Adapted Physical Education Teacher Responsibilities
- Lead the girls' volleyball team to a district championship and coach the state winner in high jump.
- Adapted/Individualize curriculum base on individual student needs, including all need self-help skills.
- Create adapted physical education IEP goals and objectives for each student to reach for the following school year.
What is an adapted PE teacher?
Adapted physical education teachers are PE teachers that are trained to evaluate and assess motor competency, physical fitness, play, recreation, leisure, and sports skills. Adapted physical education teachers are then capable of developing and implementing an IEP program based on the findings of their assessment.
What skills are needed to be an adapted physical education teacher?
Adapted physical education teachers must have knowledge and competencies in the following: Developmental teaching methods in physical and motor fitness, fundamental motor skills, and skills in individual sports and other activities, as well as group sports and games
What is Adapted Physical Education (APE)?
Similar to general physical education, adapted physical education focuses on the development of: Fundamental motor skills and patterns (e.g., catching, walking, running, throwing, etc.) Skills in dance, individual and group games and sports, and aquatics
How do I determine if my child needs adaptive physical education?
The need for Adaptive Physical Education (APE) is determined by the CPSE or CSE. The APE instructor assesses the child and presents the information to the committee. The assessment must include diagnostic and curriculum-based data, observations, and input by the child's general physical education teacher.
What is adaptive physical education?
Adapted physical education, as defined by the National Consortium for Physical Education and Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPERID), is physical education that may be adapted to meet the specific needs of children who may have delays in gross motor development. It is also the art and science of implementing and monitoring a physical education program designed specifically for those with disabilities.
What disabilities would adapted physical education be appropriate for?
According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990, disabilities for which adapted physical education would be appropriate include: Visual impairment/blindness. Traumatic brain injury. Mental retardation.
Why was the Apens exam developed?
The APENS examination was developed to ensure that adapted physical education teachers meet specific standards for educating children with disabilities and that these standards are uniform from one state to the next.
How many states have adapted physical education?
However, just 14 states have a specific endorsement or certification in adapted physical education, including California , New York, and Connecticut. The other 36 states have yet to address the qualifications of an adapted physical education teacher. In response to this deficit in adapted physical education standards, ...
What is individualized education?
In this context, individualized education programs are implemented with the goal of helping disabled or developmentally delayed students enjoy a PE experience similar to that which is made available to their typically developing peers.
What is developmental teaching?
Developmental teaching methods in physical and motor fitness, fundamental motor skills, and skills in individual sports and other activities, as well as group sports and games. Knowledge of motor control for teaching physical education to individuals with disabilities. Knowledge of developmental sequences and motor characteristics associated ...
Is an adapted physical education teacher an occupational therapist?
Adapted physical education teachers are NOT occupational therapists (OT), as OTs are trained to address skills associated with activities of daily living, work activities, and play and leisure activities. OTs provide their services through a physician’s prescriptions to address medical conditions, as opposed to working with students in a physical education environment.
What is an adaptive teacher?
Adapted physical education teachers perform many of the same tasks and responsibilities of traditional PE teachers, and in many cases teach classes in both types of PE depending on the school. PE teachers are expected to provide safe and fun activities for children that promote muscle development and provide cardiovascular exercise, while at the same time teaching children important skills like teamwork and sportsmanship. Adapted teachers are responsible for adapting these physical games and activities to children with disabilities. These teachers often need to create games and activities based on the specific needs of each individual child, as they may work with various disabilities ranging from children with blindness or hearing problems to those with orthopedic impairment or traumatic brain injuries.
What are the skills needed to be an adapted physical education teacher?
Necessary Skills. Adapted physical education teachers must have a love for children and a desire to see children with disabilities grow and succeed. Teachers must have a creative and innovative mindset, along with excellent problem solving skills in order to create and facilitate successful adapted activities .
How much do physical education teachers make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, secondary teachers make a median salary of $55,050 per year, while elementary teachers make a median salary of 53,090 per year.
How does working with disabled children affect teachers?
Working with disabled children can quickly change a teacher’s life. Not only are you helping those with disabilities develop and flourish, but you also get to become an important part of each child’s life that you work with. On the other hand, working with special needs children can be trying and even frustrating at times. It takes a great amount of patience and effort for even small results sometimes. But small results in this portion of the student population often equal huge steps in the lives of the children adapted physical education teachers work with.
Why is adapted physical education important?
Adapted physical education teachers play an essential role in not only helping children in general stay fit, but also specifically providing the support and atmosphere necessary for disabled children to stay healthy and develop important skills. If you’re interested in making a difference in the life of a child who truly needs it, consider a career in adapted physical education.
How can physical education help children?
In order to combat these statistics, children need at least an hour of exercise everyday . Unfortunately, many children don’t get nearly enough physical activity, which is where school physical education programs come in. PE teachers play an essential role in helping children maintain a healthy weight, while also teaching important life habits. However, a growing portion of student populations are affected by disabilities. These deficits make it difficult to perform traditional exercises and activities during PE class, even though exercise is just as important for disabled children. In order to overcome this problem, many schools hire adapted physical education teachers with additional training, education and certifications specific to children with disabilities.
How much does adapted PE grow?
The teaching field is expected to grow at 6 percent for secondary school teachers and 12 percent for elementary school teachers. Because adapted PE teachers have additional certifications, and can work with both traditional and disabled children, the chance of obtaining a position increases. Those with a graduate degree in adapted physical education also have an advantage over other applicants. Positions can be found in both public and private educational institutions starting at the kindergarten and elementary level and continuing through the secondary high school level.
What is adaptive physical education?
Adaptive Physical Education (APE) is a direct service that can be provided to a special needs child, should the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) or the Committee on Special Education (CSE) determine that the child is in need of such service. In many cases, if a child is identified as visually impaired, physically handicapped, ...
How often should adaptive physical education be used for special needs students?
For some special needs students, Adaptive Physical Education may be needed every school year.
What is APE in IEP?
If the committee recommends such services, then APE becomes a part of the child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The plan must include the assessment information, the amount of APE to be received, whether or not the child will be in the general physical education setting, and goals with measurable objectives/benchmarks.
What is the APE assessment?
The APE instructor assesses the child and presents the information to the committee. The assessment must include diagnostic and curriculum-based data, observations, and input by the child's general physical education teacher.
Why is APE a direct service provider?
Because physical education is federally mandated for all students, the APE teacher is a direct service provider. The APE teacher is to provide adaptations or modifications that will allow the special needs child to participate in age-appropriate physical educational activities.
Do special needs students need adaptive physical education?
For some special needs students, Adaptive Physical Education may be needed every school year. For other students, as they continue to make gains with their gross motor skills, APE services might be tapered back and at some point no longer needed. APE students need to be encouraged to do their best. Programs, such as the Special Olympics, have provided a wonderful and positive opportunity for APE students to experience competing just like their non-disabled peers.
What Does an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher Do?
The Individuals with Disabilities Act provides adaptive physical education for students who have a disability such as visual or orthopedic impairment, developmental disabilities, or other challenges. As an adaptive physical education teacher, you provide a specialized treatment plan as part of the student’s individualized education program (IEP).
How to Become an Adaptive Physical Education Teacher
As an APE teacher, your qualifications include advanced education in physical education techniques as well as anatomy, motor control, and kinesiology.
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What is the test required to become an adapted physical education teacher?
To become an adapted physical education teacher, it can be required that you pass certification tests such as the APENS examination.
How many adapted physical education teachers have a bachelor's degree?
We've determined that 71.5% of adapted physical education teachers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 19.9% of adapted physical education teachers have master's degrees. Even though most adapted physical education teachers have a college degree, it's impossible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Why is adapted physical education important?
Adapted physical education teachers serve a very important role in making sure that a school's PE program can include students with disabilities. One of the primary jobs of most adapted physical education teachers is to conduct comprehensive motor assessments of their students. Using these assessments-which take the development ...
What skills do physical education teachers need?
We discovered that a lot of resumes listed physical stamina, communication skills and customer-service skills.
What Is Adapted Physical Education?
Physical education includes giving students the opportunity to learn and practice:
Benefits of Adapted Physical Education
The role of physical education in child development was underappreciated for many years. Arguments that intellectual skills would be more useful in adult life than physical skills led to a neglect of physical education programs in some schools, especially for students with disabilities.
The Role of an Adapted Physical Education Specialist
Adapted physical education specialists may work at private or public schools, or sometimes be contracted by other clients or organizations who work with children with special needs.
Final Thoughts on the Importance of Adapted Physical Education
Adapted Physical Education activities are crucial for the well-being of people with disabilities.
