Physical Education Classes

Posing for a picture on the ice skating rink.

Playing a game of hockey.

Having fun at the local bowling alley

TSBVI offers PE summer classes that are uniquely adapted for full participation by academic visually impaired learners. This summer we are offering:

A three-week PE class for one-half high school SBOE credit. Students attending this class MUST participate for the full three weeks!! No exceptions will be made. They should be students who need regular SBOE credit to fulfill their graduation plan.
Three separate one-week PE enrichment classes. Students may request to participate for one or more weeks. Although they will not receive high school credit, they must still meet the general criteria for all Academic Secondary Enrichment students – i.e., students who receive most of their instruction in the regular classroom without special education support other than their VI or O&M teacher

Three-Week Physical Education for Credit

June 15 – July 3 Students MUST attend the full three weeks

Many VI teachers have requested a summer PE class for their students to earn SBOE credit. In this three-week Individual Sports class, students can earn one-half high school credit, while participating in sports adapted for full participation by visually impaired individuals. This summer the course will focus on bowling, strength training and cardiovascular fitness, and exposure to various other sports (including adapted sports such as beep baseball and goal ball). The class teaches students skills and concepts related to body and spatial awareness, teamwork and competition, the language and rules of many different sports, including football, baseball, basketball, etc., and participation in recreational community activities

The teacher of this class is certified in visual impairment as well as PE, and is himself a visually impaired athlete who has participated in a wide range of athletic activities since his high school years. He is able to impart not only information about appropriate adaptations, but also the sense of spirit, healthy competition, perseverance, and self-confidence that athletics and recreational sports can bring to the life of a person who is visually impaired.

All the TEKS for the SBOE Individual Sports course will be covered, and students will be required to demonstrate a level of mastery in order to receive credit toward graduation. Students will develop skills in a variety of activities that promote health-related fitness. A major expectation of the course is for the student to design a personal fitness program that incorporates knowledge and skills gained in the course. Districts will be sent a final report and grade, and successful completion will be demonstrated on the TSBVI Academic Achievement Record.

We recommend that parents and/or teachers check with their local school district in advance to get clear answers to the questions below. This may be something new for your district, and schools may approach this differently.

Will your district accept a TSBVI SBOE-approved course for graduation credit? You might remind the district that students who go to school here for a year or more of their high school life graduate with many credits earned at TSBVI.
Will your district accept this credit if your student has not yet completed the suggested (not required) prerequisite SBOE course, "Foundations of Personal Fitness"?

Students applying for the SBOE credit course should indicate whether they have previously received credit for one or more semesters of Individual Sports. This allows us to assign the correct course code.

One-Week Physical Education Classes

Academic students who wish to participate in a summer PE enrichment class (without SBOE credit) may request one or more of the one-week classes described below. Students in these one-week classes may at times join the SBOE students during the week(s) they attend, and will be introduced to many of the skills and concepts described for that class. The primary focus of each week's class is shown in the list below:

Bowling June 15 – 20

Bowling will be the primary focus of instruction during the first week, but students will also participate in strength training and cardiovascular fitness, as well as other related activities.

Strength Training and Cardiovascular Fitness June 22 – 27

Weight training and strength and fitness activities will be the focus this week. Students will also participate in bowling and other sports related activities.

Recreational Sports Sampler June 29 – July 3

Activities will include bowling and strength/cardio training, as well as other activities such as bowling, goal ball, and tandem bicycling. Please note that this class ends on a Thursday.

For information about program content, contact Peggy Brisco (512) 206-9429).
PeggyBrisco@tsbvi.edu

For information about the application process, contact Cathy Olsen (512) 206-9182
CathyOlsen@tsbvi.edu

Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)

Last revision: January 10, 2008