Question
Have you found that schools and teachers are receptive to "sensory smart" classroom techniques that allow opportunities for movement and sensory stimulation throughout the day?
Answer
Yes and no. I have found that sometimes teachers are overwhelmed with the amount that they have to teach during the day and they feel that moving in the classroom would be too distracting to the kids.
However, there are kids that need these sensory interventions to be able to calm themselves. In these cases, I usually approach the teacher and ask if I could try some sensory techniques for a trial period, say 1-2 weeks. I tell them that at the end of this period if they do not see a difference or they find it too distracting that we can try something else.
I have found that in most cases the teachers find these strategies to be very effective, not only for the "sensory kids", but for the rest of the class as well. It is important to educate the teacher to integrate sensory strategies throughout the day so that it becomes a "lifestyle", not just a time set aside for "sensory time".
