and colorful presentation to the University of Northern Iowa's Price Laboratory School Friday, March 15. Performances will take place at 8 a.m. for middle school students, and at 9 a.m. for elementary students, in the school's Butzier Auditorium. They will do follow-up presentations in the classrooms throughout the remainder of the day.
Mr. and Mrs. Fish are husband and wife, Jeff and Deb Sandler. The pair has performed in 29 states and 19 countries during the past 20 years, and consider themselves "global ambassadors for ocean learning." This will be their first presentation in Iowa.
The duo are "extremely dynamic educators who teach marine science by costuming themselves in bright, creative costumes as humorous sea creatures and acting out life in the sea," said Lynne Ensworth, UNI instructor in teaching at Price Lab. She has seen their presentation several times and says their creative dramatic shows "have audiences roaring with laughter, all while gaining a wealth of solid ocean learning. They have adopted a 'laugh as you learn' approach to education."
The Mr. and Mrs. Fish program is based at Southern Maine Technical College in South Portland, Maine. Among their numerous awards is the Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding public service to the environment. They also have been recognized by the National Water Environment Federation for their nationwide contribution to teaching about clean water.
To learn more about Mr. and Mrs. Fish, visit their Web site at www.mrandmrsfish.com.
###
3/13/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
J.D. Cryer, UNI/MPLS Summer Middle Level Symposium director, (319) 273-2294
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
UNI's Malcolm Price Laboratory School offers summer enrichment program in June
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Malcolm Price Laboratory School (MPLS) will offer a summer enrichment program from June 17-28 for students who have completed fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The symposium, in its second year, has new course activities and offerings for 2002, and will emphasize academic and social needs of middle-level students.
"Although high-achieving and high-ability students are sought for this program, the desire to learn and the ability to work cooperatively with teachers and students are equally important," said Megan Balong, UNI instructor in teaching at MPLS and co-director of the summer enrichment program.
Enrollment fee is $200 and the deadline for registration is April 30. Financial assistance may be available. For more information contact J.D. Cryer, director of the symposium, at (319) 273-2294, or JD.Cryer@uni.edu. Additional information is available on the program Web site at http://ists.pls.uni.edu/7th/balong/symposium/smls.htm.
###
3/13/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Megan Balong, UNI instructor in teaching, Malcolm Price Laboratory School, (319) 273-7174
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing and Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
Price Laboratory School's students in state math competition, March 15
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Students at the University of Northern Iowa's Price Laboratory School's will compete in the state MATHCOUNTS competition in Des Moines on Friday, March 15.
The students qualified for the state competition last month at the Northeast Iowa Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition, taking first place in the team category for the second consecutive year. Alexander Rapp placed first in the individual competition, also for the second year in a row, while Atulya Iyengar placed fifth. Other team members are Jenny Hills and Ben Strever. Price Lab mathletes also competing were Sid Mitra and Nicky Singh.
Coach of the team is Megan Balong, instructor in teaching at Price Lab. Balong is assisted by volunteer coach, Atul Mitra, UNI associate professor of management.
###