My students need an age appropriate cool down table with storage for fidgets and sensory items, as well as comfy chairs when they just need to calm themselves.
In my 12:1:1 self-contained classroom, I have 12 highly energetic and inquisitive kiddos. My students come from various ethnic backgrounds but all live within the city of Buffalo and are from low-income households.
All of my students have special needs which is why they are in my classroom, but their needs do not detract from their abilities and I strive to help them reach their full potential each day.
My kiddos have been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as other learning impairments, which makes sitting in class for over 6 hours extremely difficult. Sometimes they need a break to calm their mind and/or their body; my goal is to provide them a safe and private place to do so.
My Project
Working with students who have sensory needs brings on some unique challenges in terms of maintaining their focus and keeping them from getting overstimulated or frustrated. Throughout the year we are learning how to recognize when we need a break and new ways to calm ourselves.
There are times when everyone needs to take a break, and I'm teaching my students that it is okay to ask for one!
My goal is to be able to provide them with a sensory friendly, age appropriate area in which they can calm themselves. Self-regulation is a critical life skill and I strongly feel that teaching this skill early in childhood will benefit them greatly throughout their entire lives.
My plan is to have an area in the classroom dedicated to calming students when they are frustrated or overstimulated. I want a table for them to sit and use fidget toys or color or write about what’s upsetting them. Having a storage unit within the table would be beneficial as it would offer the students whatever material they need for their calming activity; they wouldn’t have to search for it elsewhere in the classroom. I also would like the cuddle chairs as an alternative seating option in the calming area; they would provide a cushy seat for when the students just want a moment to chill out, read a book, or even nap if overtired.
Having a specific area of the classroom dedicated to calming, without imposing demands, will help ensure a sense of security for the students. Often when overwhelmed the students will act out to get a break by being removed from the classroom; I want them to understand that this is not necessary and definitely not an efficient way to get the break they need.
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