Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a physical education teacher looks like? While students only see their gym teachers once a day, gym teachers spend an entire day up on their feet. From setting up various activities first thing in the morning to engaging with numerous students and ensuring the class runs smoothly.
The most basic thing to cover in the lives of gym teachers is their day to day routines. Most of the physical education teachers have similar schedules, but there are some things that differ. Specifically for physical education teachers Jill Dunleavy and Brandon Silva, they have some similarities and differences in their routines.
“I wake up in the morning and drive to school all the way from Wyckoff. It’s about a thirty minute drive. Then when I get here I get right to work. I make coffee and have my morning catch up with Mr. Sterinsky. Then we set up the activities for the day,” Silva said.
On the other hand, Dunleavy starts her day a bit differently.
“My drive is about 10 minutes so not too bad. When I get to school I go through the activities that will be in rotation for the day and set them up. 90% of my day is standing,” Dunleavy said.
Preparation for gym classes is an essential part of a physical education teacher’s job. Every morning and afternoon, teachers are tasked to set up nets and grab all of the supplies needed for each activity. During a typical class, many different activities are running simultaneously in order to keep the attention and participation of as many students as possible. There are numerous different aspects and factors to remember when planning for different classes.
“Failing to prepare is preparing for failure,” Silva adds, “plan your work and work your plan.”
For the classes Dunleavy teaches, she has observed over the years different game plans that work for specific classes. Depending on the class, she changes how teams are created.
“In my many years of teaching, I’ve learned that different classes respond to different game plans. For high-energy groups, we start quickly. I organize competitive teams and set up brackets to keep the intensity high. But for more laid-back classes, we adjust the rules and give students more freedom to make their own teams, allowing them a more relaxed experience,” Dunleavy said.
Something all the physical education teachers can agree on is the issue of cell phones in class.
“We try really hard to have fun activities…it [phones] makes it hard because if they don’t participate, we have to give them a zero. Phones are definitely one of the biggest issues for us,” Silva said.
Another big problem that is common amongst the gym teachers is class size.
“Class sizes are a huge challenge. Some classes are 50 students by myself, which makes it difficult to manage,” Boselli said.
Keeping students engaged during gym class is a problem all teachers can agree is one of the most difficult parts of their jobs. Boselli, Dunleavy and Silva have come up with unique ways to keep students entertained during class.
“I make it a point to interact with different students every class. By making new connections with students, they feel more seen and are more likely to engage in class,” Silva said.
Additionally, another factor that helps students stay engaged and enjoying class is playing music. Many teachers have found music a key to student satisfaction. Occasionally, teachers jump into different games and activities to keep students on their toes and add to the fun.
“Music helps keep the energy up and makes the class more enjoyable. It creates a fun environment for students to participate in. Sometimes I will jump into a game with the students to add excitement and keep things fun,” Boselli said.
Being a physical education teacher has its ups and its downs, but there are many parts of this job that are rewarding.
“Sometimes it could be hard to keep a class engaged and actually do the activity at hand, but one of the most rewarding parts of my job is when we have a class that really gets into the game and has a positive experience,” Dunleavy said. “When I was in high school, participation was a normal thing in PE, but now to have a class really get into an activity it feels great,” Dunleavy said.
Becoming a physical education teacher was always a path Silva wanted to follow for his future. Sports have been a major part of his life. His career as a physical education teacher has allowed him to combine his passion for both teaching and sports.
“I have always loved sports, coaching, and teaching. Being a physical education teacher has allowed me to create a positive impact on students every day, which is very rewarding. I have been teaching at NVD for 21 years,” Silva said.
Similar to Silva, Boselli has always known that she wanted to become a physical education teacher. Her love for sports, coaching, and teaching all combine for her passion of the job.
“I have always loved coaching. Playing soccer in college made me want to continue in this field. Growing up, my gym teacher had a big impact on me, and I always wanted to continue that and create a positive impact on other students. I have been teaching for 5 years, and this is my first year at NVD,” Boselli said.
However, Dunleavy has not always wanted to be a physical education teacher. She previously worked in pharmaceutical sales and had to go back to school as she knew this job better aligned with her.
“I previously worked in pharmaceutical sales and did not like it. I went back to school for a degree in education as I knew I wanted to become a physical education teacher. Working allowed me to have the same hours as my kids, which was very important. I have been working at NVD for 20 years. Seeing students enjoy class and being active makes my job very rewarding,” Dunleavy said.
