Inclusive Education
Inclusive Education promotes an inclusive community and inclusive communities promote an inclusive world. I believe that children with disabilities and children without disabilities should be educated together because everyone benefits and this is the best possible education for all students. Children with disabilities benefit from being education with their typically developing peers because they receive the same education by content experts and are given the same high expectations with the support of the special educator. Inclusive education benefits students with disabilities by allowing them to socialize with their peers, making friends with same age children and raising their self-esteem because they are seen as equals. Children without disabilities learn to work AND PLAY with diverse populations and gain all of the strengths that any student can bring to class.
Universal Design for Learning
UDL is a philosophy and a research based framework that offers potential and success to an inclusive classroom through its flexibility and engaging atmosphere. UDL encourages teachers to provide multiple means of representation to teach content in a variety of ways, rather than teaching to only one learning style. UDL also allows students to engage in multiple ways that meet their needs. Some students prefer books, some prefer videos, and some prefer games; UDL allows all students to be engaged in the curriculum. My favorite part of UDL is that it allows students to demonstrate what they know and allows teachers to assess their students' understanding through multiple means of expression. Some students may otherwise appear uneducated or exempt from learning because they learn differently than what traditional assessments offer.
Inclusive Education promotes an inclusive community and inclusive communities promote an inclusive world. I believe that children with disabilities and children without disabilities should be educated together because everyone benefits and this is the best possible education for all students. Children with disabilities benefit from being education with their typically developing peers because they receive the same education by content experts and are given the same high expectations with the support of the special educator. Inclusive education benefits students with disabilities by allowing them to socialize with their peers, making friends with same age children and raising their self-esteem because they are seen as equals. Children without disabilities learn to work AND PLAY with diverse populations and gain all of the strengths that any student can bring to class.
Universal Design for Learning
UDL is a philosophy and a research based framework that offers potential and success to an inclusive classroom through its flexibility and engaging atmosphere. UDL encourages teachers to provide multiple means of representation to teach content in a variety of ways, rather than teaching to only one learning style. UDL also allows students to engage in multiple ways that meet their needs. Some students prefer books, some prefer videos, and some prefer games; UDL allows all students to be engaged in the curriculum. My favorite part of UDL is that it allows students to demonstrate what they know and allows teachers to assess their students' understanding through multiple means of expression. Some students may otherwise appear uneducated or exempt from learning because they learn differently than what traditional assessments offer.
Examples of using UDL in the PE classroom:
- Prezi's offer an engaging accessible representation of the content students are required to learn in PE. They can also be accessed outside of class with the internet. https://prezi.com/t3o-zfmhlauc/the-5-components-of-fitness/
- Short stories allow PE and other teachers to create stories that teach key concepts and terminology or modify literacy to meet the student's needs. http://storybird.com/books/happiness-a-personal-discovery-and-a-choice-to-be/?token=r66qvs6z3j
- Ever think of H2O as assistive technology? That's right water gives people a sense of freedom and allows their body to do things that may seem impossible otherwise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2o6uFSJpSshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJtLnO0_s0Y
- AT devices for the pool can be used for swimming and other physical activities http://www.adaptedaquatics.org/equipment.htm
- Natural Reader, ReadBooks, Wordle, Spelling City and other instructional supports used in the special and general education classroom can be used in PE to support content literacy.
- Audio books are a great way for students to access the PE curriculum AND they can listen while they move! http://www.audible.com/
- Ringing sport balls allow students with visual challenges to participate in a fun game of volleyball or basketball with their classmates http://www.flaghouse.com/FLAGHOUSE-Ringing-Basketball-item-6201
- Using Smartphones (or tablets) as pedometers, to measure heart rate, or to log personal fitness is an engaging way for students to practice their skills in a form that is familiar to them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu9RKqlmD1Q
- Edmodo is facebook like website that is made for teachers to create a safe, instructional resource for their students to reinforce their understanding and skills. Physical educators can use this to post prezis, short stories and other engaging material for introductions to material or for students to reflect. Edmodo can also encourage family involvement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-KBwriCO-Q