Teaching outdoors in physical education means there are some other issues which need to be managed. Here are some tips to help with the outdoor setting with hearing impaired children:
Establish a 'stop and look' strategy which is based on a visual signal (combined with auditory for your hearing students). Practice this often so it becomes second nature for everyone to 'stop and look' when you give the signal. It could be a colored flag, a hand signal, a wave or something else that works for your setting.
Teach your class using a predictable pattern of activities - warm up, drills, minor game, cool down etc. This gets students into a routine of what happens and where each task usually occurs. Remember to warn them before you vary this routine!
Establish an emergency signal (visual and auditory) which groups students at a set safe place if there is a problem such as a major injury that needs to be dealt with.
Teach everyone in the class some key Makaton signs for the sport or activity you are doing each term. This encourages everyone to learn some communication strategies that can work for the whole group and which are highly relevant to what you are doing. For example, if you are teaching aquatics, focus on the signs for 'water, swim, front, back, towel, wet, stop, look' etc.
Never talk with your back to the group. Teachers often do this when they are turning around to pick up a piece of equipment, writing on a whiteboard or directing their attention toward a particular student in the group. Remember that as soon as you turn around, anyone who is speech reading will have lost their communication with you completely. It is as if you have simply stopped speaking for the whole time your back is turned.
Lastly, remember that communication is ultimately your responsibility as teacher, so you need to learn about the particular needs of your students with a hearing impairment and ensure you are able to effectively meet them.
