Utilizing Instructional Strategies that Work with Students with Disabilities

By: Kelly Kennedy, 2016 SHAPE® America Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Greeley-Evans School District 6

My favorite lessons include instructional strategies that provide targeted physical education instruction with a high level of interaction and physical activity that will meet the varied ability levels of students with disabilities. My students are provided a continuum of adapted physical education services from general physical education with support to one on one adapted physical education services based on their priority educational need and the impact of their disability. Therefore, my lessons are filled with accommodations, modifications and differentiation approaches to meet the varied ability levels of my students so that they can succeed in their physical education class. One approach that I use to differentiate instruction is to integrate technology into my lessons.

When collaborating with a special education teacher who works with students with autism, I noticed that students were printing out superheroes after they had finished their work. I took that idea and incorporated into a physical education activity using technology. I wanted to utilize my students’ interests, learning styles, and prior learning to master the concepts of the physical education curriculum. Students identified their favorite superhero and chose Superman, Hulk, Wonder Woman, Ant Man, Iron Man, Batman, Spiderman, Thor, Cyborg, Flash, and Venum. Using the Aurasma Studio website and app on my IPAD, superheroes were linked to a variety of exercises and the activity was named Superhero Tag, a version of Everybody’s It tag.

Superhero Tag Set Up:  

1. Register to set up an account on the Aurasma Studio website.
2. Locate superheroes that are of an interest to your students.
3. Locate pictures of exercises that can be linked to superheroes.
4. Follow the instructions within Aurasma to upload and link pictures.
5. Download the Aurasma app to IPADs.
6. Place printed copies of superheroes in a designated area.
7. Open Aurasma app on the IPAD to scan superhero pictures.

Superhero Tag (Variation of Everybody’s It):

1. Have students find an open space in the gym.
2. Give a designated start signal and have students tag each other as everybody is it.
3. When a student is tagged, have them come to the designated area to pick up an IPAD and scan their favorite superhero.
4. Student will then perform the exercise that pops up on the screen.
5. Student returns to game and continues to tag other students.

My students love this activity! They were very motivated and highly engaged in the activity because it was developed on their interests and technology was utilized.

Look for the Teacher Approved icon to shop for products recommended by award-winning and nationally recognized physical education teachers. The physical education instructor’s opinions are solely their own and do not officially represent the views of SHAPE America.