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When it comes to sports and physical activities, every child deserves the chance to succeed, enjoy, and participate fully. For children who are blind or have low vision, preparation is key. This is where the concept of pre-teaching comes into play. Pre-teaching sets the stage for a positive experience by ensuring that children have the tools and understanding they need before stepping onto the field, court, or gym floor.
Why Pre-teaching Matters
Imagine your child’s PE teacher shared that your child is about to participate in a new sport. They’re excited but also unsure about what to expect. For children with visual impairments, this uncertainty can be more profound. Pre-teaching addresses this by frontloading essential concepts and knowledge, giving your child the confidence and skills to participate fully.
Pre-teaching involves introducing and reinforcing key vocabulary, concepts, and environmental understanding related to the sport or activity before participation. This preparation boosts confidence and enhances the overall learning experience, making it more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
Key Elements of Pre-teaching and Your Support at Home Creates Successful Sports Experiences in School
To make pre-teaching effective, there are several elements to focus on:
- Vocabulary: Understanding the specific terms related to the sport or activity is crucial. For instance, knowing what a “dribble” means in basketball or “home base” in baseball helps your child follow instructions more easily.
- Conceptual Knowledge: Beyond vocabulary, your child needs to grasp the game’s underlying concepts. What does “defend a goal” or “score a point” mean? Conceptual teaching helps demystify these ideas, making the game more accessible.
- Equipment Understanding: Familiarity with the equipment used in the sport is another essential aspect. Allow your child to touch, explore, and understand the purpose of each piece of equipment. This tactile exploration helps them understand the equipment and how to use it to the best of their abilities.
- Environmental Layout: Before participating, it’s beneficial for your child to understand the layout of the play area. Pre-teaching should include a thorough description and exploration of the space to ensure your child knows where they are in relation to the game, whether it’s a gym, a field, or a swimming pool.
Delivering Effective Pre-teaching
Pre-teaching is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires careful consideration of the who, what, and when:
- Who: Tailor the pre-teaching to your child’s specific needs and abilities. Some children may need more detailed explanations, while others might benefit from hands-on practice.
- What: Focus on the most critical elements that your child needs to know. The PE teacher may be able to support with this and their goals for the unit. Pre-teaching might include introducing specific rules, safety considerations, or key game strategies.
- When: Timing is everything. Pre-teaching should happen well before the activity to give your child ample time to absorb and understand the information. Working with your PE teacher to know what units they are working on next will help you prepare at home.
Strategies for Success
Here are some strategies that can help make pre-teaching more effective:
- Skill Previewing: Before diving into the full activity, allow your child to preview and practice key skills. This could be as simple as practicing a specific movement or handling the equipment.
- Environmental Familiarization: Take the time to walk through the environment where the activity will take place. Point out important landmarks and spatial relationships.
- Multi-Disciplinary Approach: Collaborate with educators, therapists, and coaches to ensure a well-rounded pre-teaching approach that supports your child’s learning across different settings.
Building Independence and Generalizing Skills
One of the greatest benefits of pre-teaching is the independence it fosters. As your child becomes more familiar with the vocabulary, concepts, equipment, and environment, they’ll be more equipped to participate independently. This independence is not only crucial for their participation in sports but also in other areas of life.
Moreover, the skills learned through preteaching can be generalized across different settings. The confidence gained in understanding the layout of a basketball court, for example, can translate to better navigation skills in other unfamiliar environments.
Accommodations and Modifications
It’s important to remember that each child is unique, and pre-teaching should be adapted to fit their individual needs. Accommodations and modifications may be necessary to ensure that preteaching is effective. This could include using tactile markers, providing additional time for exploration, or breaking down complex instructions into smaller, manageable steps.
Enroll in the Course
To dive deeper into the importance of collaborating with your PE teacher, pre-teaching at home, and learning how to implement these strategies effectively, we invite you to enroll in the course, Ready. Set. Go!. You’ll gain valuable insights on collaborating with your PE teacher, providing learning experiences at home to strengthen your child’s skills, ultimately helping them succeed in physical activities and beyond. Enroll here: Navigating the Field: Strategies for Pre-teaching PE – APH Hive.