Education: MSU students provide adapted swim lessons for Starkville students	
	
					
					

				  • 2 mins to read
			
			

	
	
	
			

	

	
	
			STARKVILLE – Through an ongoing partnership with Mississippi State University Department of Kinesiology, several Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District students are getting their first experience in the swimming pool.
MSU students in the kinesiology adapted swim course are working with SOCSD students this fall in a series of swimming lessons held at Sanderson Center during the school day. The lessons include an introduction to water safety, fun activities designed to help children become more accustomed to being in the water and beginning instruction in the basics of swimming, including floating, front stroke and kicking their feet.
The school-day lessons are available for up to four SOCSD students per lesson and conducted in a group environment. MSU Kinesiology majors and certified adapted swim instructors are assigned to each participant.
The first lesson was held in September with parents and SOCSD student support services staff attending. Gregg Twietmeyer, kinesiology professor, and Yulia Kizner, adapted aquatics instructor, oversaw a group of four kinesiology majors who worked individually with students. The Yellow Jackets overcame their fears through activities using stuffed animals, rings, pool noodles, water toys and easy games.
The adapted swim program provides water activities and lessons for students who identify with various special needs, giving a safe and fun experience of water activities while also providing MSU students real-world opportunities to work with children using research-based techniques.
			
						
						
			
      
      
        Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.