jolanda hengstman (Jolanda)
New member
Username: Jolanda
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 9:43 am: |       |
Hi Lannette,
Take a deep breath, you will be o.k. as long as the teacher (who is to supervise/advise you) is on the ball. First of, start changing the jargon you are using: children with disabilities (instead of disabled children), students who are mainstreamed (instead of mainstreamed children), teaching assistants/assistants (instead of aids). Hope you get my drift.
Find out if you can meet beforehand a few times, and possibly observe your lead teacher. That way you can gather some information about the different disabilities and how the teacher is adapting to make participation safe and successful. This will also help lessen your anxiety.
Since there is no specific information in your e-mail here are a number of general suggestions:
. Ask the students when you are at a loss, they may surprise you.
. Think outside the box, 5 on 5 basketball game with students sitting on the side or playing referee is not a good choice. Easy adaptable situations such as multiple games of bocce (using a ramp, shorter court, different ball, individual or group game) is.
. Not everyone has to do the same thing at the same time 
. Not everyone needs to do everything.
. Not everyone needs to rotate to every stations.
. Warm-up activities, music and dance, floor gymnastics/stretching, joga/balances, juggling, etc. are good activities to get started with and easily adaptable.
. Go online, however don't get snowed under by the pletera of information. Keep it organized, simple, with little explanation and lots of opportunities to move.
. It is o.k. to repeat a lesson a few weeks in a row to allow learning to take place.
Good luck,
Jolanda Hengstman, CAPE, NBCT
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC |
