Today was certainly a long 12 hour day, I can feel the fall season catching up to me but today was fun Friday, so we can release our tension and stress and laugh a little, play a little, and change up the routine with a little fun! It was time to catch the happiness syndrome. It's the curve ball at the end of the week that keeps you on your toes but also allows you to relax and take a deep ahhh or ummmmm. It's time to reboot after another long first FULL week of school with the kiddies! I dont know about any other teacher but I am exhausted and in need of major doses of Vitamin C and B and all the continuation of the alphabet! During the week, I think we all can feel the rythmn of our body clock, with Moondays, Hump Days, so why not a Fun day!
Floor fun time is a great time to keep data with a clipboard and use the child's lead and interests to get certain goals met while sitting on the floor or the dramatic play area. It's time to step away from the table and get down and dirty on the floor. I highly reccommend a salt water nose cleanse at the end of the day however, and a pocket full of hand santiation at this point in the game!
Next Friday, I'm going to look forward to Movie night as part of the fun. When you develop a fun Friday into your routine you keep the kids interested and working for something all week long! It's a great time to include lots of sensory activities that help meet academic goals. Shaving cream makes a great handwriting lesson when you add a paint brush. Exposure to different textures to and around the mouth, cheeks, neck, arms, hands starting at the furtherst point from the mouth and moving towards the mouth as the child will allow you! Music and fun is a good way to get up a dance, do yoga, and incorporate dance with yoga. Yoga and sensory all help promote spontaneous language, increase vocal volume, and an overall connectiveness between the language compenents that the child may be defeciet in. It's important to keep a routine, however, we also have to teach that the routine will change up sometimes and ways to deal with stress and uncertainity. In the child's sensory world, they are exploring in the world and their senses are leaving them lost to some feelings. When given the whole world to intake, their sensory systems are overloaded, shut down, and rebooting on more of an hourly basis rather than our weekly rythmn.
It's hard to have this syndrome of happiness all day every day let alone every Friday all year long. How does one stay happy, breathe easy, and get excited rather than feel exhausted about the work that is ahead of them. The sensory system is interesting because it can block out negative reception and just feel good all the time, but it can also feel so negative and then change to so positive with the polarity happening within minutes, seconds. It's important to have lots of fun things the kids like to do to keep their attention and get into their world. What did you do for fun this Friday?
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
My Little Bag of Tricks
The fall season is upon us and pumpkins will be ready for carving sooner than we can blink! The fall is very good to our senses because we get to watch the leaves change color and fall to the ground. We can start smelling that air that grows crisp! After the back to school blues, I think we have all adjusted back into a routine quite nicely after handling all the natural disasters. Now is the time where I will begin to fill my bag of tricks. As we can see emergencies are apart of every day realities, we are learning the hard way that preparedness is key, so new ways of thinking are needed.
When it comes to sensory integration, preparedness is key and new ways of thinking are also needed. My little bag does not look like a trick or treat bag after all hallow's eve, however I think these goodie bags are just as good and essential tools to the oral motor/sensory regime to prevent emergency meltdowns, further language development, and promote social interactions. So what should you put in your sensory kit?
Think about what you would pack in case of an emergency over night trip. What are the items that help soothe your stress from sleeping in a different environmen? Consider what you would grab if you had 5 minutes to get everything you needed? I think ALL parents can relate to the bag of tricks concept with diaper bags, purses, and the everlastingly popular fannie pack, so that all your emergency needs are right at your finger tips. All of these are a little bag of tricks. In a typical woman's purse we usually carry a wallet for money, identification for driving, perfume to smell good, sunglasses so we are not blinded by the sun, lotion for our hands, chapstick for dry lips, a mirror &brush to make sure you look your best, something to write with, and a telephone for communication purposes. Well a sensory kit is not too far away from what a woman carries in her purse, which is why it is quite simple to visit any local Dollar City's and create a fun oral/motor activity kit.
I am starting to create my new bag of tricks and brainstorming ideas of how to help integrate my own senses, as well as, the students and children in my life. The first step when creating any bag of tricks is a sensory survey to see which type of sensory integration that the child may show more sensitivies to than others. However, there are general activities you can do with any child to survey there sensitities. These are the items I would start with to make any general sensory kit.
Sensory bag of trick ingredients:
Lotions/ Shaving Creams/Bath Salts or Scrubs
Playdough/kneeding clay/play foam and different textures
Sunglasses
Mirrors
Lollipops
Echo mircrophones
Trampolines/Exercise balls
These ingredients do not need to be mixed together all at once, however through exposoure during play time with these fun educational tools, you can help enhance ways to integrate different sensory experiences and learn new academic skills enhancing the child's experience in the classroom setting. We start our day picking out one or two or possibly mixing lollipops with the speech mirrors or shaving cream with bumby balls.
Just like when you bake bread, it isn't until you add the yeast that the bread begins to rise. My classroom without sensory is like that loaf of bread without yeast. However, when you add that yeast then the bread can finally be able to do what it was made to do. The more time that passes, the more yeast the children begin to routinely experience through sensory then the more they are able to rise to the occassion, learn with optimal concentration, and show you everything they are capable of doing.
When it comes to sensory integration, preparedness is key and new ways of thinking are also needed. My little bag does not look like a trick or treat bag after all hallow's eve, however I think these goodie bags are just as good and essential tools to the oral motor/sensory regime to prevent emergency meltdowns, further language development, and promote social interactions. So what should you put in your sensory kit?
Think about what you would pack in case of an emergency over night trip. What are the items that help soothe your stress from sleeping in a different environmen? Consider what you would grab if you had 5 minutes to get everything you needed? I think ALL parents can relate to the bag of tricks concept with diaper bags, purses, and the everlastingly popular fannie pack, so that all your emergency needs are right at your finger tips. All of these are a little bag of tricks. In a typical woman's purse we usually carry a wallet for money, identification for driving, perfume to smell good, sunglasses so we are not blinded by the sun, lotion for our hands, chapstick for dry lips, a mirror &brush to make sure you look your best, something to write with, and a telephone for communication purposes. Well a sensory kit is not too far away from what a woman carries in her purse, which is why it is quite simple to visit any local Dollar City's and create a fun oral/motor activity kit.
I am starting to create my new bag of tricks and brainstorming ideas of how to help integrate my own senses, as well as, the students and children in my life. The first step when creating any bag of tricks is a sensory survey to see which type of sensory integration that the child may show more sensitivies to than others. However, there are general activities you can do with any child to survey there sensitities. These are the items I would start with to make any general sensory kit.
Sensory bag of trick ingredients:
Lotions/ Shaving Creams/Bath Salts or Scrubs
Playdough/kneeding clay/play foam and different textures
Sunglasses
Mirrors
Lollipops
Echo mircrophones
Trampolines/Exercise balls
These ingredients do not need to be mixed together all at once, however through exposoure during play time with these fun educational tools, you can help enhance ways to integrate different sensory experiences and learn new academic skills enhancing the child's experience in the classroom setting. We start our day picking out one or two or possibly mixing lollipops with the speech mirrors or shaving cream with bumby balls.
Just like when you bake bread, it isn't until you add the yeast that the bread begins to rise. My classroom without sensory is like that loaf of bread without yeast. However, when you add that yeast then the bread can finally be able to do what it was made to do. The more time that passes, the more yeast the children begin to routinely experience through sensory then the more they are able to rise to the occassion, learn with optimal concentration, and show you everything they are capable of doing.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Sensological Integration
With the first week of the first semester of grad school under my belt I cannot say enough how excited I am about the movement through my real classroom, virtual classroom, and the movement TOWARD my future classroom. I've never been closer and I can begin to envision all the major components that will a part of my "dream" class philosophy. I still get to dream about a room to call my own, not as a para-professionl but an ACTUAL professional. However, in the meantime this room is still only a dream. This position just a reach of an arms length away. So, close I can touch it but so far that I can still enjoy the joy of working and playing as a child, without responsiblity. Tomorrow work will NOT consist of the paper professional work involved. Tomorrow we will sit on the floor and have fun Friday to follow the lead of the child and I can only continue to wish I could have this moment for life. I can already see the IEP horizon closely looming and I'm glad its not my turn yet! In the meantime, I will do my homework with pride and write the plans, letters home to parents, and enjoy the joys of teaching before I may be burdened with the resposnibility that the special education professionals have on their shoulders as they enter into another school year with new faces to teach, year after year.
As a professional, you are responsible for taking a look at an area of improvement for yourself. After the second week of school, it is clear that my own personal professioal development this year will be learning how to become technologically integrated. The new ways to integrate audio and visual supports into lessons are endless and I am excited to be adding a Smart Board to my future sensory lessons because technology helps one explore through all of their seven senses. Through lessons with audio you can move your body and listen to the rythmn of the sounds. The computer allows you to touch the mouse and keyoard, look at the screen, and integrate cognitve thought through your intergration of those senses.
One could say that humans are senseologically integrated. If the senses are not integrated properly then the miswiring is similar to having to reboot your computer. After a sensory meltdown, the child needs to reboot themselves to reorganize what they see going, how they feel about what's going, what is really going on, and then add any new informatin to their intake to help calm them down.
After a long day of sensory overload from a rainy, gloomy, traffic, 14 hour day I get to come home, take a shower, put on my fuzzy robe and reboot for the next day. I will remind myself its Friday to help calm down so I won't feel too tired, I will just feel closer to the weekend. The waves of our week come crashing down every weekend, but a child with sensory dysfunctions ride these stress waves daily, even hourly and need ways to help them reboot. It is ok to get upset, but it is also necessary to be aware of new information to integrate and reboot yourself with positive thinking. When children are given the choices of how to make the right decisions, meltdowns are not what they WANT to do, however under stressful circumstances thats all they can do in order to reboot and start over. My job is to show them ways to calm down, intake new information, and integrate the reality of their meltdown-Breathe! It will be ok! The week is over, the weekend makes it all better! What will you do this weekend to reboot!?
As a professional, you are responsible for taking a look at an area of improvement for yourself. After the second week of school, it is clear that my own personal professioal development this year will be learning how to become technologically integrated. The new ways to integrate audio and visual supports into lessons are endless and I am excited to be adding a Smart Board to my future sensory lessons because technology helps one explore through all of their seven senses. Through lessons with audio you can move your body and listen to the rythmn of the sounds. The computer allows you to touch the mouse and keyoard, look at the screen, and integrate cognitve thought through your intergration of those senses.
One could say that humans are senseologically integrated. If the senses are not integrated properly then the miswiring is similar to having to reboot your computer. After a sensory meltdown, the child needs to reboot themselves to reorganize what they see going, how they feel about what's going, what is really going on, and then add any new informatin to their intake to help calm them down.
After a long day of sensory overload from a rainy, gloomy, traffic, 14 hour day I get to come home, take a shower, put on my fuzzy robe and reboot for the next day. I will remind myself its Friday to help calm down so I won't feel too tired, I will just feel closer to the weekend. The waves of our week come crashing down every weekend, but a child with sensory dysfunctions ride these stress waves daily, even hourly and need ways to help them reboot. It is ok to get upset, but it is also necessary to be aware of new information to integrate and reboot yourself with positive thinking. When children are given the choices of how to make the right decisions, meltdowns are not what they WANT to do, however under stressful circumstances thats all they can do in order to reboot and start over. My job is to show them ways to calm down, intake new information, and integrate the reality of their meltdown-Breathe! It will be ok! The week is over, the weekend makes it all better! What will you do this weekend to reboot!?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sunday Church Group
I was recently posed a question about how to help with a child in a Sunday church group, where I can imagine lots of families would like help. Awareness about autism is just the first step. Teaching the community the tricks of the trade is the next step so that they can understand autism better. My blog will be a hypothetical church group scenerio under ideal circumstances and I hope I can answer my friends facebook question via blog =) A sensory room is always benefitial for creating a inviting atmosphere. The church atmosphere may be overload for the child with autism, so a seperate room for the child to hang out during church would help. Creating the atmosphere of that room to be theraputic will look something like a typical early chilhood room for the church. It's nothing fancy. However, the tricks of the trade used are a llittle different. A corner filled with beanbags, bouncy balls or trampolines, dim lighting, something to go under and hang out in this area will help the child feel welcome in the unknown enivironment.
First, each child on the spectrum is different like colors of the rainbow and based on their shade, their social, cognitive, or even sensory fuctions will be impacted differently. I do not advocate jumping into any child's world without letting them play on their own and lead their exploration. I always watch the children first before beginning any specific therapies. However, sensory/oral motor time can be general enough to benefit any child. However, defensive children may need warmer water as they put their pinky in the toothpaste before we move our way into the year putting toothpaste on a toothbrush to put into our mouth. Those are highly benefitial activities however jumping into the world of autism too fast could cause unwanted meltdowns. The child should be as comfortable as possible, and should not want to escape from sensory time, rather run to it when you sing the song to get them to their sensory spot in the room. After you have let the child explore on their own, through play and wandering the room to look around, I do believe music is the best way to get any child's attention. As you create a routine or regime for the child every time they enter the church, you may sing a song to go to the bathroom or whatever you are transitioning into after free play. The sound of a bell, switching on and off the lights, a timer, some sort of visual cue that you want the child's attention! A picture of what you are going to do next with the child would help in telling the child the activity is all finished and its now time for bathroom. After each transition, the same cue whether light or sound should be used to get the attention followed by a visual cue with a picture of what is going on next. This communication process will help decrease meltdowns. During arts and crafts and times where you want the child to sit, it may be best to have a dedicated assistant, a teacher or older child will help.
Each church group is different however, a few communication cues and environmental changes that help the child with autism understand their environment can help with transitions. If you give the child the yeast to become a member of the class community, they can and will rise to the occassion.
First, each child on the spectrum is different like colors of the rainbow and based on their shade, their social, cognitive, or even sensory fuctions will be impacted differently. I do not advocate jumping into any child's world without letting them play on their own and lead their exploration. I always watch the children first before beginning any specific therapies. However, sensory/oral motor time can be general enough to benefit any child. However, defensive children may need warmer water as they put their pinky in the toothpaste before we move our way into the year putting toothpaste on a toothbrush to put into our mouth. Those are highly benefitial activities however jumping into the world of autism too fast could cause unwanted meltdowns. The child should be as comfortable as possible, and should not want to escape from sensory time, rather run to it when you sing the song to get them to their sensory spot in the room. After you have let the child explore on their own, through play and wandering the room to look around, I do believe music is the best way to get any child's attention. As you create a routine or regime for the child every time they enter the church, you may sing a song to go to the bathroom or whatever you are transitioning into after free play. The sound of a bell, switching on and off the lights, a timer, some sort of visual cue that you want the child's attention! A picture of what you are going to do next with the child would help in telling the child the activity is all finished and its now time for bathroom. After each transition, the same cue whether light or sound should be used to get the attention followed by a visual cue with a picture of what is going on next. This communication process will help decrease meltdowns. During arts and crafts and times where you want the child to sit, it may be best to have a dedicated assistant, a teacher or older child will help.
Each church group is different however, a few communication cues and environmental changes that help the child with autism understand their environment can help with transitions. If you give the child the yeast to become a member of the class community, they can and will rise to the occassion.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Take me Out to the Ball Game
After a 14 hour day, one of the longest I've had in a long time I can't help but come home and blog about my sensory overloaded adventure of a day. Luckily, it started as usual because I am learning that routine is a major part to a balanced sensory diet. For the sake of this blog I am calling the seven senses, how we see, smell, hear, taste, feel, think, and move. The first thing of day is always a sensory regime that begins inside the wonder box.
Today's wonder box was extended fun Fridays so the children got to lead their play. We began to form the broader routine, which includes a fun day at the end of the week! Inclusion on the playground was even included our sensory walk as a great added bonus!
My day continued this afternoon, with a take me out to the ballgame! However, routine is important so a stop at the pool occurred first to wash the day off my back and hop in the car to not just go watch a ballgame but I also am getting to watch a One World for Autism form right before my eyes. The voluneteer session is next weekend, so those interested in joining the forces to unite a one world for autism, look for more information on my Twitter @opalroses!
As for the first week of school, it really gets an A for Awesome for numerous reasons, that fact that it included this great networking night at the Baysox Autism Night it was a 4 day week attached to another 4 day week for a luke warm slow start to the new routine. Fall will be here before we know it and I hope for every week to be an A+ week , just minus-hurricane or earthquake.
I can't believe it but I am also entering the newest journey of grad school. The books are on the way, the classes will start Tuesday, and my next Certificate in Instructional Technology Integration is on the spring horizon before I will have time to blink! I have no idea what's next but I know life is not slowing down, the networking has just begun, and life is too awesome to not be a part of it! I better integrate my sensory system quickly before overload occurs. Detox, Yoga, and Pray, what's a girl to do first!?
Today's wonder box was extended fun Fridays so the children got to lead their play. We began to form the broader routine, which includes a fun day at the end of the week! Inclusion on the playground was even included our sensory walk as a great added bonus!
My day continued this afternoon, with a take me out to the ballgame! However, routine is important so a stop at the pool occurred first to wash the day off my back and hop in the car to not just go watch a ballgame but I also am getting to watch a One World for Autism form right before my eyes. The voluneteer session is next weekend, so those interested in joining the forces to unite a one world for autism, look for more information on my Twitter @opalroses!
As for the first week of school, it really gets an A for Awesome for numerous reasons, that fact that it included this great networking night at the Baysox Autism Night it was a 4 day week attached to another 4 day week for a luke warm slow start to the new routine. Fall will be here before we know it and I hope for every week to be an A+ week , just minus-hurricane or earthquake.
I can't believe it but I am also entering the newest journey of grad school. The books are on the way, the classes will start Tuesday, and my next Certificate in Instructional Technology Integration is on the spring horizon before I will have time to blink! I have no idea what's next but I know life is not slowing down, the networking has just begun, and life is too awesome to not be a part of it! I better integrate my sensory system quickly before overload occurs. Detox, Yoga, and Pray, what's a girl to do first!?
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