You Say Potãto, I Say Potäto: Problems Associated With the Lack of Shared Meaning in Instruction and Learning

Abstract

Physical educators see physical education as a time for purposeful instruction in motor skills and fitness-related health concepts. but children perceive physical education as a time lo play and have fun. This lack of shared meaning between teacher and students for the purposes of physical education has the potential to negatively influence instruction, participation, and learning, Teachers often assume that differing responses to instruction reflect off-task behavior, but the benefit of the doubt should be given to students until the teacher can accurately determine student motivations and understanding leading to particular task responses. Rather than perceiving children's incorrect responses to instruction as misbhavior, it may be much more helpful for teachers to investigate other reasons underlying such responses.