In a recent podcast episode, I invited colleagues to share one academic article that has had a lasting impact on their careers in physical education. What followed was less a technical review and more a thoughtful conversation about why certain pieces of research continue to influence how we teach, what we study, and how we work with young people.
Risto’s Pick: Co-Creating with Students
I kicked things off by revisiting Kim Oliver’s 2009 article on co-creating curriculum with fifth-grade girls. This piece reminded me why I shifted my own teaching toward student voice and choice. Instead of simply delivering lessons, Oliver’s work challenged me to ask: How can students help shape what happens in PE? For practitioners, the message is clear—when young people feel ownership, especially those who might otherwise feel excluded, their engagement and learning deepen.
Kevin’s Pick: Understanding Teacher Journeys
Kevin Richards chose Sparkes, Templin, and Schempp’s 1993 article on occupational socialization. This research explored the life histories of PE teachers, highlighting how personal experiences shape professional identity. Kevin reflected on how this piece helped him better understand not only his own journey but also the challenges and assumptions other teachers bring into the profession. For educators, it’s a reminder to pause and consider how our backgrounds shape our classroom choices—and how we might support colleagues navigating their own paths.
Erin’s Pick: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
Erin Centeio shared Gloria Ladson-Billings’ landmark 1995 article on culturally relevant pedagogy. The framework—academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness—continues to guide her work today. She spoke about applying these principles in diverse communities and how they can help teachers move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. The takeaway for practitioners: culturally relevant teaching is not an add-on, it’s an essential lens for ensuring all students thrive.
Michael’s Pick: Learning to Research
Michael Hemphill reflected on Byra and Karp’s 2000 article about qualitative research methods in PETE. For him, this piece was foundational—it shaped the way he approached research questions, collected data, and even taught research methods to his own students. Beyond the academic angle, the article highlighted the value of slowing down, listening, and digging deeper into the lived experiences of teachers and students.
Emily’s Pick: Partnerships That Work
Emily Jones selected Prusak and colleagues’ 2010 article on systemic success in PE, which studied the East Valley phenomenon. She shared how the framework—university-district collaboration, professional development, common curriculum, and a district coordinator—helped guide her leadership in a large-scale partnership. For teachers and administrators, this article is a blueprint for sustainable change, showing how collective effort can transform programming for students.
Why These Articles Matter
What stood out in our conversation is how personal these connections were. Each article wasn’t just “good scholarship”—it shifted the way we saw teaching, research, and the purpose of physical education. For practitioners, revisiting articles like these can serve as both inspiration and grounding, reminding us of the bigger picture when day-to-day pressures take over.
Final Takeaway
Research matters most when it translates into practice. Whether it’s co-creating lessons with students, reflecting on our professional journeys, teaching with cultural relevance, embracing qualitative inquiry, or building strong partnerships—these articles continue to shape the way we work with young people. And that, ultimately, is what makes them timeless.
Risto’s article:
Oliver, K. L., Hamzeh, M., & McCaughtry, N. (2009). Girly girls can play games/las niñas pueden jugar tambien: Co-creating a curriculum of possibilities with fifth-grade girls. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 28(1), 90-110.
Kevin’s article:
Sparkes, A. C., Templin, T. J., & Schempp, P. G. (1993). Exploring dimensions of marginality: Reflecting on the life histories of physical education teachers. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 12(4), 386-398.
Erin’s Article:
Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). Toward a theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. American Educational Research Journal, 32(3), 465-491.
Michael’s article:
Byra, M., & Karp, G. G. (2000). Data Collection Techniques Employed in Qualitative Research in Physical Education Teacher Education. Journal of Teaching in Physical education, 19(2).
Emily’s article:
Prusak, K. A., Pennington, T., Graser, S. V., Beighle, A., & Morgan, C. F. (2010). Systemic success in physical education: The East Valley phenomenon. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 29(1), 85-106.