Chapter 33 Building Support for Your Program

Chapter 33 Key Points Support from a variety of sources is required to develop a program Support for physical education is important because it is: Generally regarded as less important that other subjects Expensive to maintain Building support requires more than being a successful teacher. You need to be also a politician, a public relations director and a fundraiser.

Chapter 33 Key Points Building Support First build a good PE program Principal: Most important support; educate them about your program Colleagues: Win them over by helping them understand the value and quality of your program Parents: Are particularly helpful in acquiring external funding School Board: Cultivate positive relationship right from the start and invite them to your program Community support can enhance your program Legislator: May be necessary to contact legislator regarding how legislation may affect your program. Students: Children themselves are a source of support when they talk positively about your program

The Populations Needed to Support Your Program School administration (principal) Colleagues in your school Parents School board Community at large Legislators Students

Ideas for Gaining Support from the Seven Populations Gaining Support from Your Principal You and your principal observe a physical education program in a nearby school Invite your principal to visit your classes and follow-up the visit to talk about what he or she saw Ask your principal to view videotapes of other teachers Give your principal articles and books that are relevant to your program

Ideas for Gaining Support from the Seven Populations (cont) Gaining Support from Other Teachers in Your School Work on a collaborative project together Work with a classroom teacher to complete writing assignments for physical education in the classroom Find ways to “in ‑ service” classroom teachers about your program Invite a teacher to observe his or her class in physical education class Make a point to develop rapport with teachers (at lunch, etc.)

Ideas for Gaining Support from the Seven Populations (cont) Gaining Support from Parents Attend PTA (PTO) meetings regularly, even if you’re not required to do so Talk to parents, and invite them to visit your program Present a program for parents, involving as many children as possible, that represents attend your program Send a “beginning of the school year” letter home, informing parents about your program, rules, how you can be reached, and so forth Develop a monthly or quarterly newsletter for parents Use bulletin boards to display students’ work and to let others know about your program

Ideas for Gaining Support from the Seven Populations (cont) Gaining Support from Parents (cont) Send “good news” notes about a child’s accomplishments Use positive phone calls to communicate Write letters to your students Hold an “open house” several nights a year Schedule a parents’ work night Organize a family run Schedule a speaker for parents only Invite parents with special skills to share them with your physical education classes (i.e. karate expert, step ‑ aerobics instructor)