My students need materials to receive sensory input such as swinging indoors, spinning on spin/balance board, exploring materials in sensory tubs and with Theraputty.
"I like to move it, move it!" Sometimes we can move our bodies, and sometimes we have to be calm and attend so we can learn. We need materials to help us have fun as our bodies receive sensory input that will help us organize our bodies so my students can be ready to learn.
My students are amazing children who make me smile everyday.
My classroom is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)-based preschool class for children with Autism. Our school has close to 400 students with general education and inclusion classes in addition to our 3 ABA classes. I use one-on-one teaching, peer pairing groups, and natural environment teaching opportunities to help my students learn skills and to generalize their skills.
Many of my students have difficulty regulating their bodies. I teach them ways to calm themselves (Kids' Yoga and breathing strategies such as putting one finger up and "blowing out the candle") and to receive sensory input in appropriate ways (swinging in a blanket instead of rocking back and forth or doing Ring Around the Rosy with a peer instead of spinning around or throwing self to floor inappropriately). Learning how to self-regulate their bodies is important for them to be able to engage with others appropriately and be more attentive.
My Project
The materials that I hope to introduce to my class will provide my students with opportunities to receive different types of sensory input. The pea in a pod swing will allow students to sit comfortably, securely, and safely while staff swings them, giving them vestibular input. Students will also be able to use this when they need a snug space to look at a book or have quiet time.
The bins will be used as sensory bins. Sensory bins are containers that can be filled with materials that may provide a new tactile experience (which students may have a hard time touching/or enjoy), mixed with reinforcing objects to encourage students to explore the and touch the materials. These bins will be used to help desensitize students to textures, introduce new textures in a contained setting, serve as reinforcement for reinforcing textures, and provide a variety of sensory experiences. Another activity will be increasing fine motor skills as we focus on finding and removing buttons from Theraputty.
The materials requested will enrich my students' sensory systems and help them focus and attend better, have a calm body to be able to engage and interact with others, and decrease negative behaviors and stimming behaviors.
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