KEY ASPECTS OF TEACHING PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS 1. INTRODUCTION Firstly, we would like you to close your eyes and picture someone swimming.... let’s assume most of you had an image -- something similar to that of Ian Thorpe doing nice high elbows and a strong kick. We are swimming teachers, this is what we want to see and for most people this is their definition of swimming. Our definition of swimming is being able to get from point A to point B safely, progressing towards ability focussed technique. Doesn’t matter how you get there as long as you can get there.
BY LAURIE LAWRENCE, CONTRIBUTOR WENDY BEUTEL WORLDWIDESWIMSCHOOL.COM
The oxforddictionaries.com defines the word swimming as “the sport or activities of propelling oneself through water using the limbs”. We chose the name Adapted with the blessing of our case study parents, as they saw that we truly did “become adjusted to new conditions” when teaching their children to swim. When teaching students that present with additional learning needs, it is imperative that you can think outside the box and understand that they can swim, it may just look different to what you are used to seeing and the way in which we teach someone to swim needs to be different. 2. KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge is Confidence.... We cannot stress enough that having the knowledge of conditions and disabilities plays a significant role in the success of teaching students who present with additional learning needs to swim. A ‘student Profile’ (SP) can be created with collective information such as: medical diagnosis/history, parent prospective, assessment outcomes and social behaviour/ triggers. With the foundation of information collected through the SP, it now becomes the responsibility of the teacher to obtain further knowledge of the student’s condition. The more knowledge you have ensures you deliver appropriate teaching skills and strategies that will produce progressive and positive lessons. If you do not have the knowledge of their physical, cognitive, and social development, how can you adapt your lesson to ensure a student receives the best aquatic experience? Being an informed teacher of Adapted Aquatics (AA) requires research on whatever condition you are presented with.
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