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Daily Self Assessment in PE
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Daily Self Assessment in PE

Many times assessment can seem overwhelming.

Especially if you are teaching at the Elementary Level and see over 500 students a week.

While it can be overwhelming and the last thing that we want to think about, assessment is important.  It informs our instruction and helps us understand where our students stand, how effective our instruction is and lets us know if we are doing our jobs well or if we need to work on some areas of our instruction.

Assessment also helps students be aware of areas they need to improve and helps them realize their strengths – it’s important feedback.

Daily Self Assessment

The easiest and most efficient way I have found to do regular formal assessment is to provide criteria each day for students to do a daily self assessment.

We go over what each “grade” means at the beginning of the year and give students a “Bonus Challenge” each day for the “Wow Challenge” of the day.

We have 4 options for students to choose as their daily PE grade each day: “Wow”, “Good Job”, “Keep on Trying”, and “Need More Effort”.

The way we do this assessment is by lining students up at the end of class and having them tap the signs that are on the wall of our gym as they are on their way to line up to leave the gym – this indicates the grade they are giving themselves for the day.

Whats the point?

One of the inspirations for this self assessment came from reading the book Hellison’s Model for Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (check it out if you haven’t heard of it).

We want kids to take responsibility for what they say and do in our classes.  The easiest way to check and make sure kids understand where they stand is to have them do a quick self assessment.

It’s also a great tool for teachers to recognize when a student might have a lower self-perception than they should – this is a great opportunity for the teacher to have a conversation and encourage them.

In general, I like helping kids build the habit of reflection – it’s a great tool for them to have in their toolbox and can help them become better every day.

You can check out the video below to see how I explain the Self Assessment to kids at the beginning of our school year:

What Our 4 Options Stand For:

  • WOW – I followed all expectations and achieved the bonus challenge of the day
  • GOOD JOB – You followed all the PE rules and expectations
  • KEEP ON TRYING – You followed ALMOST all of the PE rules and expectations
  • NEED MORE EFFORT – You had to go to refocus or missed out on PE time because you chose not to participate

*Our bonus challenges change each week and just depend on what unit we are teaching and are always related to our Grade Level Outcome goals for that lesson.

  • Did you set a personal record for yourself or make it to the Healthy Fitness Zone during our Fitness Test today?
  • Did you make it all the way across the rock wall?
  • Did you touch the pink flag on the climbing rope?
  • Did your team win a relay during our Field Day Practice?
  • Was your team able to make it “across the river” during our adventure lesson today?
  • Were you able to do all the locomotors in the “Call it Macaroni Song” while keeping your body in control and moving to open space?
  • Was your team able to complete the Hula Hut Relay challenge today before the music stopped?
  • Did you keep your ball under control and not let it go out of bounds?
  • Were you able to jump rope for 1 minute without stopping?

Poster Templates

Since starting this system, I’ve updated the posters with some new illustrations and also listed the criteria for each grade on the different posters to help students understand and to be more clear with expectations.

I’ve also included some templates if you would like to do a Bitmoji version like I have – props to all the other cool teachers who had this idea first and shared it with me by posted it online, my kids think it’s hilarious.

Virtual Version

I made a “Virtual” version of the poster that I used in virtual instruction during our live Google Meet Classes and also have been using during our face to face classes at the end of each class.  I just ask the kids to put a hand on their heart with a number 1, 2, 3 or 4 that corresponds with how they feel they did that day.

Honestly, I prefer the wall slap, but if you don’t like that method and prefer just having your kiddos hold up their fingers to show you where they think they’re at this would work well.

It’s also good if you’re teaching virtual for any reason.

I’ve included it in the download below if you’re interested.

 

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A post shared by Ben Landers (@thepespecialist)

You can download the Free Self-Assessment Posters below:

 

I would have never predicted how much kids love to hit that “WOW” on the way out of the gym each day – it really does motivate them to do their best and push them to play hard.

Most importantly it helps students take responsibility for their actions and learn to be more aware of their performance through reflection at the end of each lesson.

I have been using a version of this type of system ever since my first year teaching when my Mentor teacher showed me something similar.  We were using Gold, Silver and Bronze at the time, because it was the year of the Olympics.

You can use whatever words, illustrations or pictures you’d like, but the concept stays the same.  While this isn’t the only form of assessment I use, it is a backbone of my program and keeps me accountable to assess my students and gives my students time each day to reflect on how they performed in Physical Education class.

Variation:

Check out some other teachers using the Self Assessment Below: 

 

Do you teach outside?

If so, check out Julie Vergenz idea for doing this when outside below – great idea!

 

What other great ways have you integrated assessment into your Phys Ed Lessons?

 

Have Fun and Teach On!

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I would love to know your strategies for refocusing. I teach preschoolers and am always looking for new ways to refocus or redirect them.

    Reply

    • If you can figure out how to get kids to stop talking then you’ll have the million dollar secret.

      This has and will probably always be as struggle, but here are a few things I’ve done to try & help with it

      How to get kids to pay attention in class:

      * “They don’t care what you know, till they know that you care”
      * Create good relationships with kids, mutual respect goes a long way
      * Know your “Key Phrases”
      * Check out this post for a few of my most common phrases: https://www.thepespecialist.com/peteachertalk/
      * Explain that the more they talk, the less they get to do/learn/play (here’s an example)
      * This ONLY works if the lesson/activities are fun and engaging, so that’s a pre-requisite
      * Do a quick Call / Response review of the rules with them each day
      * Start class with an instant activity
      * Here are some examples: https://www.thepespecialist.com/warmupactivities/
      * Provide consequences:
      * If it’s 2-3 students you can separate them or have them sit out or refocus
      * Talk Less
      * If possible, try to keep any instruction segment to under 5 minutes – not always possible, but it’s a goal that I try to achieve whenever I can
      * Create a Positive and Fun Culture
      * Create a culture where students want to be there so bad that they remind their classmates who are not following directions to stop before you have to – this is “positive peer pressure”
      * Incentives and Levels
      * Provide class incentives/motivations for listening in order to get through the content quickly
      * Eg.) “Man… If ya’ll keep talking I don’t think we’ll get to Level 5 in the game today… that’s a shame, because it’s the most fun part of the game and since you’re in 5th grade – you’ll never get to play this game again… ”
      * Award students with a small prize or certificate if they win a game or competition or for excellent behavior (have a “Player of the Day” Award)
      * Prevention Over Cure
      * Sometimes with certain kids I know are going to struggle, I just pull them to the side and have a chat with them before class begins (while everyone is warming up) and explain that I want them so participate, but if they disrupt the class and waste everyone’s time, I will have to ask them to sit out and refocus themselves… usually an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
      * If you haven’t seen my Classroom Management Training, check it out below:
      * https://www.thepespecialist.com/hacks/

      Hope that helps!

      Reply

  3. I can’t get the self-assessment posters to open after I download them. It keeps saying that the destination is not available. I’ve downloaded several of your other things and today the same way and they worked just fine, so maybe it’s something with the link?
    Thank you for sharing all of your cool tools by the way!

    Reply

  4. Hi! Thank you so much for the help tips you provide on this channel. It has truly taken away some of the anxiety of being a first year teacher. I am reaching out to let you know that the link to the self assessments are not allowing me to download to my computer. I keep getting the following error message “Windows cannot complete the extraction…The destination file could not be created”. I am not sure what that means but I wanted to make you all aware. Thanks again.

    Reply

  5. Hi Ben. Love this! Do you have some wow challenge suggestions/ideas you can share? I’m sure they are related to the unit you are in, but I’d love to hear about some of yours so I can start building some of my own ideas. Thanks! ‘

    Keep up the good work!

    Brock

    Reply

    • Sure thing Brock

      The wow challenge could be anything you want. It could be psychomotor, cognitive, or affective.

      Wow challenge ideas:
      Winners of activities
      Number of points scored in an activities
      Name all the critical cues of a skill

      Pretty much anything you want

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

  6. The zip file is unrecognizable on our computers for some reason. It says it cant open the extension. I’ve tried the TPT rout as well with the same issues. Not sure if I’m the only one but all other files I have used have downloaded and unzipped just fine.

    Reply

  8. Hi All – I think I saw something on the site in the past for recording these daily assessments, a way for teachers to keep track of students daily scores with this system. Did I see that here or do you have a good/efficient system for that? Thanks!
    tony

    Reply

  9. Can we download an updated copy of the self assessment posters? I have tried several times and it won’t load. I have returned to teaching after retiring 3 years ago. I love these ideas and appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks

    Reply

  10. The downloadable link for the free self-assessment posters is not working. I wanted to use this resource.

    Reply

  11. What do you when a student has just had an “off” day behaviorally. They want to give themselves a 4 or Wow but you think a 1 or 2 or keep trying would be more appropriate?

    Reply

    • Hey Jamie!

      Great question! If you have time, it’s a great opportunity to discuss the self assessment with the student. Ask them how they think they did. This will give you the opportunity to discuss their behavior in class and how it could be affecting their ability to learn based on your goals and outcome for the lesson.

      Having that communication with a student helps to put the situation in perspective and add the reflection piece. Reflection is a great tool to teach students as well.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

    • Hey Kaila,

      Thanks for reaching out!

      It’s totally up to you. Sometimes we keep track of how they grade themselves but mostly we use the time for students to reflect on their performance.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

  14. Love your ideas… Thanks for sharing! I’ve been teaching 21 years & I still have times when I hit a brick wall. Seeing a different perspective is truly magical!

    Reply

  15. Hi, I have downloaded the self assessment files but can’t seem to open them? It says windows cannot complete the extraction & the destination file could not be created?

    Reply

    • Hey Pam,

      Sorry about the issue!

      Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

      As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist just search “Self Assessment”

      Hope this helps!

      Reply

    • Hey Jim,

      Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the resources! We tried to update them to give students more of a visual.

      Reply

  17. I am taking a PE Hacks Course and LOVED the Daily Self Assessment pictures. I went to download them, and the zip file they are in says “The destination file could not be created”. Is there another way to get these? These are such a great idea and Id hate to miss out on it!

    Reply

    • Sorry about the issue!

      Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser caching issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers, clearing your cache and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

      As a another option you can also find some of our products on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

      Reply

  23. Your ideas and routines are awesome. We manage our gym very similar 🙂
    Please give an example of a the bonus challenge. I love the self assessment.

    Reply

  24. Hi I can’t seem to open the free posters. It just takes me back to the top of this page. Is there anyway you can email them to me or I can find them elsewhere? Thank you, I appreciate it. [email protected]

    Reply

    • Sorry about the issue – just tested and it’s working fine on our end, so I’d recommend checking with your tech team if you’re at a school.

      Usually, this issue is related to a school filter, pop-up blocker, or browser issue – so we’d recommend trying from another computer, switching browsers and making sure all pop up blockers have been turned off.

      If that doesn’t work you can also find some of our free downloads on our Teachers Pay Teachers Page Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Pe-Specialist

      Reply

  25. Hey Ben, you shared a great ideas on how to deal in different PE lessons and assessments/ observations. It’s a refresher site also to the PE teachers after a long summer vacation.

    Hope you post some more PE lessons/ ideas, integrated in different academic subjects.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  28. I’m super thrilled to have come across your site! As a new PE teacher teaching in an elementary school I can see that this information will be very helpful for me – MANY THANKS!!! Assessing my students does seem daunting – right now I’m just trying to put names to faces and I really like how you go about having the student’s self-assess themselves. After reading and watching your video I’m just wondering what you’re doing while the students are tapping on the assessment poster. How do you remember what a student tapped out on and record that information? Or are you simply observing them and making mental notes?

    Thanks
    Gabe

    Reply

    • Usually I already have recorded anything I need to before the end of class, so I already know which students have completed the “bonus challenge” and which students need to hit “keep on trying” because they had a behavior issue or didn’t follow class expectations. I record those things as they happen – so at the end I usually know what kids should be hitting – it’s just letting them take responsibility for it.

      Sometimes I don’t record the self-assessment at all – it just depends on what we’re doing. Even if you don’t record it, it’s still valuable for kids to reflect and then gives you the opportunity to talk to them about why they chose what they did.

      Reply

  30. First of all I am so thrilled to have stumbled upon your website. I have only just begun checking it out and am already amazed! As a PE teacher who doesn’t have a PE department to collaborate with, this site is a “gift”!
    Now concerning the daily self assessment you have described here, I am curious how you handle the student who self assesses too high or too low; especially if it is a continuous behavior?
    Obviously I would want to speak with the student(s) but how do you manage that when you have one class entering almost as quickly as one class is leaving?
    Thanks,
    Alyson

    Reply

    • Thanks Alyson! Usually If I need to speak with a student I just ask them to come over and we walk out of the gym together and discuss the grade. The main thing I try to do is have them explain their assessment to me, instead of me explaining it to them – after all it is a Self-Assessment. That way I can guide them with questions to help them understand why they might be incorrect – or maybe they were correct and I just wasn’t aware of everything that was going on. I have 5 minutes in between classes, so it’s enough time to have a quick chat with a student on the way out.

      Reply

    • Hey Dan. I see my kids once a week – 50 minutes, I wish it was more. The daily self assessment is definitely my bread and butter and is tied into everything we do in the gym. I also do a lot of teacher observation and make quick notes based on a 1,2,3 rubric for skills. We have official tests AKA “Challenges” as I like to call them, for things like throwing skills, jumping rope & locomotor travels. Also, I just started using Plickers this year, to log student knowledge – details here

      Anytime we do assessment, I try to work it into a lesson, so students don’t even think of it as a test and are learning throughout the process. I don’t see my kids enough to waste a whole class on an assessment without any type of lesson or learning going on.

      Reply

  32. How do you deal with a student who maybe refuses to self-assess his or herself? And how do you keep students willing self-assessment participants throughout the whole year?

    Reply

    • This is part of the culture that I’ve built in my program and also goes along with part of my school’s mission for our students. We want kids to learn to “Take Responsibility For What You Say and Do”. I talk about it at the beginning of the year and kids usually don’t have a problem admitting that they made a mistake, if they do that’s a great opportunity for a conversation where you help them understand that bad behavior/decisions lead to bad consequences just like good behavior/decisions lead to good results.

      Reply

  33. First of all, just want to say I love your website! I am also an elementary pe teacher, and one of the main things I struggle with is how to assess on skills efficiently and effectively. With teaching so many students, I find it very hard to assess on all their grade level benchmarks. I only see my students every 3 days and so when I have them I don’t want their class to be full of assessments I want them to have fun and enjoy getting some exercise. Just wondering how you assess your students skills?

    Reply

    • Hey Traci! I totally understand, assessment is tough and can be time consuming. I usually try to assess skills through observing and using a checklist type rubric for the key components of the skill. The students know they are being assessed, but it’s usually during activity or a game situation, so it’s not taking away from activity time. I also find it helpful to remind myself that the reason I’m assessing is to inform my instruction and help my students understand where they are, not just for grades. One thing I am going to try and do this year is plan more peer assessment in my classes, because I think it will help students understand the assessment process a little bit better. Thanks for checking out the blog!

      Reply

  34. Having switched from middle school to elementary, I find this very helpful. I have used the Hellison model in the past for student self evaluation. Thank you for putting it in simple format!

    Reply

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