Parents are always looking for ways to keep their kids active in the winter. Unfortunalty, this winter we can’t rely on visiting bowling alleys or trampoline parks as we have in the past and there is no guarantee of snow for snowman building, and, let’s face it – it can get pretty cold the further…
Routines for Managing a New Reality during the COVID-19 Pandemic
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7 Classroom Ideas for Sensational Teachers
by Aubrey Schmalle OTR/L How important is it that my classroom is “sensory friendly” and digitally aware? Every year, there are many blog posts encouraging you to set-up a sensory friendly classroom. And some of you may be asking, why focus on this when the children in my classroom have so many different learning needs? …
Understanding dyslexia and sensory processing
Children with dyslexia often have motion-processing disorders and may have an overlapping diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder. It is important to understand how the brain and body work together to support reading skill development in order to make sure that you are engaging a child with dyslexia in activities that are going to support development…
Rethinking Sensory Diets for Teens
Sensory Diets are often recommended to help students maintain optimal regulation and attention in the school setting when children are in preschool and elementary school. As children age, their interests and social awareness evolve. This also means that sometimes, what started out as a solid and supportive plan initiated at a child’s PPT meeting becomes…
The Case for Gross Motor Centers for Preschool Classrooms
By Rachel Butler, COTA/L More and more research is being published that shows the benefits of movement for learning. As a result, elementary school teachers are incorporating movement breaks into their schedules and some middle schools are bringing back recess. Preschool children seem to be constantly moving, so why incorporate more movement into their classrooms? …
Sight Word Scavenger Hunt
Supplies: Play Dough Sticky Notes Writing Utensil Set-Up Prior to Child Engagement: Adult writes 5-10 sight words on sticky notes and hides the sticky notes around the room Adult sets a ball of play-dough next to a writing utensil on a non-stick floor or table Procedure: Child looks for one sight word tag. Depending on…
Letter Visualization Activity
Supplies Container with magnet/cut out letters (uppercase or lowercase) Two floor dots/ small mats/ trays/ paper plates Set up Set up two floor spots in classroom/ home at an appropriate space apart so that child can not see the letters on the second spot when standing at the fist spot Spread letters (more or less…
Sight word Visualization
Supplies Sight words from appropriate list written on index cards or card stock Two floor spots, mats, trays, or paper plates 1 container of multiple sets of letter beads (We like these from Lakeshore) White board/paper/ chalkboard Appropriate writing implement for surface (pencil, dry erase marker, chalk) Procedure 1. Place floor spots at appropriate distance…
