In this inspiring conversation, we explore what happens when a small-town PE teacher from Minnesota follows an unexpected path across the world and discovers that the true power of physical education isn’t in the skills we teach, but in the human connections we build. Drawing on experiences from Thailand to Bahrain to Oman, Luther shares how global teaching, core values, and intentional relationship-building transformed his approach to PE. From helping students feel seen, to using games to nurture character, to creating classrooms where every child belongs, this PE Huddle reveals how leading with joy, curiosity, and heart can shape meaningful learning and lifelong movers.

Episode Highlights

15:31 — Pause + Paraphrase (Instant De-escalation Tool)
A simple script: pause, paraphrase their perspective, then respond—builds trust and lowers conflict.

18:10 — RIVER Lens: Diagnose Disengagement Fast
Use Relevant, Important, Valued, Empowered, Respected to pinpoint what a student isn’t getting—and fix it.

26:11 — Co-Creating Class Values Kids Actually Own
Student discussion → dot-vote → Word Cloud turns “rules” into shared identity and buy-in.

30:23 — Values → Visible Behaviors (Make It Actionable)
Define what values look like in PE (observable behaviors), not just posters, anchored to SHAPE Std 3.

36:41 — Catch Kids Doing It Right (Culture Shift)
Flip the script from constant correction to highlighting what’s going well! Students copy what gets celebrated.

38:11 — Fire & Ice: A Game That Teaches Helping + Inclusion
Level up a tag game so kids can “save” others, then debrief the social-emotional learning it surfaces.

39:38 — “I Finally Feel Seen in PE Class” (Belonging Moment)
A student’s quote becomes the lesson: inclusion and community can matter more than skill benchmarks.

46:52 — Redefining Success: Small Wins Now, Lifelong Movement Later
Success is individualized (inviting someone in) and ultimately measured by whether students choose movement for life.