Huntington PE Teacher
Publishes New Book
Lynn Hefele has done it again. The Huntington School District physical education teacher has penned another illustrated book. Ziny's Driving School is aimed at helping educators teach about spatial awareness and safe movement in the gymnasium. It's sure to be snatched up by teachers around the country.
A 23-year Huntington faculty member, Mrs. Hefele is a graduate of Springfield College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in movement science with a concentration in biomechanics.
Mrs. Hefele's first book, Clean Up Your Backyard was printed by P3 Publishing of Texas last year. Her latest volume was published by LEPE, Inc. Even more titles are on the way.
"The goal of LEPE, Inc. (Literature Enhanced Physical Education) is to develop teacher resources that help motivate and educate children through their imagination," Mrs. Hefele said. "While teaching motor skills and physical fitness are the primary focus of these books, the new emphasis on the 'common core' has me looking at how my lessons can better address the ELA standards and make physical education a partner in teaching literacy."
Ziny's Driving School is aimed at K-3 teachers and students. "By flying with Ziny and Teacha on 
their very first driving lesson, students will learn the movement vocabulary and locomotor skills necessary to establish a carefree physical education environment," according to promotional material for the book.
Teachers utilizing the new book as a resource will follow three steps: Read the book, introduce the skills and activities and then encourage students to use their imaginations to act out the story while practicing their skills.
"While I have made many mistakes along the way, I am learning as I go and am getting better at the process," Mrs. Hefele said about her book writing initiative. "My goal is to publish a teacher resource for each motor skill in the K-3 physical education curriculum. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAPERD) has shown support for my project."
The new illustrated book includes a fictional story, three comprehensive and easy to implement lesson plans to teach spatial awareness, safe movement speeds, locomotor skills and primary social skills and a rubric for locomotor skills.
"I am very happy with my new illustrator, Frank Scicchitano," Mrs. Hefele said. "His beautiful illustrations brought Ziny to life for the children. I also have to thank Karen Fischer and the children of Jefferson Primary. Their imagination has helped develop the lessons into meaningful experiences in the gymnasium." Ms. Fischer is a physical education department faculty colleague at Jefferson School who is also known as a dynamic teacher.
Mrs. Hefele hopes the result of the new book will be "intrinsically motivated children enthusiastically engaged in aerobic activity, while learning to move safely and cooperatively in the gym."