1. Teaching Diverse Students

The competent teacher understands the diverse characteristics and abilities of each student and how individuals develop and learn within the context of their social, economic, cultural, linguistic, and academic experiences. The teacher uses these experiences to create instructional opportunities that maximize student learning.

Rationale:

Lesson plan written for adaptive PE students. Students with disabilities are integrated within the class. This includes a student in a wheelchair, the tennis balls will be set on a chair for him this student to access. Sign languange interpreter present for deaf student. Student with autism is allowed to take breaks as needed when he feels overstimulated.

The idea is to make physical education modifications and accommodations to meet the needs of the students. Keeping students involved in the least restrictive environment.

From creating this lesson planned I learned the importance of making sure you are planning for the needs of all of your students when preparing lesson plans. Sometimes you also may have to change the plans in the midst of teaching. Be creative and thoughtful.

Rationale:

Above is a basketball lesson plan that I wrote to teach during my fieldwork experience in a school with a majority minority population. I knew that most of the students enjoyed playing basketball as they have expressed this to me on previous visits to the school. I planned a lesson of basketball game play with variations for participation. Each student had to score a basket, the students also had to pass five times before shooting. When initiating the lesson, I quickly noticed, all of the girls, not wanting to participate. Instead of allowing them to sit out, I went over and spoke to them to see how I could engage them. They shared with me that they did not want to play basketball with the boys in the class. I then modified the lesson so that the girls could play on one half while the boys played on the other.

Finding out the connection between not participating and getting the girls moving, was an amazing feat. I did understand where they were coming from and I was easily able to modify the lesson to meet the needs of all of the students, both the girls and the students who love to play basketball. The main goal in PE was to get kids moving and for them to enjoy it. I would say this was a success.

I learned again as mentioned in the previous lesson, that it is very important to listen to your students. In order to serve the students and make PE enjoyable and keep kids moving, we have to get their attention, keep them engaged, and motivate them to work hard for themselves. This was another excellent learning experience during my education/field work at Trinity Christian College.