#AdaptedPE Newsletter 5 (Week of 9/9/2024)

Welcome to our Adapted PE Newsletter! Our goal is to share innovative ideas, practical tools, and the latest updates to support your work in creating inclusive, engaging physical education experiences. Each week during the school year, we’ll bring you new insights and resources to help you stay inspired and connected. Whether it’s fresh teaching strategies, essential equipment, or professional development opportunities, we’re here to keep you informed and energized for the school year ahead.

Contents

Teacher Spotlight Adapted PE News You get a PVC stand! You get a PVC Stand!Equipment Showcase: NEX Playground- Like XBox Kinnect but better!Scholarly Insights Professional Development Opportunities The Talking Adapted PE Podcast Stay Connected Newsletter Archive

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Teacher Spotlight

Discover this week’s standout Adapted PE innovation that’s enhancing student engagement and inclusivity in the classroom.

Josh Porter is a true champion of Adapted Physical Education (APE), blending his expertise as an APE teacher and Special Olympics Coach at Milton High School in Georgia with his passion for powerlifting. Through his program, Big Dog Barbell Strength Training for Special Needs, Josh has transformed the lives of students with intellectual disabilities, guiding them to become world-class powerlifters. In 2024, he took his powerlifting team to Limerick, Ireland, where his athletes competed and broke world records at the Amateur World Powerlifting Congress (AWPC) World Championships. His dedication to fostering strength, confidence, and inclusion is nothing short of inspiring. For more about his innovative strength training approach, check out his blog post!

What an awesome day Team Big Dog Barbell had representing the USA at the AWPC World Championship! They broke PRs and World Records! Dave also picked up his 2nd Best Lifter Award at the World Championship! pic.twitter.com/Wpse5Vx2Oe
— Josh Porter (@Coach_J_Porter) August 27, 2024

Adapted PE News

Stay informed with the latest news, professional development opportunities, and research advancements in the world of Adapted Physical Education.

You get a PVC stand! You get a PVC Stand!

A group of dedicated Adapted PE teachers in Maryland has come together to create over 20 PVC leaf blower stands to distribute across schools, making physical education more accessible for all students. These stands are designed to ensure that students with diverse abilities can fully engage in adapted physical activities, reinforcing the belief that #AllMeansAll in PE. This initiative highlights the power of collaboration in fostering inclusive environments in schools across the state!

We(@mcpsape & @RushinPhysEd) made over 20 leaf blower stands to distribute to schools to help make PE accessible for ALL. @CaraGrant11 #AllMeansAll pic.twitter.com/ex5B2l3UNW
— Jeff Watkins (@LongviewAPE) September 3, 2024

Equipment Showcase: NEX Playground- Like XBox Kinnect but better!

We’re excited to introduce the NEX Playground System, a revolutionary addition to adaptive physical education. Designed to engage students of all abilities, this cutting-edge interactive video game system offers a variety of activities that promote physical fitness, coordination, and teamwork. From virtual bowling to exciting fruit-slicing challenges, the NEX Playground brings fun and inclusivity to PE, allowing every student to participate and thrive. Stay tuned to see how this innovative system is transforming adaptive PE! Learn more here

Nex Playground - The Active Play System for Kids & Families Where Indoor Physical Activity Meets Interactive Family Fun and is Great for Gaming Nights, Parties and Playdates

Disclaimer: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. These commissions help support the ongoing work of creating and sharing adapted physical education resources, guides, and inclusive activity ideas so that everyone can thrive in PE. Your support makes it possible to keep this site running and the content free for educators and families. Thank you!

Scholarly Insights

In their study titled “Can We Talk?”, researchers Sean Healy, Justin Haegele, and Steven Holland explore how responsive physical educators are to communication from parents of children with disabilities. Using a correspondence study, they found that parents of children with autism and Down syndrome were significantly less likely to receive positive responses from PE teachers compared to parents of children without disabilities. This highlights the urgent need for improved communication and collaboration between educators and parents, particularly in Adapted Physical Education.

Read the full article here.

https://twitter.com/Justin_Haegele/status/1830593307933585539

Professional Development Opportunities

Looking to elevate your teaching skills? The new OPEN Teacher Certification experience might be just what you need. This self-paced course includes 8 learning modules featuring insights from 13 OPEN National Trainers, covering topics like class management, culturally relevant teaching, and universal design for teaching. For a one-time payment of $125 (or $99 with the launch event special code: opencert99), you’ll get 6 hours of on-demand professional development, endorsed by Sterling College, along with exclusive Zoom meetings, a 1/4 zip, a banner, and access to a private Facebook group. Join educators from 26 states and 2 countries who have already become OPEN Certified Teachers. Click here to learn more and start your certification today!

Teacher Tip of the Day: NEVER stop trying to become better for your students. 19 years in and this course still taught me so much on how I can improve and do things differently to better serve my kiddos!! @OPENPhysEd #OpenCertifiedTeacher #PhysEd @nyaaronhart @PEtop5 pic.twitter.com/bTsixzdoA8
— Coach Noel (@pm_noel) August 26, 2024

The Talking Adapted PE Podcast

In this episode of Dr. Scott McNamara’s “What’s New in Adapted PE” podcast, Chris Ahrens, host of the “Talking Adapted PE” podcast and lead APE teacher for San Diego Unified School District, shares his journey and reflections on the field. Ahrens, who has mild cerebral palsy and spent nine years playing for the U.S. Men’s National Paralympic Soccer Team, discusses the power of sports in his life and the importance of podcasts in connecting APE professionals. He offers valuable insights on navigating challenges, such as the importance of flexibility and handling disagreements with respect. Ahrens also talks about the impact of the pandemic on student mental health and emphasizes the need for hands-on experience in APE careers, despite the rise of online learning programs. Wrapping up the interview, Ahrens encourages future APE teachers to challenge the status quo and make lasting changes in the field. Tune in to this inspiring conversation between two leading voices in Adapted Physical Education!

What's New In Adapted Physical Education · The APE field through the eyes of a podcaster and teacher: An interview with Chris Ahrens

Stay Connected

If you know of any other good adapted PE communities on social media please let me know.

Adapted PE Specialists on Facebook

#AdaptedPE on Twitter/X

Thank you for taking the time to read our Adapted PE newsletter! Your dedication to creating inclusive and engaging physical education experiences is what makes our community so strong. We’re always looking to collaborate and would love to feature your innovative ideas and success stories in future editions. Together, we can continue to improve and inspire each other. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update, and let’s keep the conversation going!

Teacher Spotlight

Adapted PE News

You get a PVC stand! You get a PVC Stand!