To improve balance skills of deaf students, teachers should first determine the student's present level of functioning, decide on developmentally appropriate activities, and then arrange activities so the child progresses sequentially. (CL)

The article offers guidelines for involving children and adults with severe disabilities in motor activities and sports. Stressed are participation as fun, age appropriateness, functionality of new skills, and the value of partial participation. (DB)

Presents a success-management model for motivated learning which provides physical education teachers a framework for enhancing students' desire to work hard and maximize skill learning. The model's three phases are: basic instruction to help students begin learning skills; change in the motivational climate from task to ego orientation, with…

This guide is organized around a suggested list of physical education skills that all students should know and be able to do at each grade level from kindergarten through grade 6. The guide will help provide parents, teachers, and students with knowledge of what is being taught in a logical scope and sequence by grade level. It is designed to help…

Confusion exists concerning basic concepts of motor development, understood as the life-long process of change in an individual's movement behaviors. The article presents 10 common misconceptions; each is followed by a clarification of the concept and a practical example. (SM)

Standard one of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education states students should demonstrate competency in many, and proficiency in some, movement forms. This article presents recommendations to help students achieve motor skill competency and proficiency, providing task progressions for elementary students and illustrating…

The importance of learning new movement skills is shown in relation to learning folk dances. Folk dancing not only improves physical skills, but also results in an understanding and appreciation of the richness of other cultures. (JN)

Notes benefits of movement experiences to young children. Explains and discusses developing and refining movement patterns and developing perceptual abilities so that sensory information can be used to help refine movement skills. Includes an annotated bibliography of 15 pertinent references. (SB)

This book serves as a guide to selecting play materials for individuals providing education and care for young children. The introductory chapter of the book discusses child play and the importance of selection of play materials based on needs of children and the purposes they serve. The next six chapters provide information on play materials,…

Educational gymnastics uses a problem-solving approach to accommodate multiple correct solutions to open-ended movement problems in gymnastics. A four-stage framework is outlined to help teachers systematically increase and decrease task difficulty in educational gymnastics. Answers to common questions about educational gymnastics are provided.…

Addresses three issues regarding developmentally appropriate physical education: what it means; what teachers must know (change occurs in an orderly, sequential fashion and is age and experience related); and how teachers can implement it (be skilled observers of movement and be clear about the purpose of the task). (SM)

This paper describes two practical assessment procedures that enable teachers to use time more efficiently in physical education class. One approach is for teachers who want to use validated or invalidated skills tests, and the other approach takes advantage of instructional progression steps. (SM)

This Maryland State Department of Education document is a guide for the assessment and development of comprehensive K-12 physical education programs in Maryland schools. The first section defines the nature of physical education and describes its relationship to society, the learner, and the school curriculum. The second section presents broad…

Growth concepts as they relate to motor development in children are discussed. The focus of this monograph is on structuring situations to help children develop physical skills. The first chapter deals with individual growth patterns, genetic and environmental influences on human growth, and the development of physical efficiency. Chapter two…

Young children with low vision tend to experience delays in cognitive development, motor development, and social skills because of insufficient motivation and opportunities to explore their environments actively. This literature review explores the resulting difficulties in acquiring practical knowledge and spatial/environmental concepts,…