Learning Environment
I aspire to create a learning environment where all students feel safe, accepted, and supported. I believe that school should be a place where students are excited to be, and one where they feel like they belong in the school community. With Phys. Ed in mind, I believe that activity spaces should be inclusive and engaging. There should be activities and materials/equipment available to all students, and the space should be accessible for people with varying mobility needs.
Facilities
To the left are two gymnasium facilities that exemplify the learning environment I would wish to see and work in. Both facilities have a great amount of space and height to allow for multiple sports and activities to be played. The gymnasiums also both provide a large amount of natural light, which is great for any active environment as students spend most of their days under artificial lights. I appreciate that these spaces have all the line markings for multiple sports included, along with basketball nets pre-installed. Further, both gymnasiums have accessible entrances which make entering and exiting simple for all people. I also appreciate the natural, wooded elements to the spaces as they make an effort to bring external environments indoors when it isn's always feasible due to the weather. These two gymnasiums would be great areas to educate students and to help foster their passion for activity!
Equipment and Materials
Above are a few examples of equipment I would appreciate the opportunity to be able to use when teaching. On the left-hand side, there is a wide array of Phys. Ed equipment to be used for all students. One can see many items such as hockey sticks, tennis racquets, soccer balls, cones, and different nets. While equipment is not necessary for people to be active and play, it is difficult to teach students the necessary curriculum skills without these resources. For example, it is nearly impossible to teach a student how to send and receive objects without having balls or sticks to use. In the middle and right-hand side pictures, I have included examples of adapted physical activity equipment. There is much more out there that I could not include here, but when planning for a year of Phys. Ed, it is of utmost importance that one takes into consideration the mobility needs of the learners in their classes. When adapted equipment and learning opportunities are present, it ensures that all learners feel valued when in Phys. Ed. With the right equipment, the Phys. Ed space can be a wonderful and exciting learning environment for all.