Provide Movement Opportunities Provide opportunities for movement while in class. In addition to the ball chair research as previously described, a chair cushion may be helpful for some students to help maintain focus and attention. Rocking chairs and/or standing desks may also be other good solutions. Other options include rotating tasks so a child can take a movement break during the day by walking down to the main office to deliver a message or get up to feed the fish or water the plants.
Sensory ‘Time In’ Provide a sensory “time in” space.This is a paradigm shift for many.The idea is to phase out or reduce the need for punishment time out and instead begin to incorporate quiet time into the schedule on a daily basis. In Charlie’s case above for example, a quiet space was created with bean bag chairs and some weighted animals — the bean bag to help define spatial boundaries and the weighted stuffed animals for deep touch pressure for comfort and calming. At around 10 a.m. every day, Charlie was allowed five to 10 minutes in this quiet “time in” space to regroup. It was not given as a reward or as a punishment, just a part of his daily schedule.Within weeks his tantrums began decreasing. It doesn’t always take a big budget or a lot of equipment to make a sensory quiet space.As stated, beanbags and weighted items or a soft blanket work nicely.A small pop up or backyard play tent is another option. One innovative teacher creatively used a large appliance packing box carving out a door and a window then had her students paint and decorate the sides. Inside were a flashlight and a weighted blanket — perfect place to “chill out” and hopefully avoid future meltdowns.
Heavy Work Tasks Provide opportunities for heavy work tasks.This activates the proprioceptive system which may help with body awareness, and regulate the alert state. (Think about how calm you are after having a good massage for example). Deep touch pressure/ heavy work activities like vacuuming, sweeping with an added weight on a broom, pulling a heavy wagon, or carrying a weighted backpack are great options.Try a series of seated chair or wall pushups as a great method to engage this system before a test or other handwriting activities. Heavy
work self-regulation activities like these may also help calm the body down after recess or rev up the body when sleepy/lethargic.
Fidget Tools Provide fidget tools for attention and calming. Doodlers take in auditory information at a 29 percent better rate than the control group. So often students are asked to keep bodies and hands still when the opposite may have a better impact on focus and attention.There are a variety of sizes, shapes and sensory textures for fidgets that are commercially available and most can be cleaned with soap and water and/or a germicidal wipe. One smart teacher kept a plastic fishbowl full of fidgets at his desk that students could then use at key times during the day.
Oral Tools for Focus Try oral (mouth) tools for attention and focus.We all use oral motor input to help with focus, precision and even strength. Think about the baseball pitchers that usually chew something — hopefully
gum — during a game or check out the football players that chew on their mouth guards in between plays. Gum chewing may be beneficial in tasks requiring sustained concentration.As having gum and other nutritive (food substances) are not always an option in the classroom, there are a variety of non-nutritive tools including pencil toppers and other “chewies” that are durable and latex and phthalate free. As human beings, we all have sensory needs and preferences. Understanding, fine tuning and implementing these basic sensory concepts may help all students, and teachers, become more successful. Make your classroom “sense”-sational! Cecilia Cruse, MS, OTR/L received her BS degree in OT from the University of Florida, and her Master’s degree in Education from Georgia State University. She is SIPT certified and has over 25 years experience in pediatrics with school-based services, acute care and outpatient pediatric settings including the Medical College of GA in Augusta, Ga. and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
big convenience College of Education
starts at Pitt State
Online Degree Programs
Including
• EdS Advanced Studies in Leadership • MA Teaching Special Ed. • MS Educational Technology • MS Reading
• MS Special Ed. Teaching • MS Teaching ESOL • Certificate of Autism Spectrum Disorders • And more!
Pittsburg State University
www.seenmagazine.us
www.pittstate.edu/cgs
SouthEast Education Network v WINTER 2013
43