Tricycles

                       I saved one of the students’ favorite units for last, cycling. Many of our students enjoy and look forward to the days when they get to ride tricycles during adaptive physical education class or their free time.  The unit has included the students biking around the Village bicycle path and through obstacle courses.  The cycling skills have been complemented by stories and worksheets on tricycles. 

                Whenever working with students on new skills, we are sure to discuss safety.  Before getting on our trikes, the students must put on their helmets, check the tires, and try the brakes to ensure safe riding. Our older students are learning words such as “pass” when getting ready to go around someone who is walking or biking. Some students are beginning to signal with their right or left hand to indicate their intended direction of travel.

                During different classes, our students have focused on biking for distance and on building skills (balance, pedaling technique, steering, braking).  Five laps around the Village bike path equals one mile. All of our students complete between one-quarter and one-and-a-half mile rides.  When we work on skills, we set up an obstacle course, which has allowed the students to concentrate on steering and following road signs (green, yellow, red, stop signs). When the weather is nice, the students are also learning about sun safety, communication, and road safety. All the while, the students are also improving their cardiovascular health and lower extremity strength.

                The cycling stories and worksheets have provided more ways to reinforce concepts. Some days this month have been rainy, so the stories and worksheets have been a great way for the students to show me what knowledge has been retained.  (Keep an eye out for these in the students’ “Sportfolios” that will be handed out to families next week on Moving Up Day.)

                I cannot express how much the students enjoy this activity. If you have a bicycle, a bike with training wheels, or a youth/adult trike at home, I encourage you to go for a family ride.  You’ll feel the sun and wind on your face, it will get your blood pumping, and you’ll make some great memories with your loved ones.

Keep riding,

Miss Shirey 

Pathfinder School and Utica Academy of Science Charter School

The Utica Academy of Science Charter School (UASCS) came to visit our school on June 4^th, 2014. Both groups of students were excited to make new friends and learn from one another. We began the visit with lunch in the pavilion. Right away I was enthusiastic about how well the students were sharing conversations. 

                After lunch, the students got to know each other a little bit more through a warm-up game: Superman Tag. After the warm-up came the main event: KICKBALL. This year at Pathfinder School we have had a few kickball games that brought all of the classes together. Mr. Loomis, the P.E. teacher at UASCS, has challenged his students with variations on the game kickball. Both schools were excited to work together during the game and to show off some of their new skills.

                After the kickball game the students were surprised with a cooling-down activity; a water balloon toss!  To spice it up, there was a “principal challenge” between Mr. Adams and Mr. Yavuz, the head of UASCS.

                As the field day ended, our day students said their goodbyes and got ready to go to their homes. Our residential students gave a phenomenal tour of our Village to the UASCS students and staff. One of the favorite stops on the tour was the Pathfinder Bakery.  Before leaving, the UASCS kids and our residential students enjoyed some hoops at our outdoor sports court, and shared their dribbling and shooting skills.

                Collaborating with the UASCS staff and students has been one of the best experiences for me as a teacher. I was touched to see how well both groups integrated and how quickly bonds were formed among the students. Mr. Loomis and I are already beginning to come up with ideas for future school exchanges.

                Thank You Utica Academy of Science Charter School for coming to Pathfinder School and becoming part of our wolf pack! 

Keep Active,

Miss Shirey