SHAPE MT 2026: Full Schedule

1:00pm MDT

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm MDT

This session will give teachers the knowledge, skills, and confidence to teach yoga in a physical education setting. Participants will learn breathing techniques and yoga poses. Yoga games, activities, and assessment ideas will be also shared. Learn how to make yoga fun and adaptable for all grade levels.

Speakers

Kristen Santos

PE Teacher: Massachusetts TOY '24

I have been teaching physical education in Massachusetts since 1998. I am also an E-200 RYT. Recently, I have united my two professional worlds by presenting around the country on how to implement yoga into the PE Curriculum. You don't need to be an expert to teach yoga in the... Read More →

Sunday August 2, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Big Gym

8:00am MDT

Holiday in Motion: PE Fun For Every Season

Monday August 3, 2026 8:00am - 8:55am MDT

Big Gym

This activity-based session will explore active and inclusive activities for PE that can be used to celebrate holidays! Discover fun ways to promote movement, cultural appreciation, and community spirit in your gym or classroom through joyful, seasonal play! Learn to incorporate holidays into PE supporting physical development while fostering a welcoming environment for all students.

Speakers

Brian Devore

Professional Development Director, OPEN

Monday August 3, 2026 8:00am - 8:55am MDT
Big Gym

about <br>

9:00am MDT

High Flying Frisbee Games

Monday August 3, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am MDT

Big Gym

This session uses frisbee progressions to demonstrate classroom management, social skills, physical skill development, and assessment. Participants will also be given the basics on how to backwards design a standards based Flying Disc Unit.

Speakers

Will Potter

William Potter is a San Francisco native and currently teaches physical education at Serendipity School in Belmont, California. William has been teaching Physical Education since 2002 and has been an OPEN National Trainer since 2018. In 2019 William was honored as the CAHPERD... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am MDT
Big Gym

10:00am MDT

Omnikin: Have a BALL with Action-Packed Fun for All!

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am MDT

Big Gym

Whether you are looking for a new or modified team sport, cooperative and community-building activities, or fun with fitness and skill development, Omnikin has you covered! This exhilarating and dynamic session will feature highlights of our famous lightweight, non-threatening 14”-48” balls that will generate excitement in your classroom like never seen before! Both your students and you will surely have a BALL!

Speakers

Meaghan Schrader

Meaghan Schrader just finished her 20th year as a physical education teacher in Missoula, Montana. She received her bachelor degree from the University of Montana and later, she earned her Master of Education at Montana State University Billings. Over the course of her career she... Read More →

Monday August 3, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am MDT
Big Gym

11:00am MDT

One Net, Three Games

Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:55am MDT

Big Gym

Make the most of your volleyball nets with this dynamic, hands-on session! You’ll learn how to introduce and play volleyball, NitroBall, and Eclipse Ball, integrating them seamlessly into your curriculum. Through engaging skills, drills, and gameplay, you'll experience each sport firsthand while discovering practical ways to bring them into your school. Plus, explore sample unit plans to help you implement these games with ease. Get ready to move, have fun, and transform the way you use your volleyball nets!

Speakers

Sawyer Koplien

Middle School Physical Education, Health Education, and Adapted Physical Education Teacher, Unified School District of Antigo

2024 SHAPE America Major of the Year

Monday August 3, 2026 11:00am - 11:55am MDT
Big Gym

1:00pm MDT

YOGA in Secondary Phys Ed

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm MDT

Big Gym

"YogaInPhysEd" for secondary PE: See how yoga aligns with SHAPE America Standards. Participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to teach yoga in a physical education setting to middle and high school students. Assessment ideas will be shared as well as beneficial classroom management strategies. No yoga experience is required.

Speakers

Kristen Santos

PE Teacher: Massachusetts TOY '24

Monday August 3, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm MDT
Big Gym

2:00pm MDT

From Chaos to Calm: Turning Conflict into Your Greatest Teaching Tool to Build Self-Regulation

Monday August 3, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm MDT

Big Gym

Teaching is harder than ever, and educator burnout is on the rise. At the same time, many students lack essential soft skills—communication, resilience, empathy, and problem-solving—needed for success in school and life. Increased trauma, challenging behaviors, and a culture shaped by screen time and isolation are intensifying demands on teachers, often without adequate support.
But what if we shifted our thinking? What if we could reconnect with our purpose, rediscover our spark, and strengthen our classroom culture?
This session explores how to intentionally build strong classroom communities by embedding social-emotional skill development into daily practice—starting at the elementary level. Educators will learn to lean into conflict and student dysregulation as powerful teaching opportunities. Practical frameworks such as Zones of Regulation and Kelso’s Choices, along with reflective questioning strategies, will support self-awareness, regulation, and problem-solving.
Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies to support students while reducing burnout.

Speakers

Meaghan Schrader

Monday August 3, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm MDT
Big Gym

about <br>

4:00pm MDT

TRY RUGBY

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 4:55pm MDT

Big Gym

Coming

Speakers

Montana Institute of Sport

Monday August 3, 2026 4:00pm - 4:55pm MDT
Big Gym

8:00am MDT

The ABC’s of Adventure: Teaching Physical & Social Education

Tuesday August 4, 2026 8:00am - 8:55am MDT

Big Gym

This session is designed to demonstrate how physical educators can incorporate concepts like connection, trust, creativity and energy into their curriculum. Additionally this session will provide participants with strategies, activities and games focused on developing teacher to student and student to peer relationships for their students. This session will also include an overview of the SEL competencies, and how they are related to the physical education standards.

Speakers

Will Potter

Tuesday August 4, 2026 8:00am - 8:55am MDT
Big Gym

9:00am MDT

Kick It Up a Notch: Fresh, Fun, and Engaging Kickball Variations

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am MDT

Big Gym

Tired of traditional kickball where most students just stand around? This high-energy session introduces innovative kickball variations designed to get everyone moving! With unique rule twists, multiple balls in play, and non-stop action, these games boost engagement, teamwork, and fun. You'll leave with creative, easy-to-implement ideas that keep students active, involved, and excited for PE. Come ready to play and discover how to transform kickball into an inclusive, fast-paced experience that works for all skill levels!

Speakers

Sawyer Koplien

Middle School Physical Education, Health Education, and Adapted Physical Education Teacher, Unified School District of Antigo

2024 SHAPE America Major of the Year

Tuesday August 4, 2026 9:00am - 9:55am MDT
Big Gym

10:00am MDT

Traditional games Rock in Fist & Run and Scream

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am MDT

Big Gym

There are many Traditional games of the Montana Tribal groups and this training will provide knowledge of the game Rock in Fist and the game Run and Scream. Teachers will be able to play the games to gain confidence to teach their students.
Traditional Games provide a cultural connection for Indigenous students and a tie to Indian Education for All for all students. This helps provide a connection between school and the cultural significance of the location.
Traditional Games are rooted in character development by learning the traditional stories that embed each game. In addition, the stories and games teach citizenship and sportsmanship. Essentially developing those who play to be better community members.
Additional training will be required at another time to learn how to make other games.

Speakers

Carolyn Rusche

kindergarten teacher, Billings Public Schools

As a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux, I have dedicated much of my life to learning and preserving my Nakoda language and culture.

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:55am MDT
Big Gym

12:00pm MDT

Fumbalya

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:55pm MDT

Big Gym

Fumbalya is a football based game that involves a lot of catching, throwing, running, strategy, tactics, chasing and fleeing. It can be played indoors or outdoors. It can be played with 5-12 people per team. With 2 to 4 teams on 1 big court or 2 smaller courts. Equipment requirements are 2 to 4 footballs, pinnies, and cones to mark goals. The presentation would involve a throwing, running, and catching warm up. A rules of the game walk-through. And game play. Fumbalya can be adapted to any court or field size. Essentially there are no out of bounds. I would prefer to present inside, but if court space is limited we can move outside.

Speakers

Kevin Layton

Health & PE teacher at Custer County District High School in Miles City. Primarily teach games based classes to 11th and 12th grade students. To our 9th and 10th grade students I teach a mix of health, personal fitness, and games. I am also the head cross country coach, head... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:55pm MDT
Big Gym

1:00pm MDT

From Read Aloud to Active Learning

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm MDT

Big Gym

This session explores how children’s literature can become a powerful tool for teaching health concepts through movement. Participants will see how books such as A Bad Case of Stripes, Taking Asthma to School, I Can Eat a Rainbow, and How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids can be used first as classroom health toolbox lessons and then extended into meaningful PE games and activities that reinforce each topic. Walk away with practical ideas that connect literacy, health, and physical education while helping students build understanding through movement, discussion, and play.

Speakers

Erin Evans

Hi my name is Erin Evans. I have been teaching Elementary Health and PE for 11 years in Billings Montana. I an honored to have received the Teacher of the Year from SHAPE Montana in 2024 and was awarded SHAPE America Western District Teacher of the year in 2025. I have 6 kids and... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:55pm MDT
Big Gym

2:00pm MDT

Nine Square In the Air Games

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm MDT

Big Gym

You may know the traditional game, but what about all the "extra" games?? Come learn a few of the extra games!

Speakers

Montana State Students

Montana State University

Come and join the members of Montana State University as they lead you in the newest games out there! These students have traveled throughout the Western SHAPE district, presenting to teachers of all backgrounds and ages. They will help you reinvent your old games and bring life... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm MDT
Big Gym

1:00pm MDT

8:00am MDT

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11:00am MDT

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4:00pm MDT

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9:00am MDT

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2:00pm MDT

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