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Long Coy teachers highlight inclusive Spectrum Gym field trip and integrated PE-math lessons
Summary
Long Coy teachers described a private, grant-funded visit to an inclusive "Spectrum" gym and a classroom program that pairs physical education and mathematics to increase engagement and participation for K'5 students.
Long Coy staff told the Kent City Schools Board of Education on Monday about two classroom initiatives they say increase access and learning for students of varied abilities: a private, grant-funded visit to an inclusive children's gym and a multi-year integrated physical-education and mathematics curriculum.
Hillary Mauer, Long Coy school counselor, said the school secured funding from Neighborhood Bridges to take 25 students to Spectrum Kids Gym in Stowe. The gym, she said, is designed as an inclusive space where students of differing abilities can access equipment with support from therapists, aides and teachers. Mauer said the event was private for the school's group and that staff included occupational, physical and speech therapists, intervention specialists and classroom teachers to help students participate.
"All of our students, the 25 students, were able to access that inclusive environment to all different abilities, kindergarten through fifth grade," Mauer told the board. She said the trip helped students gain confidence and that the school received enthusiastic feedback from participants.
Following the field-trip description, Sean Bates and Michelle McCombs described a decade-long classroom practice that blends math tasks with physical movement. Bates and McCombs said adding expected movement into lessons increased student motivation, accuracy and participation; they cited examples such as using scooters, beanbag tosses tied to number operations, large-floor clocks, and hands-on measurement activities connected to grade-level standards. The teachers said they presented the approach at the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM) and are applying to present at the national conference of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
Mauer and Bates credited Neighborhood Bridges for funding the gym visit and described the Long Coy approach as a team effort among classroom teachers, specialists and the PE teacher. The board responded with thanks and congratulated the educators on the classroom presentations and conference recognition.
