I run a bicycle program at my school for 170 students. All the students learn how to ride some type of bicycle according to their abilities. Each class comes out to bikes for 30 minutes three times a week. My biggest challenge is to have a variety of bicycles that meet my students needs.
Our school is a special education school with 175 students ranging in age from 5 to 22.
We have 13 classrooms with 12 to 15 students in each classroom. We have a wide variety of abilities at our school. We want our students to be able to do as much as they can independently. Our bicycle program was developed so our students can learn to ride a bicycle for exercise, recreation and transportation. We want our students to be able to have fun with their friends and family riding bikes. Our students tend to be overweight so riding a bicycle is a great form of exercise for them. As they become older they can use a bicycle for transportation around town.
My Project
Because we have a wide variety of abilities we need to have a wide range of bicycles. My students ride tricycles, training wheel bikes, 2 wheel bikes, adult three wheel bikes, hand cranked bicycles and burly cruisers. Our goal is to have our students ride a bicycle for exercise, recreation and maybe transportation as they get older. Riding a bicycle is one of their favorite activities. It is something they are successful at and they know it. To see their faces when they are successful is so rewarding. I teach the students about bike safety. They learn about crosswalks, red, green and yellow lights and the stop sign. This concept carries over to when they travel in the community.
By having the two new adult trikes will allow more of my students to have the opportunity to learn how to ride a bicycle successfully.
Many of my students do not have the understanding of brakes so these basic bicycles meet their needs. They will allow them to ride with their peers.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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