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"Teaching for Physical Literacy: How Mosston Teaching Styles can help students become lifelong mover


As a physical educator, you may already be familiar with the Mosston Teaching Styles, which were developed by Dr. Muska Mosston and Dr. Sara Ashworth. These styles are a set of teaching strategies that can be used to enhance student learning in physical education. Mosston identified 11 different teaching styles, ranging from command style to discovery style, and each style has its own unique characteristics and benefits.


However, before diving into the specifics of Mosston Teaching Styles, it's important to understand the concept of physical literacy. Physical literacy is defined as "the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life." It involves not just the physical aspect of movement and exercise, but also the cognitive and emotional components, such as understanding the benefits of physical activity and feeling motivated to engage in it regularly.


Now, let's take a closer look at the Mosston Teaching Styles and how they can be used to promote physical literacy in students.


Command Style: This style involves the teacher taking control of the class and giving explicit instructions to students. While it may not be the most student-centered approach, it can be effective in certain situations, such as when introducing new skills or drills.


Practice Style: In this style, students work individually or in small groups to practice specific skills. The teacher provides feedback and guidance as needed, but the focus is on students taking ownership of their learning.


Reciprocal Style: This style involves students working in pairs or small groups to teach and learn from each other. It can be a great way to develop teamwork skills and foster a sense of community in the classroom.


Self-Check Style: In this style, students are given a checklist or criteria to assess their own performance. This encourages self-reflection and self-improvement, as well as developing students' ability to set and achieve goals.


Inclusion Style: This style involves modifying activities to allow for the participation of all students, regardless of ability level. It emphasizes the importance of adapting activities to meet the needs of diverse learners.


Guided Discovery Style: This style encourages students to explore and discover new skills and concepts on their own, with guidance from the teacher. It can be a great way to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.


Convergent Discovery Style: In this style, students are given a problem or challenge to solve, and work together to come up with a solution. The teacher provides guidance and feedback, but the focus is on students developing their own solutions.


Divergent Discovery Style: This style encourages creativity and divergent thinking, as students are given open-ended tasks or challenges and are encouraged to come up with multiple solutions.


Learner-Designed Style: In this style, students take ownership of their learning by designing their own activities and setting their own goals. The teacher serves as a facilitator and provides feedback as needed.


Self-Teaching Style: This style involves providing students with resources and materials to learn independently, with minimal guidance from the teacher. It can be effective for promoting self-directed learning and building independence.


Group Investigation Style: In this style, students work together to investigate a topic or issue, with the teacher serving as a facilitator. It can be a great way to promote teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.


By incorporating these various teaching styles into physical education lessons, teachers can help promote physical literacy in students by providing a range of experiences and opportunities to learn and grow.




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