I teach two sections of an early childhood special education (ECSE) class. There are 24 children enrolled in my classroom. This year I have 8 girls and 16 boys in my class. Our day is very busy! Preschool aged children are naturally curious about their environment. My classroom is designed to help my students explore different items while developing language and social skills. They love listening to stories, playing games, looking at books, singing songs, building with blocks, and creating art.
My students are 3- to 5-year-old children with special needs in an ECSE classroom.
The majority of my students have language impairments and/or behavior difficulties. They are very curious and energetic students who love to explore. Our daily routine and use of visual supports in the classroom are very important to help my students develop and learn language. The classroom is housed within an elementary school which is a Title I building. I have 2 assistants in my classroom who help make the day run smoothly.
My Project
For the majority of my students, my classroom is their first school experience. Preschoolers learn through their senses and play. I try to provide a variety of movement and sensory activities throughout our day. My students range in their sensory experiences and needs. In this project, I am requesting a variety of sensory tools. Some items are soft and stretchy, some are spiked and stiff, and others are weighted and tougher to squeeze. Each child is different in what sensory tool helps him/her focus.
Providing tools like fidgets and sensory balls helps children concentrate and attend to a task because it helps them filter out other sensory information.
Students with autism or attention issues benefit from sensory and fidget tools. The small muscle movement in the hand while using the fidget provides feedback to the brain and helps the child attend to the task at hand.
The fidgets and sensory balls will be used during circle time to help them focus on the book that I am reading. My students will also be able to use a sensory tool during center time if needed. My calming area already has a few sensory tools in it but this project will enable me to broaden the selection in the calming area.
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