INCORPORATING SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS INTO THE GENERAL POPULATION

IDEAS TO ENHANCE ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND BEYOND

Emily Fitchwell

Belle Vernon Area High School

Goals for Todays Presentation

Creating a culture for all students to become united within the school community

Importance of teamwork and collaboration between teachers students neighboring

communities and organizations

Implement your own Partners PE and Swimming classes for students of all ability

levels

Feel confident that you can meet the needs of diverse learners through simple

adaptations and accommodations

General Education Specials that Offer Inclusion at BVA School District Elementary Level (Grades K-8)

ndash Partners Aquatics

Middle School Level (Grades 7-8)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE

High School Level (Grades 9-12)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE amp Aquatics Partners Choir

Program Goals and Objectives Our goal as wellness educators is to help all students discover activities that they can continue to

participate in throughout their lives

How Can We Design Meaningful Learning Opportunities

Connect activities and units to lifelong participation through organizations throughout the community

ndash Special Olympics Best Buddies Yes You Can Dance Pittsburgh Steelwheelers

Have high school students design their own adapted lessons and co-teach classes

ndash This helps facilitate lifelong learning we all can learn from one another

Network with other professionals within your district and neighboring communities Observe successful programs and learn how to fit the needs of your schoolcommunity

Its all about our MOTOR SKILLS we all have them just at different degrees

ndash Incorporate an intense amount of repetition within each lesson to get it into students muscle memory

Along the way we have discovered that students

ndash Improve their social skills

ndash Enjoy newfound confidence

ndash Take the needs of others into consideration increasing empathy and acceptance

ndash enjoy the ldquogenuine partnership and communityrdquo that develops among students all while promoting their physical wellness (httpswwwbuedusedmagazine-articlespecial-ed-you-can-dance-to)

Students at Baldwin

Whitehallrsquos Annual

Volleyball Tournament-

STARS Event

Goals for Todays Presentation

Creating a culture for all students to become united within the school community

Importance of teamwork and collaboration between teachers students neighboring

communities and organizations

Implement your own Partners PE and Swimming classes for students of all ability

levels

Feel confident that you can meet the needs of diverse learners through simple

adaptations and accommodations

General Education Specials that Offer Inclusion at BVA School District Elementary Level (Grades K-8)

ndash Partners Aquatics

Middle School Level (Grades 7-8)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE

High School Level (Grades 9-12)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE amp Aquatics Partners Choir

Program Goals and Objectives Our goal as wellness educators is to help all students discover activities that they can continue to

participate in throughout their lives

How Can We Design Meaningful Learning Opportunities

Connect activities and units to lifelong participation through organizations throughout the community

ndash Special Olympics Best Buddies Yes You Can Dance Pittsburgh Steelwheelers

Have high school students design their own adapted lessons and co-teach classes

ndash This helps facilitate lifelong learning we all can learn from one another

Network with other professionals within your district and neighboring communities Observe successful programs and learn how to fit the needs of your schoolcommunity

Its all about our MOTOR SKILLS we all have them just at different degrees

ndash Incorporate an intense amount of repetition within each lesson to get it into students muscle memory

Along the way we have discovered that students

ndash Improve their social skills

ndash Enjoy newfound confidence

ndash Take the needs of others into consideration increasing empathy and acceptance

ndash enjoy the ldquogenuine partnership and communityrdquo that develops among students all while promoting their physical wellness (httpswwwbuedusedmagazine-articlespecial-ed-you-can-dance-to)

Students at Baldwin

Whitehallrsquos Annual

Volleyball Tournament-

STARS Event

General Education Specials that Offer Inclusion at BVA School District Elementary Level (Grades K-8)

ndash Partners Aquatics

Middle School Level (Grades 7-8)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE

High School Level (Grades 9-12)

ndash Partners Art Partners PE amp Aquatics Partners Choir

Program Goals and Objectives Our goal as wellness educators is to help all students discover activities that they can continue to

participate in throughout their lives

How Can We Design Meaningful Learning Opportunities

Connect activities and units to lifelong participation through organizations throughout the community

ndash Special Olympics Best Buddies Yes You Can Dance Pittsburgh Steelwheelers

Have high school students design their own adapted lessons and co-teach classes

ndash This helps facilitate lifelong learning we all can learn from one another

Network with other professionals within your district and neighboring communities Observe successful programs and learn how to fit the needs of your schoolcommunity

Its all about our MOTOR SKILLS we all have them just at different degrees

ndash Incorporate an intense amount of repetition within each lesson to get it into students muscle memory

Along the way we have discovered that students

ndash Improve their social skills

ndash Enjoy newfound confidence

ndash Take the needs of others into consideration increasing empathy and acceptance

ndash enjoy the ldquogenuine partnership and communityrdquo that develops among students all while promoting their physical wellness (httpswwwbuedusedmagazine-articlespecial-ed-you-can-dance-to)

Students at Baldwin

Whitehallrsquos Annual

Volleyball Tournament-

STARS Event

Program Goals and Objectives Our goal as wellness educators is to help all students discover activities that they can continue to

participate in throughout their lives

How Can We Design Meaningful Learning Opportunities

Connect activities and units to lifelong participation through organizations throughout the community

ndash Special Olympics Best Buddies Yes You Can Dance Pittsburgh Steelwheelers

Have high school students design their own adapted lessons and co-teach classes

ndash This helps facilitate lifelong learning we all can learn from one another

Network with other professionals within your district and neighboring communities Observe successful programs and learn how to fit the needs of your schoolcommunity

Its all about our MOTOR SKILLS we all have them just at different degrees

ndash Incorporate an intense amount of repetition within each lesson to get it into students muscle memory

Along the way we have discovered that students

ndash Improve their social skills

ndash Enjoy newfound confidence

ndash Take the needs of others into consideration increasing empathy and acceptance

ndash enjoy the ldquogenuine partnership and communityrdquo that develops among students all while promoting their physical wellness (httpswwwbuedusedmagazine-articlespecial-ed-you-can-dance-to)

Students at Baldwin

Whitehallrsquos Annual

Volleyball Tournament-

STARS Event

Application for Partners Courses at BVA High School

Partners Program Application

Partners PEHigh School Students Grades 10-12Special Needs Students 14-21 years

Weekly Schedule

Mondays amp Fridays

High School students participate in

gamessportsfitness classes

Group lessons to learn how to work with

students with special needs

Students design their own lessons and co-

teach an adapted class

Tuesdayrsquos amp Thursdayrsquos Partners

Physical Education

Wednesdays Partners Aquatics

Cardio Fitness

Outdoorindoor walking

Fitness Stations

FitnessGram Tests

Muscular Fitness

Weight room introduction- machines

body weight exercises dumbbells

Yoga flexibility exercises

Locomotor Skills

Eye-handfoot coordination

Striking Skills

Kicking Skills

Catching Skills

Manipulative Skills- shooting rolling

throwing pushing pulling

Individual Sports

Swimming

Tennis

Bowling

Bocce

Track and Field

Team Sports

Volleyball

Frisbee Golf

Football

Goal Ball

Team Handball

Soccer

Hockey

Creative Movement Dance

Ballroom Dancing

httpwwwyesyoucandanceorg

Level 1 Merengue Club Swing The Waltz

Level 2 Salsa Jitter Bug Tango

Level 3 Cha-cha Swing Rumba

Adventure Education

Team Building Activities

Walking - Small Groups

Health Education

Nutrition and Healthy Eating Habits

Healthy Heart and Body

Partners AquaticsHigh School Students Grades 10-12Special Needs Students Grades K-8

Weekly Schedule

Mondays amp Fridays High School Partners participate in

gamessportsfitness activities learn how to work with

students with special needs basic water safety rescue

and CPRAED use and create their own lessons to

teach adapted swimming classes

Tuesdays Autistic Support Class grades K-3

Wednesdays Middle School Life Skills class grades 7-8

amp Elementary Life Skills class grades 4-6

Thursdays Elementary like skills class grades 4-6

Partners PEPartner PE SyllabiPartners Aquatics 2016-17pdf

YES YOU CAN DANCE BALLROOM DANCING FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

httpwwwyesyoucandanceorgprogramsmultiple-sclerosis

Yes You Can Dance is a non-profit organization that offers dance classes for adults with special needs and chronic degenerative diseases in the Pittsburgh Area YYCD also partners with senior citizen centers school districts and the University of Pittsburghrsquos Health and Rehabilitation Science program to offer classes for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

MissionYes You Can Dance enhances the physical and emotional well-being of individuals with intellectual developmental andor physical disabilities through social dance experiences

Founded by Rebecca Stern in 2011 in order to share the wellness benefits and the joy of ballroom dancing with people who might otherwise not have the opportunity due to an intellectual developmental andor physical disability

Our team of dance professionals specialists in behavioral health healthcare and special educators create innovative and fun-filled experiences for people with a variety of disabilities to learn ballroom dance in a safe and supportive atmosphere Trained Volunteer Dance mentors pair up with our dance students for encouragement and support (httpwwwyesyoucandanceorgabout)

Yes You Can Dance Ballroom Dancing

Chris Roth

(creator of

curriculum and

instruction) with

Becky Stern

(founder of YYCD)

Base Elements of Dance Everyone Can Dance Ballroom Dancing in Partners PE

The curriculum incorporates an intense amount of repetition to enhance muscle memory

1 Marching in Place 2 Forward Walking Steps 3 Backward Walking Steps 4 Side Steps 5 Rock Step

Letrsquos put them together to create movement

Straight Time Very consistent rhythm One step per beat every beat

equal beats per step (4 beats = 4 steps)

3 Ballroom Dances Within each dance students learn 5 different patterns

1 The Merengue Latin Dance ( 44 timing )

ndash Straight Time (Metra dome) httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=LLJc0wAXROY

2 The Club Swing Rhythm Dance ( 44 timing )

ndash Straight Time

3 The Waltz Smooth Ballroom Dance ( frac34 timing )

ndash Algorithm (heart monitor) BOOM BA BA BOOM BA BA

The only rule of ballroom dancing is to never use the same foot twice

Friends First Club Club Purpose

ndash The purpose of Friends First is to encourage a mentorship between special education students and their peers Members will have the opportunity to spend time together enjoying social events sports training and competitions or recreational activities in the school and community We unite with various school districts who have similar programs in their schools and call ourselves STARS (Schools Together with Athletes Reaching Success)

Yearly Activities at a Glance

ndash ldquoYoursquove Got a Friend Dayrdquo- Twin Lakes Park Greensburg PA

ndash Bowling Field Trips with BVA Middle amp High School - WinterSpring

ndash Winter Holiday Movie Day (BVA elementary amp middle school life skills students)

ndash Spring ldquoSensory Concertrdquo hosted by Mr Rozell (various districts attend)

ndash Volunteer Special Olympics each Fall amp Spring ndash Norwin High School

ndash Partner with Unified Track amp Field Team and Special Olympics Committee for R-Word Campaign

STARS Field Trips

ndash Elizabeth Forward Football Of Champions

ndash Baldwin-Whitehall Volleyball Tournament

ndash Upper St Clair Soccer Tournament

ndash Belle Vernon Area Valentinersquos Dance

ndash South Fayette Halloween Dance

ndash Carlynton St Patrickrsquos Dance

ndash Life Skills Prom

ndash Cannon MacMillan Team Building Challenge

ndash Miracle League Field Baseball Tournament (hosted

by Baldwin-Whitehall SD)

Schools Together with Athletes Reaching Success (STARS) Programs

Mission Statement

The mission of the STARS partnership program is to provide meaningful activities for students with

and without physical and intellectual disabilities to collaborate create and participate in activities that

enrich the school curriculum STARS coordinates interscholastic opportunities where all

students can compete participate and build friendships through athletic and social events Through

a collaborative peer-driven leadership structure individuals come together to enrich the lives of all

students in our collective high school communities

fileCUsersfitchwelleDesktopSTARS2016-1720Schedulepdf

Schools Together with Athletes Reaching Success (STARS) Programs

Mission Statement

The mission of the STARS partnership program is to provide meaningful activities for students with

and without physical and intellectual disabilities to collaborate create and participate in activities that

enrich the school curriculum STARS coordinates interscholastic opportunities where all

students can compete participate and build friendships through athletic and social events Through

a collaborative peer-driven leadership structure individuals come together to enrich the lives of all

students in our collective high school communities

fileCUsersfitchwelleDesktopSTARS2016-1720Schedulepdf

Articles about STARS Programs Yes You Can Dance and Ted Talk by Tim Laughlin - Partners PE Teacher Baldwin-Whitehall School District

httpwwwobserver-reportercom20160303canon-mac_hosts_first_x2018c-

m_challengex2019_for_special-needs_students

httpwwwheraldstandardcomsearchk=22stars22

httpswwwuscsdk12pausPage10308

httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=nBk46ET0-

l4ampindex=5amplist=PLsRNoUx8w3rMcBZOWFO5TeYSoxNleb99s

STARS Articles

Tim Laughlin Ted Talk Partners PE

Yes You Can Dance

httpswwwbuedusedmagazine-articlespecial-ed-you-can-dance-to

httpwesafmpostsalsa-tango-and-waltz-promote-special-needs-wellness-

pittsburgh-area-dance-centerstream0

Thank You

Questions

Contact Information

Email

EmilyFitchwellbellevernonareanet

Website

httpbellevernonareanetDomain256