How to Incorporate Inclusion into the Early Childhood Classroom
The days of separating students based on special needs in the classroom are over, as research has shown that the inclusion of different learning patterns and skill levels allows for more diverse...
View ArticleUtilizing Instructional Strategies that Work with Students with Disabilities
By: Kelly Kennedy, 2016 SHAPE® America Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Greeley-Evans School District 6 My favorite lessons include instructional strategies that provide targeted...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Inclusion and Biking for Children with Special Needs
Summer is here and kids and bicycles go hand in hand. Biking offers many health benefits, as well as provides an opportunity for fun physical activity that everyone can enjoy. With a little effort and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Importance of Alternate Positioning for Children with Motor and Cognitive...
After decades of basic chalk and talk classrooms (desks in a row facing the chalkboard) new concepts like flexible seating options, collaborative learning spaces, and other concepts are being embraced...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fine Motor Skills & Handwriting: Tools for the Classroom
Fine motor skills involve all of the small muscles of the body: more specifically those that control precise movements of the hands, wrists, feet, toes, lips, and tongue. The small muscles of the hands...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Transition Time: Using Timers in Preparation for Back to School
Preparing for the start of a new school year can be stressful because of the shift from the freedom and schedule flexibility of summer to the more defined and structured schedule of a school...
View ArticleCovered in Comfort Products for Children with Special Needs
The Covered in Comfort team works to create innovative products, but also makes it a priority to give back to the community. Their mission to make the world a better place for children with special...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sensory Processing Tools for Elementary and Secondary Students
The Sensory Tool Bags were created with for children who have frequent meltdowns, won’t sit still, or are causing chaos during hallway transition. These bags are stocked full of some of the most...
View ArticleSelf-Regulation Tools for Early Childhood Learners
Early Childhood students going through a school day with meltdowns, an inability to sit still during circle time, and chaotic transitions between the playground and class may benefit from what Sensory...
View ArticleSelf-Reflect and Celebrate Your Success!
By: Tracy Sharlow, 2016 National Adapted Physical Education SHAPE America® Teacher of the Year One day, my son Grant, who was a teacher assistant in an ABA classroom for which I was the APE teacher,...
View ArticleUtilizing Instructional Strategies that Work with Students with Disabilities
By: Kelly Kennedy, 2016 SHAPE® America Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Greeley-Evans School District 6 My favorite lessons include instructional strategies that provide targeted...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Modifying Afterschool Activities for Children with Special Needs
The After School Alliance report entitled America After 3pm shows a sweeping 10 year study that indicates overall participation in afterschool programs (between 3-6pm) has increased by nearly 60%. As...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Top OT Tips for Improving Fine Motor Skills
Pediatric Occupational Therapists often support educators and parents in helping children with handwriting skills. Long before the student sits down at the desk to complete a writing assignment, there...
View ArticleSchool Specialty’s Abilitations at AOTA
The 2018 AOTA Annual Conference is being held in Salt Lake City, Utah from April 19-22. Not only is this the largest gathering of occupational therapy professionals in the world, but it is a great way...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Must-Haves for Creating a Calming Sensory Space
Whether you’re creating a calming sensory space in your classroom, clinic, or at home, there are a number of affordable must-haves that may make your space more versatile. Check out this list of ideas...
View ArticleExplicit Literacy Instruction: Systematic Solutions for Students with Dyslexia
When educators provide explicit and direct instruction for struggling readers, students experience growth in phonemic awareness and their ability to interact with and understand text. Students with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gift Ideas for Young Artists with Special Needs
This time of year is stuffed full of arts and crafts projects from ornament making to baking, to cutting out snowmen and drawing winter wonderlands. A busy happy time for most, but for our kiddos with...
View ArticleSchool Specialty and PunkinFutz: Creating Learning Spaces that Support All...
School Specialty is teaming up with PunkinFutz, an innovator of products that support creative play and choice-making for students with various physical, emotional and sensory needs. Evidence-based...
View ArticleClik here to view.
4 Ways to Help Children with Severe Feeding Issues
With the fall and winter festivals and holidays there are usually celebrations that involve food. There is an abundance of articles on kids with special needs that are picky eaters, but what about the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Must-Haves for a Classroom Discovery Sensory Space
Before creating a sensory space in the classroom, or at home, you should consider the goals you have for the space. A discovery sensory space is like a calming sensory space, but the tools and...
View Article