Dyslexics: Tapping on hidden strengths

Dyslexics, we know, face great difficulties with learning how to read. Seeing as reading is a core requirement of a successful mainstream schooling experience, most dyslexics feel frustration, and often end up with poor self esteems as they approach secondary school. The article below, though an old one, I found to be comforting. It may not be a specific provision for learners with special educational needs but nevertheless, I feel it is a move that could benefit learners with dyslexia who usually have a special talent in sports.

 

Game enough to take PE to new heights

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

A programme recently initiated for selected schools aims to encourage children to take up a physical activity that is very much within their ability.
THE BRITISH government intends to deliver its promise of a sports legacy programme to inspire youth to participate in sports, after winning the bid to host the London 2012 Olympic Games this year.
“International Inspiration (II) is a programme aimed at giving the world’s youth a holistic and an inclusive sports education experience,” said II trainer and SMK Keningau, Sabah, physical education (PE) teacher Bilong Ngerong.
The programme is being carried out by the British Council in partnership with the Education Ministry, the Malaysian Olympic Council, the Malaysian Paralympic Council and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

And that’s how we do it: Husna explaining how the II programme will involve all students in sports, in line with the “One Student, One Sport” policy

The programme’s main agenda is inclusivity and has a special focus on getting students with disabilities involved in sports said Ngerong.
“It ensures every student gets the most out of PE and sports despite their different health backgrounds or disabilities.
“The programme is revolutionary because it takes into consideration the difficulties of putting together activities that fit every student.
“Instead of putting the burden of planning out PE activities solely on the shoulders of teachers, it uses a set of illustrated action cards, to guide teachers through suggested activities,” he said.
Even though action cards are not new educational tools, the way in which the cards provide guidance and illustrate activities definitely depart from convention said Ngerong.
“The images on the cards not only show how to carry out activities for normal students, it also describes how to change elements of the activity to accommodate disabled or weaker students.
“This way teachers are able to tune PE classes to be ‘robust’ or ‘soft’ depending on the capabilities of students in a particular classroom,” he said.
He added that the cards and the methods they suggest are particularly helpful to non-optionist PE teachers who have little or no PE background.
Ngerong notes that the biggest challenge as a PE teacher is not producing the next national athlete but to get every student interested in sports.
“The goal of PE in school is to get students to enjoy sports and gain as much as possible from participating in them so they can lead a healthy life.


by Aminuddin Mohsin.
Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2012/4/22/education/11090845&sec=education