Adapted P.E. End of the Year Showcase: What it is and why you should be doing it!

I will be honest, an Adapted P.E. End of the Year Showcase is a daunting idea, so daunting in fact that it is one that I have researched and spoken to among colleagues. The basic premise is that you are showcasing what your students have accomplished in Adapted P.E. this year. As we all know, anything, and I mean anything can go wrong during an Adapted P.E. class. Beautifully laid out lesson plans come screeching to a halt because the music is too loud or you forgot to hang up the visual schedule. So what is the point of putting yourself through an end of the year showcase in front of parents, caregivers, faculty and admin? As always, its for the kids. This isn't about you and what you have accomplished, this is about showing off your students skills. That being said, I implore you to not only give students a choice on what they want to showcase, but also allow them to play to their strengths. As I touch on in The Ultimate Adapted P.E. Manual, everyone has a superpower. These superpowers are a unique set of skills that can be developed and build confidence in our students.

Adapted P.E. Showcase

Okay, now you know what an Adapted P.E. End of the Year Showcase, let's talk about how to pull one off. First and foremost, you need to practice! Practice and routine as well as talking about it with students and paraprofessionals is the biggest hurdle. You need to take real time during your class to practice what the students will do and your paraprofessionals will of course be a part of the show! Including and communicating with your para's is a critical aspect to ensuring a smooth show. You'll also want to speak with admin, reserve gym time and tell the parents/caregivers! Extra points if you involve peer buddies. Here is a link to a checklist to get you started. Don't forget to send out thank you letters after the show.

So what is the big deal about an Adapted P.E. End of the Year Showcase? As adapted physical education teachers it is our responsibility to create an inclusive and meaningful experience for our students. Think about art, they have a showcase, right? And music? As far as academics, the "showcase" is in testing students, finding the areas they need to improve on and celebrating the areas that they excel. Why not do the same for P.E.? Parents & caregivers deserve to see first hand the amount of joy we bring into their children's lives. Administration will see the hard work, dedication and the inclusive nature of our profession. It's time to shine! If you are interested in the full Adapted P.E. End-of-the-Year Showcase, you can get it here.