Lauri is an advocate of integrating the content areas such as math, reading, science, and social studies into her physical education classroom. Students are able to see the connection between classroom activities and life-long learning. She emphasizes the fact that healthy bodies and healthy minds go hand-in-hand.

How has the way you teach changed over the years? What lessons have you learned?

I truly believe I became a better teacher after I became a mom. I had a new perspective on how the family works and expectations of children. I began to understand the complexities of trying to raise a family and work full-time, as so many of our parents do. This experience gave me more patience with the students at school. I began to imagine that each child was my own, and I would think to myself, "How would I want a teacher to treat my child?"

I also realized that each parent loved their child as much as I loved mine and they were sending their most prized possession to school each day. I needed to teach them as the gifts that they were. With this new knowledge, I began to teach the child instead of teaching the "content." I try to meet the needs of each student instead of the needs of the class. I differentiate instruction instead of making the student learn my way.

What advice would you give to a teacher who's starting their first year and feels overwhelmed?

Every teacher is overwhelmed during the first years of teaching. The teacher is so worried about observations, discipline, grade reports, their content area, planning, and standards that there is no time to come up for air. This can be a suffocating feeling that is easy to run from. To beginning teachers I say, "All things are difficult before they are easy." The first time you walk, you stumble. The first time you ride a bike, you fall down. The first time you drive a car, your parents hold their breath.

With practice and support, you manage to conquer these "firsts." Teaching is no different. Take advantage of the resources your school system provides. Many schools provide mentors for first- and second-year teachers. Administrators are taking a more active role in classroom instruction and are a valuable resource. Internet web sites such as Thinkport are beneficial in planning and getting ideas. Above all of this, remember why you became a teacher. You have a strong desire to teach children — you pursued this profession for a reason. You want to make a difference in student¹s lives. Believe in yourself and you will succeed.

What role does technology play in your classroom? What are its strengths and weaknesses?

Incorporating technology into physical education has been a challenge for me. Fortunately, with the recent fitness movement, technology provides feedback for people that are exercising. It was often difficult to teach a child how to find and count a pulse rate. Electronic heart rate monitors have made this easier. Now I can spend more time on teaching target heart rates instead of just counting a pulse. The students learn more about how the heart works in conjunction with the rest of the body. Childhood obesity is of great concern among our youth. Computers and Web sites offer me the opportunity to teach body mass index and how to determine it for our students. Students are once again educated about their body and how to take care of it instead of just being told to exercise.

What do you think is the key to your success?

I believe the key to my success as a teacher is due to my flexibility and my relationship with the students. Flexibility is a word you will hear in education forever. All students have different needs and teachers are constantly accommodating for those needs. This is very true in physical education. All children are developmentally different. I must find ways for students to enjoy exercising, no matter their ability level. Every child is not a star athlete, but every child has the ability to take care of his body. This includes healthy eating habits as well as exercise. I find ways for everyone to feel good about exercise as opposed to feeling bad that they cannot hit a baseball with a bat. Exercise needs to be fun or a student will not want to do it. Let¹s face it, we all want to have fun and we all need to be healthy.

My students know that I truly care for each and every one of them. Building relationships is key to teaching children. I have heard my principal say repeatedly; "Children don¹t care how much you know until they know how much you care." When a child knows you care, they are willing to take risks for you, knowing that you will support them when they stumble. They will trust you completely and work to please you. When this happens, you know you have made a difference and the child will succeed.