AU NEWS FEED Year 1 (2016) Issue 3

Hello teachers and happy holidays to all of you.

During this time it is very important to keep routine, structure, and expectations consistent.Also keep noise levels and sensory overload as low as possible.

Strategies: Repeat what worked so far this year.

Use head phones to block out the noice.

Give the class a “heads up” the day before by providing a visual schedule for PE.

Have a say in when your classroom is taken over by holiday rehearsals and the like.

Have a plan B. What can you teach in the classroom?

Here are a couple of great ideas how to use visuals and keep students on-task.

Individulized schedule on inside of a manila folder. Great for inclusion settings as well.

Variety of counting boards to help students understand how many/how many times they are expected to do a skill or activity.

Create your own visuals Take pictures of everything. Use them in the phone or on the I-pad or print the pictures as needed. Use your photos for conversation starters, what equipment is needed, and what the skills are supposed to look like.

Making choices for Special Olympics competition

Getting involved in training your students for the Special Olympics competitions will make your day. It is a very rewarding experience. Touch base with classroom teachers to find out what students are signed up for.

The winter sports they are currently training for are Bowling

Ice-skating

Basketball (skills and teams)

Cheerleading

The spring sports are: Softball (skills and teams)

Swimming

Track and field

Motor activities training program

(Volleyball)

General pointers when choosing the sports:

  • Individual sports work better than team sports.
  • Predictable situations such as skill stations work better than group games.
  • Repetitive activities work better than open ended activities.
  • You may get bored of repetitive practice, but the student may feel a sense of accomplishment and increased independence.

Resources:

  • Exercise Buddy, an app for the I-pad.
  • Online, free, newsletter by Linda Hodgdon
  • quick video movement and dance ideas. Great for small spaces.
  • Adapted PE is listed under Physical Education.
  • The NC Adapted PE Advisory Council’s website.
  • Autism PPT (PowerPoint) on scroll down to resources.
  • Sport catalogues for pictures.
  • Classroom teachers and speech pathologists for pictures, communication needs and general information.
  • CMS Adapted PE department at 980-343-2684 for pictures, curriculum ideas, equipment, etc.