Sensory Integration Materials Support Young Children's Engagement
My students need sensory integration materials to help them regulate their behaviors and better focus on tasks in the classroom.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Wang's classroom raised $470
This project is fully funded
My Students
I always feel that I am very fortunate and at the same time I sense the great responsibility to be many young souls' first teacher in their lives.
I am an early childhood special education teacher in a blended preschool classroom.
About 1/2 of my students are identified as having special needs (Developmental Delayed, Autism, Speech Language Delayed, Sensory Integration Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Health Impaired etc.) The rest of the students are typically developed children. Their ages range from 3 - 5.
My Project
Many of my students display difficulty focusing on tasks and regulating their behaviors and emotions due to their sensory processing and integration dysfunction. For example, one of my students used to punch and push his peers more than 7 times per day. Through observations, we learned that this student has a stronger needs of sensory input. Each day, he was provided opportunities to squeeze, punch and throw materials such as sensory balls, clay sand, roll tree logs etc. When his sensory needs were met, he didn't have the urge to push or punch others any more.
The sensory integration materials that I placed in the order will help my students to focus and attend to classroom activities, calm their body and mind, re-regulate themselves, provide a particular sensory input that some students crave and decrease inappropriate behaviors and emotional melt down.
Many researches and my 20+ years of teaching experience have shown that weighted products such as those I placed in my order (weighted animals, weighted shoulder wrap etc.) can help young children to increase their ability to sit still and concentrate on tasks. In my classroom, these weighted materials will be used by children during teacher directed instructional time to help them to calm down, reduce hyperactivity and increase their ability to pay attention to the instruction.
The sensory inflatable rocker in my order can be used both indoor and outdoor for all the children, particularly those on autism spectrum and with sensory processing disorders, to sooth & calm their body, to re-regulate themselves, and to reduce tantrum & melt down.
Rest of the toys in my order, including a few stress balls & color drops, will be used by any student & at anytime of the day to help him/her to calm, reduce anxiety and focus.
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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