Outdoor Learning on School Grounds for Differently Abled 4K-12 Students | eePRO @ NAAEE
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Outdoor Learning on School Grounds for Differently Abled 4K-12 Students

One of the reasons that comes up when talking with formal educators of students in grades 4K-12 is concern that differently abled students will not benefit from time spent learning outdoors. This is often coupled with concerns for safety and class management. Concerns voiced are that students may leave the designated outdoor learning areas and that students may not have the support needed for behavior accommodations. School site budgets often take the paraprofessional supports away from students during science and social studies classes--often the only classes that are not heavily reliant on pacing guides--when the teachers could possibly take students outdoors. What are your suggestions on how to increase teacher efficacy in taking all students outdoors for learning? What are your strategies for teachers taking groups of 30 students outdoors by themselves? Are there resources or experts that I should consult?

If the school does not provide enough support to help with taking differently abled students outside, I wonder if you could recruit parent volunteers or local college students who want to gain experience working with this population. I have also had success in partnering with local nonprofit and environmental organizations. For example, I have partnered with my local Soil & Water Conservation District to take students on a stream monitoring field trip. They provided three staff members to assist with the field trip as well as equipment. It was a fantastic experience for the students.