Bringing a School Together to Increase Motor Ability in Students
Upon a new assignment to this elementary building, the Occupational Therapist quickly became aware that there were options to help the teachers. The Occupational Therapy strategies needed to be developed and planned with administration support and teacher input. A program was developed for the entire buildings use. Student teachers, paraprofessionals, and general education teachers all utilize the developed Sensory Circuit. Many students who lack motor abilities in addition to poor sensory integration, show deficits in learning. Some of these students are not special education students. A whole building approach was developed so teachers have options to help students learn. It is well researched that motor skill deficits effect learning. For example, poor readers often lack the motor coordination to scan across a page, thus reading becomes laborious and tiring. Low muscle tone can effect a students ability to perform handwriting, thus a decrease in performance and motivation is seen. Poor sensory regulation is seen in our students who show difficulty with attention/focus. The stage area of this elementary was converted into a Sensory Circuit for all to use! A two year process of education to the staff by the Occupational Therapist eventually helped to create a collaborative approach beneficial to many of the students in this building. Much training, time, and education continues to be devoted by the OT with many educators maintaining the program.
Challenges or Obstacles:
- It is a must that the building administrator allows the staff the opportunity to learn from the Occupational Therapist! Inservices were presented by the Occupational Therapist during staff meetings. A total of 3 hours professional development in 4 separate meetings over a 1 1/5 year period were given to the OT. Teachers seemed interested in the professional development and commented that they felt the type of information the OT presented was helpful.
- A physical space was needed to set up the Sensory Circuit. The building stage is utilized. Over holidays and school programs it is relatively easy to move the items off of the stage and to another location within the building for a few days.
- It must be understood that the school based OT is so much more than a “handwriting” expert. Movement for entire classrooms, motor strategies for whole classrooms, and sensory based strategies all help to improve learning.
- An obstacle many buildings may face is the lack of available time that an OT may be able to serve a building. It is of utmost importance that the building administrator is understanding of what an OT can do for a building and have a good relationship with the OT to collaborate and problem solve to create a model such as this model.
Benefits and Successes:
- Documentation of the student outcomes is in the beginning stages, however, teachers and student teachers see results daily.
- Comments such as, “I need to go to the Sensory Circuit, it helps me concentrate better” are often heard by staff from students who participate. Other comments include, “nothing has ever helped me be a better student like the Sensory Circuit”.
- A current study will look at citizenship grades and spelling grades both before and after participation in the Sensory Circuit was begun.
Additional Information:
Web Tennis Ball for Older Students (click here)
Exercise is ADHD medication (Click here)
Submitted By: Debra Zartman, Rhoades Elementary