#AdaptedPE Newsletter 7 (Week of 9/23/2024)

Welcome to the Adapted PE Newsletter! This weekly resource is designed to inspire and equip you with innovative teaching strategies, practical tools, and the latest trends in adapted physical education. By subscribing, you’ll gain access to curated content that makes your work easier, from engaging activities to equipment recommendations and professional development opportunities. Whether you’re looking for new ideas or ways to enhance your students’ experiences, this newsletter will keep you informed, motivated, and ready to make a positive impact.

Contents

Teacher Spotlight: Brad Hunter Adapted PE News Building Strength and Progression: Adapted Push-Ups for All Fitness Levels APENS Study Group for CAPE Certification:Equipment Showcase: Velcro Vests!Scholarly Insights: Inclusion as intersubjective experience not a setting Professional Development Opportunities: Free American Sign Language Classes (Online)Professional Development Opportunities: NCPEID APE Collaborative (Online)Professional Development Opportunities: 49th Annual MNDAPE Conference (In Person)Podcast Support Our Site with Super Cool Merch!Stay Connected Newsletter Archive

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Teacher Spotlight: Brad Hunter

Brad Hunter is not only the 2023 SHAPE Maryland Adapted PE Teacher of the Year, but also an inspiring role model in the field. He builds strong relationships with his students, families, and staff, making a real difference in their lives. One parent recently shared that after their child’s Adapted PE class, they stayed in a positive mood for days—a testament to Brad’s impact. His dedication to promoting lifelong physical activity for students shines through in every aspect of his work.

Follow Brad on X: @BHunterinBmore.

https://twitter.com/BHunterinBmore/status/1750248002017435791

https://twitter.com/BHunterinBmore/status/1836787807303479473

Adapted PE News

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

Building Strength and Progression: Adapted Push-Ups for All Fitness Levels

Check out this insightful article on Adapted Push-Ups for All Fitness Levels, which explores how to modify push-ups to build strength and progression for students of all abilities. The article highlights techniques to make push-ups accessible and effective for everyone, regardless of their fitness level, and offers tips on gradually increasing difficulty as students grow stronger. Whether you’re looking to challenge advanced students or provide foundational strength training, this guide has practical strategies.

Building Strength and Progression: Adapted Push-Ups for All Fitness Levels

APENS Study Group for CAPE Certification:

The study group uses gamification for review, rotating standards each month. Attendees will receive a Quizzizz for future study. Fall semester dates are October 14, November 11, and December 9, with sessions held at 5:30 pm PST / 8:30 pm EST. The group is hosted by CSU Long Beach Project CAPE and UW-LaCrosse Scholars.

Join via Zoom: https://csulb.zoom.us/j/85372672032.

Equipment Showcase: Velcro Vests!

I recommend the Stick Ball Vest, a versatile tool for Adapted PE. It’s great for catching modifications and can also be used to gamify exercises like push-ups, as demonstrated in below videos. This equipment helps make activities more engaging and accessible for students of all abilities.

You can check it out and purchase it using this link.

Scholarly Insights: Inclusion as intersubjective experience not a setting

In their article, Haegele and Maher (2023) argue that inclusion should be understood as intersubjective experiences that focus on feelings of belonging, acceptance, and value. Rather than solely considering a student’s presence in integrated spaces, the authors advocate for centering the lived experiences and voices of disabled students. This perspective challenges traditional views of inclusion, which often focus on policies or material spaces, and instead emphasizes how relationships, power dynamics, and personal interactions shape students’ experiences within educational spaces.

Haegele, J. A., & Maher, A. J. (2023). Toward a Conceptual Understanding of Inclusion as Intersubjective Experiences. Educational Researcher, 52(6), 385–393. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X231176287.

Additionally, check out this article from JustAdaptIt, which includes a video explainer. Read more and watch the video.

Professional Development Opportunities: Free American Sign Language Classes (Online)

We’re excited to share an opportunity to learn basic conversational ASL through the Oklahoma School for the Deaf’s community courses! These free, self-paced, non-credit classes are perfect for learners of all ages. Though the courses are free, donations to the OSD Foundation are encouraged to help support students, families, and community outreach. Sign up and learn more here.

Professional Development Opportunities: NCPEID APE Collaborative (Online)

Zoom recording of NCPEID APE Collaborative w/ Brad Weiner and Jessica Banes discussing “Caseload Considerations & Advocating for New APE Positions”. See our Facebook page for live videos of our monthly collaboration!

Join us tomorrow on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, for the NCPEID APE Collaborative, where we’ll discuss Advocating for Adapted Physical Education. I will be one of the presenters, sharing practical ways APE teachers can advocate for students with disabilities, including tools I’ve developed like Just Adapt It and this very newsletter. My co-presenter, Dr. Suzanna Dillon, will offer insights on NCPEID’s advocacy efforts and how educators can engage. The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Zoom link: here.

https://twitter.com/ncpeid/status/1834008677054836941?s=46&t=h5fydWWSiiK9om5nt12SFA

Professional Development Opportunities: 49th Annual MNDAPE Conference (In Person)

The 49th Annual MNDAPE Conference will take place on September 26-27, 2024, at Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN. This conference brings together professionals in the field of Adapted Physical Education, featuring keynote speakers like Jeff Watkins, Jen Heebink, Bryan Wickoren, Danielle Musser, Justin Lund and more amazing presenters, SHAPE America award-winning teachers. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in informative sessions, stay overnight in cabins, and enjoy meals provided during the event. The conference aims to foster learning, collaboration, and advancement in adapted PE.

More details can be found here

Podcast

This week, Ron Usher joins Chris Ahrens to discuss his long career as an Adapted PE teacher and the inspiration behind creating his YouTube channel @coachronandbaru and his website www.coachronandbaru.com. Together, they explore how Ron has used these platforms to provide educational content for the Adapted PE community.

Chris Ahrens 1 · Episode 13 – Ron Usher of YouTube @coachronandbaru and www.coachronandbaru.com

Support Our Site with Super Cool Merch!

Help us continue providing valuable resources by purchasing some awesome Adapted PE merchandise! We’ve curated a collection of gear perfect for educators, fitness enthusiasts, and supporters of inclusive physical education. Every purchase goes a long way in keeping our site running and improving.

Check out the merch here.

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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: Brad Hunter

Adapted PE News

Building Strength and Progression: Adapted Push-Ups for All Fitness Levels