Straw Sensory Play Activity

This box of cut up straws is a fun way to make a non messy sensory play activity!  I bought 6 packages of 150 count drinking straws at the dollar store, and cut them up into thirds (but you could make them smaller or larger).  I used a copier paper box (the kind with a removable lid on the top), and cut a large rectangular hole in the lid.

I then added some random toys/objects in the straws, so that my students can reach in and find them-  you could:

-Take off the lid and just have the kids play in the straw however they want.  

-Have them find objects that you have hidden in the straws (this helps work on tactile discrimination and stereognosis!), eyes open or eyes closed.

What is tactile discrimination?  Wikipedia defines it as "the ability to differentiate information received through the sense of touch."

What is stereognosis?  According to Wikipedia, it is the ability to perceive and recognize the form of an object in the absence of visual and auditory information, by using tactile information to provide cues from texture, size, spatial properties, and temperature, etc.

-Vary the size of the objects that you have in the straws.  Smaller items require more tactile discrimination.

-Kids love the non messy aspect of this tactile input/stimulation~

I used this tactile box for a group activity in a classroom of 9 kids; all have various disabilities.  Some of the kids require visual cues to follow directions and to sequence the steps of an activity, so I also made visuals (using Boardmaker) for those that needed those types of cues:

Be creative with ways that you can present this to your kids/students, modify how to access it, vary the items that you add to it...

Dysgraphia App

You may have a child in your classroom, on your caseload or in your home who avoids handwriting at all costs...maybe the reason that they are avoiding writing is not clear.  Do they have poor motor skills that are causing them difficulty?  Is the process of writing fatiguing because of poor handwriting mechanics?  Is it because he or she can't seem to get their thoughts out of their head and on to the paper?  Is there anxiety related to doing work?  Maybe they have dysgraphia?  What is dysgraphia??  Dysgraphia is a type of learning disability that affects writing.  Kids with dysgraphia might have difficulty with spelling, poor/illegible handwriting or have trouble getting their thoughts down on paper.  Dysgraphia is actually a processing issue, though, not necessarily a motor issue alone, so just because a child has poor handwriting, it does not mean they have dysgraphia.  In certain cases, maybe a child is a non-writer, but can type on a keyboard. No matter what the cause, there is the question of how to best address illegible handwriting on worksheets.  Sometimes we require the kid to re do their papers so that we can read it.  Sometimes we have an adult/paraprofessional scribe for them...  Wouldn't it be great if there was a way that our students could type their answers on their worksheets so that we could read it and so that independence with handwriting and completing worksheets could be addressed?

A colleague and friend of mine (thanks, Nichole!) shared this the other day, and I wanted to pass it along to my readers~  It is a FREE app for dysgraphia called SnapType that allows you to take a picture of a worksheet using an iPad, and then your child can type their answers on the iPad vs. having to write them out.  Of course you can use this for any handwriting related issue where illegibility or getting thoughts on paper is impacting work performance.  Read about the inspiration behind the app and some more specifics here:

http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/30/11108.html

Another Work Task Resource~

I recently found another work task resource that I think is worth mentioning-  I have really been working with other team members on setting up structured work tasks for some of my students lately, and any time I can find some added suggestions and guidance, I am excited!  So, here is a website where you can find and order some books regarding structured work tasks:

http://www.tasksgalore.com/index.html

Their books are also available as ibooks, which is another great option, especially if you want to get to work on things right away!

Fabulous Scented Pencils!

Got these fabulous holiday scented Smencils for Christmas from an OT friend of mine (thanks, Matia!), and my students LOVE THEM.  And of course when I find something that kids love, I have to pass it along on my blog...  I almost always have scented markers in my bag for kids to use, but the scents of these pencils set them apart!

The holiday Smencils are not colored pencils, each are regular pencils.  The kids love to smell all of them;  the scents are long lasting, and each pencil is inside a tube, which preserves the scent very well.  There is an added fine motor aspect to using them too, in that the kids have to pull off the cap, pour the pencil out of the tube, and then put it back in and cap it when they are done. Such fun!

Smencils also come in a package of 10 colored pencils, too!  Each of them has a "distinctive gourmet food aroma," and again they are contained in a case to preserve freshness of the scents.  You can find them at Barnes and Noble, or order them on their website here:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/home-gift-smencils-gourmet-scented-colored-pencils-in-pouch-set-of-10/15792645?ean=9780641911873

Autism Classroom Resources

I happened upon this awesome blog site, and it is full of information regarding classroom strategies, work tasks, etc. for educators who work with kids with autism!  The blog's author, Christine Reeve, has written books and has also created a ton of activities and classroom kits that are available for purchase on her blog site and through Teachers Pay Teachers.  Teachers Pay Teachers is a website where educators share their original teaching resources, and all is available to purchase, or you may find free downloads as well.  If you haven't created an account and accessed Teachers Pay Teachers, you really should do so!

You can find Christine Reeve's blog site, Autism Classroom News, here: http://www.autismclassroomnews.com/ 

There is a link on the blog site to access her resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, but, if you aren't familiar with that site, you can create an account and browse that site by clicking here:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

BOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER!

The winner of the book giveaway (as chosen randomly by Random Name Picker on miniwebtool) is Lesley Fettig, MS OTR/L!!  Merry Christmas, Lesley!  Enjoy your new book!

The Occupational Therapist's Handbook for Inclusive School Practices

by Julie Causton and Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

You can find the book and order one for yourself here:  http://www.brookespublishing.com/

Excellent Book/Resource re: Inclusion! (AND BOOK GIVE AWAY!)

The Occupational Therapist's Handbook for Inclusive School Practices

by Julie Causton and Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

When I recently received this book to review, I had no idea how quickly it would become pertinent to a current situation in my practice!  I think we as OTs and educators all have our own ideas about what inclusion means or is, and what we think it could or should look like.  But are we accurate?? And, do other professionals on the teams that we are involved in share the same ideas and thoughts regarding it?  Are we doing the best by our students?

I recently finished by master's degree in autism spectrum disorders, and I really do feel that we covered least restrictive environment and inclusion quite a bit.  I have to say, however, that I have found that not everyone views inclusion as I do- and by that I mean administrators, teachers, paras, other related service providers and even parents.  I have even second guessed my own views based on others' views!

This book is a wealth of information regarding the concept of inclusion, and it also confirmed my stance on what inclusion could and should look like~  In addition...

• The book gives a nice background about OT and special education, followed by what inclusive education is, what it can and should look like and include.

• It delves into working together as a team for the good of our students, and gives a good overview on what OTs role in an inclusive classroom might look like- moving from a pull out, direct service model to a more consultative and active role in the inclusive classroom.  There is also an emphasis on collaboration and communication amongst team members.

• There are sections on providing social supports, academic supports and behavioral supports, along with strategies and suggestions to implement in regards to those types of support.

• But perhaps one of my favorite parts about the book is that it emphasizes that when it comes to our students, we should always first "Presume Competence."  Yes, we should, friends! We want to maximize our students' opportunities, not limit them with our narrow thinking! 

So, who is this book for?  Yes, the title says it's the "Occupational Therapist's Handbook," but it is also pertinent for OT students, COTAs, special and regular educators who work with OTs in the classroom, and administrative staff who might oversee OT services in the special and regular education setting.  But, there's even better news~

There are actually 3 additional practical guidebooks that are available from Brookes Publishing Company on inclusive practices:

The Paraprofesisonal's Handbook for Effective Support in Inclusive Classrooms

by Julie Causton-Theoharis, PhD

The Principal's Handbook for Leading Inclusive Schools

by Julie Causton, PhD., & George Theoharis, PhD

The Speech-Language Pathologist's Handbook for Inclusive School Practice

by Julie Causton, PhD., & Chelsea Tracy-Bronson, M.A.

All of the above publications, and a lot of other awesome resources can be found here:  http://www.brookespublishing.com/

HEY!  HERE'S A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY:  I HAVE THE ABOVE BOOK THAT I JUST REVIEWED FOR GIVEAWAY ON THIS BLOG!  
-Just leave me a comment on this post to enter the giveaway, and don't forget to share this post via social media with any OTs or others who think would like or could benefit from this awesome resource!
-Offer will end on Thursday, 12-18-14 at midnight CST, so post a comment to me by then.  
-I will choose one person at random, and will send the book to you at no cost to you.

Merry Christmas!  -Joleen  :)