A collection of articles on the lifelong process of motor development focuses on: (1) neural changes in lifespan motor development; (2) the effects of developmental memory differences on learning motor skills; (3) physical growth and motor performance; (4) motor development in children with learning disabilities; (5) a motor development program…

Educational gymnastics uses a problem-solving approach to accommodate multiple correct solutions to open-ended movement problems in gymnastics. A four-stage framework is outlined to help teachers systematically increase and decrease task difficulty in educational gymnastics. Answers to common questions about educational gymnastics are provided.…

Less experienced teachers may present skill tasks to physical education students and athletes in a manner that is too complicated. This paper explains how beginning and intermediate learning of motor skills occur, noting implications for teaching in the verbal-cognitive stage for beginners and the motor- associative stage for intermediate…

Addresses three issues regarding developmentally appropriate physical education: what it means; what teachers must know (change occurs in an orderly, sequential fashion and is age and experience related); and how teachers can implement it (be skilled observers of movement and be clear about the purpose of the task). (SM)

This paper describes two practical assessment procedures that enable teachers to use time more efficiently in physical education class. One approach is for teachers who want to use validated or invalidated skills tests, and the other approach takes advantage of instructional progression steps. (SM)

This Maryland State Department of Education document is a guide for the assessment and development of comprehensive K-12 physical education programs in Maryland schools. The first section defines the nature of physical education and describes its relationship to society, the learner, and the school curriculum. The second section presents broad…

Eight papers present information about children's motor development and its application for program design. Jerry R. Thomas, Kathi T. Thomas, and Jere D. Gallagher discuss "Children's Processing of Information in Physical Activity and Sport." In "Toward Inclusion," G. S. Don Morris considers characteristics of children and of motor tasks with…

Behavior analysts have spent relatively little time in designing interventions to enhance motor development in typically developing infants and children. This study examines the effect of a motor training package consisting of opportunity to respond and practice (standing the infant and letting her hold the fingers of the experimenter),…

Growth concepts as they relate to motor development in children are discussed. The focus of this monograph is on structuring situations to help children develop physical skills. The first chapter deals with individual growth patterns, genetic and environmental influences on human growth, and the development of physical efficiency. Chapter two…

Intended for parents, the handbook describes characteristics of learning disabled (LD) children and offers activities that the child can perform in the home to build skill proficiency. It is explained that the activities are designed to relieve the parent and child of constant awareness of the disability, to avoid use of special materials and…

The guide is intended to familiarize primary grade teachers with the special learning characteristics of students with a high risk for a learning disability (those who are beginning to show an inability to work with symbols or to think abstractly) and to assist the teachers in the diagnosis of the specific nature of their learning problems.…

Educators have recognized the limitations of artificial assessments and called for more authentic assessments of student performance, i.e., assessment that is contextualized. In the field of movement education, teachers have typically tended to evaluate their students by administering skill tests, categorizing children for their developmental…

The effectiveness of three teaching styles in promoting motor skill acquisition and social skill development were examined in 96 fifth-grade students. Styles B, C, and E from Mosston's "Spectrum of Teaching Styles" appeared to be beneficial in helping students learn motor skills. (CJ)

Research about the retention and transfer of motor skills is reviewed and applied to physical education and sport settings. More research that is theoretically and empirically based and from which practitioners can draw their technology is needed. (Authors/CJ)

Psychological and motor performance modeling research literature is reviewed to identify important factors involved in and affecting the modeling process as it relates to motor skill acquisition. Future research directions are discussed, and implications for physical educators and coaches who employ modeling as an instructional technique are…