Debates in Physical Education explores major issues physical education teachers encounter in their daily professional lives. It engages with established and contemporary debates, promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their own point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. In addition, concerns for the short, medium and long term future of the subject are voiced, with a variety of new approaches proposed. Key issues debated include: What are the aims of physical education? What should be covered in a physical education curriculum? How should we judge success in physical education? Is physical education really for all or is it just for the gifted and talented? Can physical education really combat the rise in obesity? What is the future for physical education in the 21st Century? Debates in Physical Education makes a timely and significant contribution to addressing current contentious issues in physical education. With its combination of expert opinion and fresh insight, this book is the ideal companion for all student and practising teachers engaged in initial teacher education, continuing professional development and Masters level study.

Debates in Physical Education explores major issues physical education teachers encounter in their daily professional lives. It engages with established and contemporary debates, promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their own point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. In addition, concerns for the short, medium and long term future of the subject are voiced, with a variety of new approaches proposed. Key issues debated include: What are the aims of physical education? What should be covered in a physical education curriculum? How should we judge success in physical education? Is physical education really for all or is it just for the gifted and talented? Can physical education really combat the rise in obesity? What is the future for physical education in the 21st Century? Debates in Physical Education makes a timely and significant contribution to addressing current contentious issues in physical education. With its combination of expert opinion and fresh insight, this book is the ideal companion for all student and practising teachers engaged in initial teacher education, continuing professional development and Masters level study.

Issues in Physical Education stimulates student-teachers, NQTs and practising physical education teachers to reflect on issues important to improving teaching in physical education. It encourages reflection and debate as an important part of professional development. Issues discussed include: aims as an issue in physical education breadth, balance and assessment in the physical education curriculum equality and the inclusion of pupils with special needs in physical education progression and continuity in physical education between primary and secondary schools community initiatives in physical education physical education, health and life-long participation in physical activity.

The book provides an insight into the current situation of PE in schools across Europe as a forerunner to addressing PE-related existing and emerging issues in various contexts.

Sociocultural Issues in Physical Education: Case Studies for Teachers is useful to a wide range of individuals interested in increasing their sociocultural awareness and knowledge in order to consider how students’ experiences are shaped in and through physical education classes. This book may be especially useful to teacher candidates and as a professional development tool. What happens in physical activity learning spaces is of great significance to the learners that occupy those spaces. Broadly speaking, one cannot deny that education is rife with error, nor can one ignore the presence of global-level issues in physical education. Using a case study approach, this book addresses social and cultural issues that can and do arise in physical education. This book offers a tool for studying and better understanding how social and cultural issues impact student learning in physical education. Chapter authors point toward possibilities for better understanding sociocultural issues in physical education settings.

This powerful text encourages both pre-service and established teachers, as well as teacher educators, to engage with contemporary debates in primary education. Promoting a critical approach, the chapters explore a wide range of key themes including the importance of values in primary education and the imperative for a curriculum which embraces the whole range of available subjects. At the same time, the chapters are underpinned by a belief that children should be at the heart of all the decisions we make and that primary education should inspire a love of learning, for life. The book aims to support practitioners to make informed judgements and feel confident to argue their point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding, thus increasing teacher agency and confidence in responding to complex educational and social dilemmas such as literacy levels and rising mental health concerns. Chapters encompass both the macro aspects of primary education and more specialised debates on key topics such as reading, mathematics, languages, early years education and the use of technology. With annotated further reading and reflective questions, this key text is essential reading for all those wanting to develop a better understanding of the issues that shape their practice including student teachers at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, practising teachers engaged in continuing professional development and teacher educators.

What are the risks and benefits of non-parental care for young children? What are the short- and long-term effects of academically vs. play-focused environments for learning? How and when should we teach reading? What are the purposes of Education? What is the best way to teach mathematics to children, from preschool and beyond? Contemporary Debates in Childhood Education and Development is a unique resource and reference work that brings together leading international researchers and thinkers, with divergent points of view, to discuss contemporary problems and questions in childhood education and developmental psychology. Through an innovative format whereby leading scholars each offer their own constructive take on the issue in hand, this book aims to inform readers of both sides of a variety of topics and in the process encourage constructive communication and fresh approaches. Spanning a broad spectrum of issues, this book covers: Phonic and whole language reading approaches The developmental effect of non-parental childcare The value of pre-school academic skill acquisition The most effective methods of teaching mathematics Standardized assessment – does it work? The role of electronic media and technology The pedagogical value of homework The value of parents’ reading to children. This book combines breadth of vision with cutting edge research and is a ‘must have’ resource for researchers, students and policy makers in the fields of education and child development.