Who Am I? 

My name is Christina Nyentap, B.H.K. (hons), and I am a teacher candidate in the Bachelor of Education program at the University of Ottawa. I am specializing in Health and Physical Education (H&PE) and English Language Arts at the Intermediate/Senior level.

Ontario Health and Physical Education Association (Ophea)

In 2020 I worked for Ophea as a Projects Assistant where I had a role in Marketing and Communications and Projects such as Health and Physical Education at Home, #DPAEveryday, and eLearning. Working with Ophea gave me an incredible skillset that I can take into my future teacher career. Some of the skills I obtained were critical thinking, creativity, multi-modal presentations, video editing, graphic design, reviewing skills, professional development from webinars, concise writing abilities, social media skills, advocacy skills, and in-depth, varied knowledge of different approaches to teaching the Health and Physical Education Curriculum material. The things I learned with Ophea will carry forward into my future professional practice and transfer into my students diverse and differentiated learning experiences. I was a huge fan of their resources before I began my journey with them, and I am an even bigger advocate for what they do now. 

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Ophea Canada: https://www.ophea.net

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The InterActive for Life Project (IA4L)

I am a research team member and co-author of the InterActive for Life Resource with Rebecca Lloyd and Anika Littlemore. What inspired me to get involved in this project is my interest in fitness and promoting physical activity in youth. I aspire to be active-for-life and a learner-for-life and I hope to inspire my students to do the same. My goal in my career is adults who look back in retrospect at H&PE with more positive experiences than negative ones. We need to help students discover meaningful H&PE, to find something relevant that they can latch onto for the rest of their lives, and this won’t look the same for everyone. I believe InterActivities might be that hook for some students. 

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I was introduced to the InterActive for Life project through an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. My role later expanded into a Research Assistant where I had a large role in the development of the InterActive for Life Resource for Teachers and Coaches (relevant to all current contexts for H&PE implementation). From being involved in this InterActive for Life Project, I have learned to be more open to different modes of exercise and now fully understand what it is like to integrate social-emotional learning H&PE curriculum links within fitness interActivities. Having to focus on a partner just as much as myself in a somatic sense is much different than my previous H&PE experiences. Partnered exercises require synchronicity, communication, and somatic sensibility. The activities I have developed might look easy but they offer a total body workout that combines fitness components and movement competence! I look forward to introducing more fitness interactivities in my teaching practice and inspiring other teachers to do the same. 

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The InterActive for Life Project: https://function2flow.ca/the-interactive-for-life-project/

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Gloucester Recreation Development Organization (GRDO)

I also work for the Gloucester Recreation Development Organization as an assistant coach for basketball, soccer, volleyball, and Jamming Juniors. The programs run for ages 4 - 14 years old.

GRDO: https://grdo.ca

Spare Time

I really believe in living H&PE - meaning living out the fundamental principles of the Health and Physical Education curriculum. It is so important to practice what you preach! I keep myself busy with outdoor activities (e.g., cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and hiking), the gym, yoga, and headstands.