Volunteer Training
Physical Education Classroom Volunteers
Thank you for volunteering to support Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education in Seattle Public Schools! The “Let’s Go” PE unit can be a rewarding learning opportunity for youth and volunteers. Our goals are to help students share in the JOY of bike riding, encourage biking and walking for transportation and recreation, and to teach basic traffic safety and roadway rules. Volunteers play a big role in working toward these goals for each student in our district.
Classroom volunteers often support with helmet fitting, assisting small groups of new riders, working with an individual rider, adjusting bikes, and course set-up/take-down. Please work with your PE teacher to learn what they need help with, and determine which activities you feel comfortable supporting.
Volunteers may help students fit their helmets properly to ensure a timely start to the on-bike portion of the lesson.
Step 1: Sizing
Some students or teachers already know which size helmet to choose. If a student does not know, ask them to try on a helmet and ask if they would like help adjusting the fit with the spinning dial on the back. The helmet should fit snugly and stay in place when the student shakes their head “yes” and “no”.
Step 2: Fit Check
PE teachers use the 2-2-2 helmet fit technique to make sure students know how to safely wear a helmet. Learn how to use and teach the 2-2-2 technique with the classes you support in the video below.
Volunteer assistance is also frequently needed to support new riders who are learning to ride for the first time so that PE Specialists can move through the skills and safety curriculum during the 3 week unit. New riders often practice skills in the center of the gym bike track or in another area separate from experienced riders. Please help remind experienced riders to make space for and ride slowly near their peers who are learning. Experienced riders may also support their peers and friends who are learning to ride with teacher permission.
The following video series can help you teach the basics of bike balancing, braking, and pedaling.
Use the power pedal diagram (below) to help riders line up their pedals in the 1 o’clock position.
Most of the bikes used for the Let’s Go unit (pictured above) have 20″ wheels, coaster brakes, no gears, and are adjustable by seat height. Volunteers may help line up the bikes, adjust seat height using a hex wrench or Allen key, and add or remove pedals to bikes.
Volunteers may also assist with course set-up and take down. A sample course is pictured above, but follow instructions from the PE Teacher for specific course set up in the classroom.
Additional Information
- Find more detailed information for volunteering in the Cascade Bicycle Club In-Class Volunteer Presentation.
- Learn more about the Let’s Go Program, teacher resources, and curriculum on the Let’s Go website.
- Contact AJ Benaltabe (Cascade Bicycle Club Let’s Go Program Manager) for additional training support and resources.
Walk and Bike Group Volunteers
Coming soon!