Project Classroom

Project Classroom Project Classroom has a mission to help create classrooms to be inclusive for all learners.

I see move and sit and disc o sit cushions very commonly in schools and classrooms. Yay!! I freaking love how we are und...
24/05/2024

I see move and sit and disc o sit cushions very commonly in schools and classrooms. Yay!! I freaking love how we are understanding that all of us have different conditions which help our bodies learn and engage.

One challenge with these cushions is that when we use them, they make our core work HARD. While for some, this is not a biggie, for lots of kids who have difficulties with their postural control, it's not a great fit.

A simple alternative to try is seating a child on the chair and popping the cushion under their feet. The get a wiggle in their legs, but the postural demands aren't as high.

Have you used these cushions in this way?

I love that alternative seating options are becoming increasingly available for students at school! One challenge that a...
22/05/2024

I love that alternative seating options are becoming increasingly available for students at school! One challenge that as this use increases not all equipment is being used as intended.

If you have one of these cushions in your classroom, please check that they are not over-inflated with air and preventing a child to have a wiggle.

We know that for children who are sensitive to sensory input, classrooms can feel overwhelming. There are times when the...
14/05/2024

We know that for children who are sensitive to sensory input, classrooms can feel overwhelming.

There are times when they may dash from the classroom, unsure what made their bodies respond in that way. Simply in that moment, they were experiencing something they didn't like.

It can even be an accumulation of many elements. The bumps, the smells, sitting still, the noise and the list goes on.

Overwhelmingly I see the value in creating classrooms which soothe from a sensory perspective. The less sensory stressors, the more regulated the students. 💛

Can you think of environments which have a calming impact for your nervous system?

Wobble stools are a common seating option available in classrooms today. They are a GREAT choice for children who learn ...
09/05/2024

Wobble stools are a common seating option available in classrooms today. They are a GREAT choice for children who learn best when they can move.

Please remember though, wobble stools need our core to work hard, which can lead to fatigue over the day. Think of the last time you sat on a stool and how long you lasted. I bet that wasn't wobbling either!

If you are a teacher who uses them, please consider:

🐷Can the child sit on the stool with their feet flat on the ground?

🐷Are there alternative seating choices available to swap to?

What are your experiences of using wobble stools in your classroom or practice?

I have so many conversations with educators about strategies which will support a student's sensory preferences.Recently...
07/05/2024

I have so many conversations with educators about strategies which will support a student's sensory preferences.

Recently a colleague and friend Nathan Bailey shared this tip of encouraging his students to touch their shoelaces as a way of supporting their sensory preferences during group time.

Loved. It.

Meeting a child's sensory needs does not always mean complex or new equipment.

What other things do you do as therapists or teachers to support your student's sensory preferences?

As a therapist who works in schools I often see this unintentional disconnect between home and school. Something for us ...
02/05/2024

As a therapist who works in schools I often see this unintentional disconnect between home and school. Something for us to consider when supporting children with their emotional regulation.

A big thank you to my friend Sophie Darmody who inspired this post today.

Considering the school environment is essential for supporting students to regulate.I was thrilled to visit St Patricks ...
30/04/2024

Considering the school environment is essential for supporting students to regulate.

I was thrilled to visit St Patricks Special School (Catholic Education South Australia) and explore how they have deliberately considered regulation spaces to create inclusive learning environments.

Thank you to Senior Occupational Therapist Kylie Karvelis, and principal Cathy Sires, for sharing your wisdom and hard work in this space! It was such a pleasure to learn from you 💪 👏




Thank you for an amazing term!
12/04/2024

Thank you for an amazing term!

I remember when I first wore a mask in public. It was the very beginning of the pandemic, and it was rare for masks to b...
09/04/2024

I remember when I first wore a mask in public. It was the very beginning of the pandemic, and it was rare for masks to be worn.

I felt uncomfortable.

I felt different to everyone else.

I didn't like this at all.

I knew why this mask was important and how it was helping me, however that feeling of being different outweighed this.

Guess what happened when mask wearing became more typical?

As I saw more people talking about them and using them, I also felt more comfortable about using them too.

I was speaking to a school leader this week and she mentioned that she rarely sees students above year 3 using headphones (even ear buds) for noise reduction, even though they would really benefit from them.

This is not the first story I have heard about how students are accessing sensory tools.

So.

I really challenge you to reflect.

"How can we make sensory accommodations and tools the norm in my classroom?"

or I'd love to know what you already do.

Your student's beautiful artwork hanging across the middle of the room. They proudly look at it and show their parents.B...
05/04/2024

Your student's beautiful artwork hanging across the middle of the room. They proudly look at it and show their parents.

But. Let's consider another perspective.

Billy is looking at the board from his desk. As he sits, his eyes dart and notice the art moving above his head.

He's trying to focus on the teacher and the instruction, but his brain just can't stop noticing the artwork flickering in the breeze.

His attention and focus are on other visual demands, not on the instruction being provided by his teacher.

We cannot underestimate the impact which the sensory environment has on student learning.

How do you display student work to honour them while also managing the overall visual load in your classroom?

We know the auditory environment MUST be considered in classrooms and schools. I was thrilled to visit Lockleys North Pr...
03/04/2024

We know the auditory environment MUST be considered in classrooms and schools.

I was thrilled to visit Lockleys North Primary School and explore how they have designed their school's acoustic environment to create inclusive learning spaces.

Thank you to the leadership team for sharing your wisdom and hard work in this space!

If you want to get the most out of the sensory strategies you use....add this small tweak. ...
26/03/2024

If you want to get the most out of the sensory strategies you use....add this small tweak.

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