By

Heidi Waterkotte,   Turner Middle School

Play:

All In, All Abilities — Activate Your School!

Topics:

Physical Activity Participation,  Student Leadership

Our school implemented a Peer Buddy program this year. Leadership students paired up with students from our Life Skills Class that did not get physical education. Our leadership students would bring these students to P.E. and would help facilitate an adapted physical education class with general education students. So far, this has been a HUGE success. These students are getting the experience of working with other students that they do not normally get to see in our building and all of our student body is now getting physical education!

How did students and adults work together as a team?

The teacher creates the physical education lesson but the leadership students execute the plan.

How did you accomplish your goals?

I really wanted to get our Life Skills students physical education however, we did not have the adult resources to make this happen. This is where the idea of Peer Buddies came into play. Allowing these leadership students to act as friends and facilitators of the program was perfect to reach our goal.

How do you plan to make this Play last during the school year and beyond?

I hope Peer Buddies can be implemented every year in our building. It has been great for all of our students and I am really excited to see how the program develops in years to come.