A qualitative inquiry into the workplace experiences of adapted physical education teachers

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Kevin Andrew Richards ◽  
Steven K. Holland ◽  
Wesley J. Wilson ◽  
Alyssa M. Trad ◽  
Juliet Stearns
Author(s):  
Wesley J. Wilson ◽  
Steven K. Holland ◽  
Justin A. Haegele ◽  
K. Andrew R. Richards

Purpose: To better understand the workplace experiences of adapted physical education teachers with particular attention given to differences between those with and without Adapted Physical Education National Standards certification. Role socialization theory was used as the theoretical framework to explore how teachers navigate the contexts of their work environment. Methods: The participants included a total of 233 adapted physical education teachers, 131 with certification and 102 without it. The participants completed an online survey examining marginalization and isolation, perceived mattering, role stress, resilience, job satisfaction, perceived organizational support, and emotional exhaustion. Results: Certified adapted physical educators perceived less marginalization and role ambiguity and more perceived mattering than their noncertified counterparts. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings are consistent with other research suggesting the positive association between workplace experiences and advanced certifications. As the requirements for certification continue to advance and change, this study highlights the need for the continued study of advanced certification.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-680
Author(s):  
Minhyun Kim ◽  
José A. Santiago ◽  
Chan Woong Park ◽  
Emily A. Roper

Grounded in occupational socialization theory, the authors examined adapted physical education (APE) teachers’ job satisfaction. Twelve (nine female and three male) APE teachers who had 3–43 years of teaching experience participated in the study. A semistructured interview was employed. The interviews focused on the participants’ roles and responsibilities. The following questions guided this study: (a) What social agents positively impact APE teachers’ job satisfaction? (b) what APE teachers’ roles and responsibilities are related to job satisfaction? and (c) what type of working conditions are linked to APE teachers’ job satisfaction? Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The following four themes emerged from the analysis: (a) support from administrators, physical education teachers, and colleagues; (b) relevant and meaningful professional development; (c) itinerant working conditions; and (d) seeing students’ progress and achievement. The results of this study provide several implications to enhance APE teachers’ job satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 304-323
Author(s):  
Steven K. Holland ◽  
Justin A. Haegele

The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning that first-year adapted physical education teachers with a master’s degree ascribed to their occupational socialization experiences. An interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach was used, and occupational socialization theory was adopted as the theoretical framework. Five teachers participated in this study. The sources of data were a semistructured focus group interview, semistructured one-to-one interviews, and reflective interview notes. Thematic development involved a three-step analysis process informed by the research approach. Three themes were constructed: (a) interactions with individuals with disabilities and activity experiences, (b) recruitment of adapted physical education teacher education students, and (c) graduate training and initial workplace experiences. The constructed themes provide unique insight into how teachers are socialized into adapted physical education and the meaning they ascribe to various socialization experiences, such as the limited impact that interactions with individuals with disabilities had on the decision to pursue this career.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Lieberman ◽  
Ali Brian ◽  
Michelle Grenier

Children with disabilities have mixed feelings about their inclusion experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the validity and reliability of results from the Lieberman-Brian Inclusion Rating Scale for Physical Education. Experts in adapted physical education ( n = 10) established content and face validity (mean = 4.68 ± 0.56) on a five-point scale through three rounds of evaluation through the Delphi method. Next, elementary physical education teachers ( n = 15) and two independent raters established test–retest reliability ( r = 0.87, p < 0.001; intra-class correlations (ICC) = 0.93, p < 0.001) and inter-rater reliability ( r = 0.69, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.82, p < 0.001) respectively. Physical education teachers among others can use this valid and reliable scale to determine the extent to which teachers attempt to make an environment inclusive. Practical uses for this instrument are program evaluation, intervention research, and as a teaching tool.


1984 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-193
Author(s):  
Glenda Adams ◽  
Trudy Younger

Adapted physical education teachers usually work in a setting in which the instruction of handicapped students is highly individualized. Thus, they need to have skills that focus on personal as well as movement characteristics. It is suggested that an understanding of the role of counselor, and of the specific means of counseling, would enable the teachers to work more effectively with their students and their other colleagues.


2021 ◽  
pp. 004005992110188
Author(s):  
Alyssa M. Trad ◽  
K. Andrew R. Richards ◽  
Wesley J. Wilson

While sharing some characteristics with their general physical education colleagues, adapted physical educators also face unique challenges related to their role. For example, both general and adapted physical education teachers encounter stress stemming from the marginalized nature of their discipline but may navigate such experiences differently. Adapted physical education teachers often serve in itinerant roles travelling among multiple schools and may provide services for upwards of 100 students. They must also have a functional understanding of a wide variety of disabilities, individualize instruction for each student, collaborate with service providers across several schools, and be an active team member in the individualized education program process. As a result, they may need to advocate for themselves, their students, and the role of the discipline in different and unique ways. Drawing from research on general and adapted physical education teacher socialization, and available research-informed practices, the purpose of this paper is to describe the unique stressors associated with teaching adapted physical education and strategies they may implement as part of local advocacy.


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