I am writing to you from my
hotel room in Orlando, FL., while I prepare to be a part of the
single largest democratic convention in the USA. The National Education
Association (NEA) Representative Assembly has ascended on Florida.
Imagine 10,000 teachers making decisions as a collective body -
WOW!
I am hoping to get a better update as to the status of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act, ESEA (also known as No Child Left Behind)
during the Special Education caucuses. Another important piece of
legislation for students with special needs is I.D.E.A. The word
on the street is that the rules and regulations for the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) will be released from the
Department of Education sometime in late August or early September.
These regulations will shape the intent of the law, which ultimately
the states will have to adhere to and implement, hopefully to the
betterment of students with disabilities.
Talk with your special education administrators this fall about
changes in the law and how they will affect your students with special
needs. Some states, as a result of new federal legislation such
as ESEA, are working hard to insure that physical educators are
"highly qualified" to serve students with disabilities.
Indiana is a state leading the way by infusing both NASPE and Adapted
Physical Education National Standards (APENS) in developing criteria
for beginning teacher competencies. Read more about their infused
standards on the NCPERID
website.
I don't know about you, but I love preparing for another school
year! There is something about the rhythm of a completed school
year, and looking forward to and planning for great things the following
year! I ask myself this question every day, "Did what I teach
today affect student learning?" As I get closer to a new school
year I take a deeper and more comprehensive look at curriculum,
assessments used, peer tutoring, and paraprofessional training and
equipment, which supports my instruction. Then I ask myself the
question, "With supported data that I have taken on students,
did what I teach this last school year affect student learning?"
In this back-to-school section, consider taking a comprehensive
look at assessment procedures, consider workshops/conventions to
further your understanding of individual with disabilities, determine
equipment purchases, curricular decisions, and peer tutor/paraprofessional
training as you begin to plan for this upcoming school year. Best
wishes for a wonderful start to a fantastic school year of exceptional
student improvement and learning!
Kathy
Brinker
Adapted Section Editor
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Midwest
Adapted Physical Activity Conference
November 18, 2006
Pheasant Run Resort, St. Charles, Illinois
This Midwest District
sponsored event will run following the IAHPERD (Illinois) Convention
being held on November 16th and 17th. The Illinois Coalition of
Adapted Physical Educators invites you to "come to Illinois"
and be part of the excellent sessions being provided during the
IAHPERD convention. Some of the sessions will include (but not
limited to): Autism/PDD, Fitness for individuals with Developmental
Disabilities, Assessment in Adapted Physical Education, Paraprofessionals
in PE, Cycling Instruction, and Extend rubrics.
Dr. Lavay, this year's
keynote will be speaking on two separate topics, both at the IAHPERD
convention and the Midwest workshop. You won't want to miss these
three jam packed days of adapted sessions! Whether you are a standard
physical educator, or an adapted physical educator, there is something
for everyone. Register for the IAHPERD convention
beginning in late August, and/or register
for the Midwest workshop.
Keynote: Dr.
Barry Lavay
Dr. Barry Lavay is a professor of the Department of Kinesiology
at California State University, Long Beach, where his primary
responsibility is to train students to teach physical education
to individuals with disabilities. Dr. Lavay's scholarship interests
are in the areas of behavior management, pedagogy, and physical
fitness testing and programming for individuals with disabilities.
He is the co-author of two textbooks, Positive
Behavior Management in Physical Activity Settings (2nd
edition, 2006), and Physical Activity for Individuals with
Mental Retardation: Infancy through Adulthood.
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Curriculum
Will what I teach today affect healthy lifetime decisions for
my students? Check out these grim statistics.
We as physical educators have to do better at educating for a
lifetime. This has a fancy name; transition planning. Because
it often takes longer for our students with special needs to acquire
skills, we need to be very intentional about curriculum. Some
questions that may guide your decision making are:
Does what I am teaching this student have a high degree of probability
of being followed through in a community setting for this student
after graduation? Does my curriculum involve choice for students?
Have I taught this student all the steps to being successful and
independent in this activity outside of school?
The ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens)
has a great link for considerations in integrating students into
community environments - the Community
Integration Report.
Assessment
Looking for a comprehensive
list of assessments that can be used for students with disabilities?
PE central has a great link; http://a-ape.com/.
Many manufacturers of assessments have a preview period to assure
that you have the right tool. Consider previewing one of these assessment
protocols to better meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Elementary
Physical Education Teaching & Assessment - A Practical Guide
This guide is designed to make the assessment process not only easier
but also more manageable. Assessment becomes not a burden in a teacher’s
life but an essential teaching tool that assists students in learning
what they need to learn - and indeed can motivate and challenge
them to take charge of their learning. - source:
Human
Kinetics
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This is a website dedicated to Wheelchair Sports Videos.
There are free wheelchair sports videos of:
* Wheelchair rugby
* Wheelchair paragliding
* Wheelchair skateboarding
* Wheelchair Tennis
* and much more
If you like this website, please give it a link so that
others can find it:
Click Here: http://www.newdisability.com/videos.htm
and/or post in the forum.
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Blaze
Sports
On Saturday, November 18th, the Midwest
District AAHPERD will be hosting a one-day workshop focusing on
sports and activities for individuals with physical and sensory
impairments. Blaze sports of America, and therapeutic recreation
specialists from the Northern Illinois area, will be hosting sessions
on wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball and other net activities,
class 1 and 2 activities such as boccia, slalom, field events for
track, and other activities for individuals with severe impairments.
There will also be sessions on seating
positioning for individuals in chairs while participating in sport.
You will have the opportunity to meet, observe, and jump in a sport
wheelchairs, and play alongside elite athletes. After the introduction
of the activities by athletes and therapeutic recreation specialists
from the Northern Illinois area, adapted physical education teachers
from the Midwest will demonstrate, and explain, adaptations needed
to include students with a variety of disabilities (including individuals
with severe disabilities) in physical education activities.
Checklists and rubrics will be available
to take back to your classroom to begin implementing with your students
right away!
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| Equipment
Purchasing: Consider, as you begin a new school year, ordering
equipment which will help meet the needs of your students with special
needs. Some considerations when ordering equipment:
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Students
with Autism require a variety of textures, shapes, and colors.
Usually one sensory modality at a time. Many are visual learners.
Consider ordering fuzzy bean bags, balls that light up, equipment
that jingles. Don't order large quantities on the first go around.
Buy one or two, and see what type of equipment your students
gravitate towards. Ask the student's classroom teacher or parent
if they have a favorite color. |
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Students
with severe physical disabilities often will require equipment
that is lightweight, and can change shape when grasped and manipulated.
Also consider equipment that can be suspended from a string
for ball handling activities if they are unable to catch. |
Need trikes/bikes for students with special needs.
Many parts of the country have retired engineers putting together
adaptive bikes for kids in their community. Contact your local chapter
of telecom
pioneers.
If you require specialty equipment for adapted physical education,
try this online catalog - Access
to Recreation. Equipment that has been modified for standard
physical education settings can be found at Abilitations
(sportime catalog for special needs equipment). Flaghouse
has major sections of special needs equipment.
If you need assistance from grants and local charity/ service organizations
to purchase equipment, consider purchasing Physical Educators' Guide
to Successful Grant Writing by Louis Bowers. You will find many
service organizations in your local that would be interested in
assisting you in purchasing equipment for students with special
needs. This publication can be purchased in the AAHPERD
bookstore. |
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Personal
Safety & Health: How to help kids. Give them
the best child safety and health information. This information
is provided by a police officer. With the
right information, there is a lot you can do to dramatically improve
your children's security and health by taking simple, but very important
steps. Parents and teachers possess the ability and power to effectively
train children to become incredibly safe, live healthy lifestyles,
and help your children achieve everything you want for them in their
lives.
This is a site you should really take time to look through and utilize.
LOTS of great information! I could not figure out how to run across
this page from the left-hand menu, but be sure to carefully read
this page: How To Teach Your Kids About Safety Without
Scaring Them Or Stealing Away Their Innocence. |
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Teacher's Guide to Including Students with
Disabilities in General Physical Education - This revised
version has more strategies and ideas on how to include students
with disabilities of all ages in general physical education classes.
To be found at amazon.com, but you can also find a lengthy description
of the book at New
Horizons for Learning.
Guidelines
for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong Physical Activity
Among Young People - These guidelines identify strategies
most likely to be effective in helping young people adopt and maintain
a physically active lifestyle. The guidelines were developed by
CDC in collaboration with experts from other federal agencies, state
agencies, universities, national organizations, and professional
associations. - source: CDC
Physical Education Curriculum
Analysis Tool. The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis
Tool (PECAT) will help school districts conduct a clear, complete,
and consistent analysis of written physical education curricula,
based upon national physical education standards. The PECAT is customizable
to include local standards. The results from the analysis can help
school districts enhance existing curricula, develop their own curricula,
or select a published curriculum, for the delivery of quality physical
education in schools. - source: CDC
Moving
to Inclusion - "Active living through physical
education: maximizing opportunities for students with a disability"
has been developed to help you include students with a disability
in your school's physical education program.
Understanding and Responding
to Children's Needs in Inclusive Classrooms - a 114 page
downloadable
guide for teachers.
Inclusive
Creative Movement and Dance - Inclusive Creative Movement
and Dance helps teachers guide students with diverse abilities to
express their feelings and ideas through creative movement experiences
involving dance learning, dance making, and dance sharing. Of equal
value to new and veteran teachers, this book provides in-depth coverage
of inclusive dance instruction, including teaching strategies, practical
learning experiences, movement problems for students to solve, and
more. - Human
Kinetics
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Looking
Out for Latex - As students with medical conditions
are mainstreamed into classrooms across the nation, the possibility
of a student with a latex allergy, both diagnosed and undiagnosed,
that could cause a life-threatening situation increases. In my
own classroom, a student who was unaware she was latex sensitive
experienced a severe Type 1 allergic reaction to rubber bands
during an activity. As a result of this experience, I realized
that as a teacher, I needed to know more about this condition.
I'd like to share the information I have discovered with colleagues
who will undoubtedly interact with students who have latex allergies.
Read the rest.
Latex
Allergy - This article, as well as the article above,
is well worth reading for it provides some extremely good information
on latex, the body's reaction against latex, and how to manage
and treat allergies caused by this product. See also the movie
provided at MedlinePlus.
What
to Do When Your Student Has Asthma - Close to five
million children under the age of 18 in the U.S. have asthma.
Asthma may occur at any age and is often diagnosed in young children.
As a teacher, finding out as much as you can about asthma is extremely
important.
CHASE
- Coalition of Health for Asthmatics in Sports & Exercise.
CHASE, the Coalition of Health for Asthmatics in Sports &
Exercise, is an alliance of asthma education advocates, athletic
directors, certified athletic trainers, doctors of osteopathy,
educators, parents of asthmatics, physicians, nurses, and school
administrators concerned with the undiagnosed and under treated
student asthmatic athlete.
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Games
for Children with Inclusive Focus On Special Needs
FREE ONLINE
Games, activities, and tools to educate and entertain children.
All the games have an inclusive focus on children with special
needs - particularly autism.
The games target various skills like social/play,
imitation, sorting/differentiation, visual/auditory memory, math,
emotions, eye contact, mouse control, and so on.
Best
New Games: 77 Games and 7 Trust Activities for All Ages and
Abilities - Best New Games is the only book available
that presents New Games. These cooperative, interactive games
are for groups of all ages and abilities - and they're meant to
be played just for fun.
Pantomime
- Mime some favorite activities. Using pantomime, children can
"talk" without speaking.
Home
Olympics - Organize simple athletic events. Help
your children create their own Home Olympics! Try to hold your
event outside, or put mats on the floor indoors. Remind children
that the object is not to win, but to have FUN! |
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