the wonders of a blanket

There are many different things that can be done with a blanket to help students who have sensory processing issues.  These come from different things I have seen in the classroom I'm interning in.
1.  If the child is young put them on a blanket and drag them across the floor, or have the child drag another child across the floor so they feel the weight.  In the school I'm in now, this is done as a part of gym time so every student has the opportunity to be pulled or to pull.
2.Make a kid burrito by rolling her tightly in a blanket. 
3. Have a blanket ready with a flashlight for students to read under.  This will help students who have a tendency to look other places other than the book to read.  It is space weeks so students are reading under a table which has stars glued to the bottom and has a blanket covering it.

corduroy

My friend Lindsey gave me this idea after talking with her aunt. She volunteers in a school in Mississippi.  "...they glued/stapled corduroy fabric to the inside/underside of the desk/table. That way the kid could rub her fingers across the corduroy but still pay attention." Corduroy is a little over 5 dollars a yard, meaning every student in the class can have some, creating a norm for the classroom.

oral motor

There are many students in classrooms who need an oral stimulation to stay calm and concentrate during class.  There are many rubber toys for young children to chew on, similar to a pacifier.

 But we all know is it socially inapprorpiate for a child to have a pacifier past preschool.  The other day in class we were talking about the use of gum to help children concentrate during school.  Although the norm is school is to not allow gum in class, it might be time to take this rule away to help students do better in school.

what's the real effect of weighted vests?

Weighted vests are used to help students with vestibular and propioceptive processing issues to keep focus and attentive during the lessons.  Because they are being widely used among special educators it is important to keep in mind how these vests works and the time length they work.

OTR Erin Morrison wrote, A Review of Research on the use of weighted vests with children on the Autism Spectrum (2007).  The article reviews the techniques of weighted vests and evidence of effectivness in the classroom.
"the weight in the vest
provides proprioception (deep pressure),
which provides calming input to the central
nervous system by promoting the
production of neurotransmitters such as
serotonin and dopamine (2007)."

Teachers have seen vast amount of improvement in attention and a decrease in anxiety while wearing the vests.  But on the other hand, the vests are found not to have lasting effects after the vest is taken off. Therefore the effects are not long term. But the article goes with mentioning that their is no true data which can gives data to the amount of time a vest should be on, and what other factors effect the child.

Morrison, E. (2007, Spring). A Review of Research on the Use of Weighted Vests      with Children on the Autism Spectrum. Education (Chula Viata, Calif),      127(3), 323-327. Retrieved from      http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.libezproxy2.syr.edu/hww/results/      getResults.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.35

seat cushions

Many teachers have suggested the use of seat cushions, in the classrooms.  I have seen them used and they work wonders for students who need to sit on the ground for a long time. This is what I normally see:

 

But if these aren't readily available, a makeshift one can be made.  Sue, a retired teacher explained, "At one point I was buying kitchen seat cushions and placing Velcro on them so students could wipe their hands back and fourth during read-alouds"

raised paper!

Line paper with raised lines allows for children with limited visibility understand where to start and stop a paper. Also, it can be very helpful for students who just don't understand the concept of writing on a line. 

Raised paper is very expensive when bought online, 10 dollars for just twenty sheets.  But with a little time to let it dry, making your own raised paper is a sinch! Plus there are multiple ways to do it to cater to your needs.

1. Use glue and crate lines that match the paper (bright colored glue would make it look nice!).
2. Puffy paint/ acrylic paint works the same way, plus students can help do this if there is spare time.
3. If you want to get high tech, use an embosser printer.  Although expensive at first the printer will allow quick, multiple copies of lined paper. 

keeping with the themes

"I have a clear plastic container with a screw on lid. I fill it with different things to match the month's theme. This month it has plastic bugs, fuzzy balls that look like flowers, butterfly beads and bells for sound."
This teacher incorporates the theme/ unit into the sensory materials.  This turns it into a normal part of the classroom.  Creating this type of environment which doesn't divide a class between special needs and general education, but rather unites the class under one theme.