Sensory Intersection- The Crossroad Between Academic and Tactile Learning
My students need a comprehensive sensory area in the classroom. This would include a kinetic sand table, liquid floor tiles, a book shelf, bean bag chairs, and tactile fidgets.
Imagine students who see the fun of coming to school every day, who love to learn, and share their joy with everyone they meet. They always greet others they meet and always see the best in everyone. The students in my Special Education classroom have varying abilities and sensory needs due to their disabilities.
Majority of the students within my classroom are students with Autism or Intellectual Disabilities.
Most of their day they obtain instruction in my Special Education classroom or in a General Education classroom with a Paraprofessional. Although my students have significant academic, behavioral, and sensory needs, our school is very inclusive and supportive of their learning experiences.
My Project
Every day in my classroom, students' bodies and minds thrive through sensory input. For children with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, the academic, social, and behavioral demands that are placed upon them daily can be extremely overwhelming. This is where a completed sensory area would help my students succeed.
Through the use of sensory items, my student's can receive the appropriate amount of tactile input in order to demonstrate progress in school.
The use of a sand table can help a student deescalate from a social interaction with a peer. The liquid floors tiles can provide a way to channel their frustrations with academic demands through squishing around the colors. A bean bag chair can provide a hugging feeling when the auditory input from class with 25 other students becomes overwhelming. And the bookshelf can organize the pages of their beloved books that provide an escape to the world of imagination from the academic struggles they may be facing.
In our classroom learning can only occur if students have a safe place to obtain the tactile input and sensory relief they need.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Agnos and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
