Classroom strategies for emotion regulation need to be easy to implement. Typical teachers are juggling multiple things at once and do not have time for complicated or time-consuming strategies. Every classroom has a diverse group of people in it. This can include the main teacher, an assistant (one or more),
“Sensory Diet” is a term that is sometimes thrown around but not always understood. A person who is not familiar with the term may think it involves food. A sensory diet involves a person having optimal sensory input during their day to assist with maintaining self-regulation. Food may be a
Have you been wondering how to teach scissors cutting skills? You are in the right place! I have 30 years of experience as an occupational therapist and have learned many tips and tricks along the way. Developmental Order It is important to be familiar with developmental order when teaching kids
Disability awareness for kids is an important part of development. Many people may live in an area where there are not many people who have visible disabilities, or they are not as visible in society. Normalizing all types of disabilities (visible and hidden) helps kids to understand differences and also
Using project based activities to improve executive functioning skills can be fun and effective. Many kids struggle with basic executive functioning skills, which impacts classroom performance. Executive functioning skills include problem solving, planning, organization, critical thinking, and more. Working through a project with an end goal can include all of
Sensory processing and toileting issues are prevalent in kids and adults with autism and/or developmental delays. Kids who are otherwise typically developing may also have difficulties with potty training due to interoception difficulties. Interoception is known as our “8th sense”. The sensory receptors for interoception are located in our internal
Using interoception strategies to address hunger and lack of appetite can be a long and difficult process. It can also be successful with many people. I am sharing a case study of some potential strategies that may work for clients. Case Study ***Some potentially identifying details have been changed. Not
Using task cards in the classroom is a great way to engage students. Task cards can cover any subject from simple math to complex science topics. They can be used at centers or placed around the room. Task cards can be physical cards or digital cards. Boom cards and Google
Why use group activities for self regulation skills? Using group activities for self regulation is very powerful. Working in a group of peers tends to increase engagement, provide opportunities to brainstorm ideas, and allow role-playing. Group members can show others the expectations for behavior during the activities through peer modeling.
Why is teaching interoception to non-verbal learners different than verbal learners? Teaching interoception skills to non-verbal learners can be more challenging than teaching verbal learners. Some learners who struggle to communicate verbally may also have difficulty understanding language. They may require more time and practice to make the connections between
Self-Regulation for Teens Self-regulation for teens can look much different than it does for younger kids. Teens generally are dealing with changing hormones as well as emotional changes. How do we approach working with teens? It is important to first establish rapport with the teen. Some teens may have already
Interoception skills is something that I focus on daily with my self-regulation work with kids. But recently I realized that mine needed work too! Background history Most of you don’t know that the past few years I dealt with having my kidneys fail. As I result, I spent 10 months
What are Boom Cards? As a Boom Cards creator, I am often asked, “What are Boom Cards and how do they work?” Basically, Boom Cards are digital task cards that are hosted on the Boom Learning website. They are interactive and often self-checking. They can cover any skill and age
Why Assess Sensory Processing Skills? When a child has frequent meltdowns, it may be useful to assess their sensory processing skills. Signs they are having difficulty may include not tolerating noisy environments, eating non-food items, or closing eyes when outdoors on a sunny day. When their senses are overloaded it
Are you looking for gross motor activities for your preschool classroom? Including gross motor activities in your preschool classroom is essential for development, as well as for sensory input. Keep reading to discover ways to include gross motor activities. Why include gross motor activities in the classroom? Picture this…you are
Do your students struggle with self-regulation in the classroom? Picture this: you have the perfect social emotional learning (SEL) curriculum. Your room is decorated with all of the visuals and check-ins. You use the language daily with your students. So why are the students still having difficulties with self-regulation? Why
Have you been looking for self-regulation books for children? Self-regulation books for children can be a great addition to your teaching toolkit. Reading books together can introduce topics or reinforce topics. Listening to My Body, by Gabi Garcia Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia is a great introduction to connecting
Have you been wanting to teach interoception but are not sure how? Many people have heard the term “interoception” but don’t know how to teach interoception to kids. Interoception is the missing piece that connects SEL curriculums to ability to self-regulate and use strategies. Once kids can identify their interoceptive
Help Your Children Learn to Use Scissors Teaching children to use scissors does not have to be difficult. Children who have delayed motor skills may need strategies to facilitate learning how to cut. Assessing Scissors Skills One of the first things I like to do when teaching children how to
Have you heard the term executive functioning skills but you are not quite sure what they are? Join the crowd! In a nutshell, EF skills are our higher level thinking skills, including planning, organizing, and problem solving. Every day, we use EF skills as we move through our day. When
Hey everyone! How are you surviving the new school year? Every day, I get on FB and in my OT groups and Teachers Pay Teachers groups, the one common thing that I read about is how difficult it is to stay organized and to plan things this year. Planning and
Have you heard the term “interoception” but don’t know what it is or why you should care about it? Do your kids or students have difficulties with self regulation and none of the strategies seem to work for them to learn self control? Perhaps interoception awareness is the missing link.
Hey everyone! Thanks for checking out my blog. I am an occupational therapist (OT). I graduated from San Jose State University in 1992, with a Bachelor’s degree in OT. I started my career working in a hospital and was able to experience all the different units and types of patients
I provide resources and education to teachers, therapists, and parents to support children of all ages. I am a recently retired occupational therapist, with 30 years of experience. I live with my husband and our dogs in Redmond, OR, where I spend my days creating resources for others.