Every teacher knows them - the students who are continuously balancing on their chair legs or who prefer to hide in their hoodies all day long. These students are using all kinds of tricks to be able to stay focused, as they are under- or overresponsive to sensory input and trying to restore their balance. Children who struggle with processing sensory input can experience a wide range of symptoms, including hypersensitivity to sound, sight and touch, poor fine motor skills and easy distractibility. Using this accessible, science-based guide, school staff can support these students by understanding their symptoms and how they impact their learning. Teachers can learn to look at students in a different way: through so-called 'SPi glasses', introduced in the book. With these glasses on, you learn to recognize behaviours linked to sensory processing and respond quickly, easily and with more understanding, without using a diagnosis, medication or therapy. The techniques provided help children feel settled and soothed at school, enabling them to learn and communicate better. Creating the perfect learning environment for all students - a sensory supportive classroom - this tried and tested guide is an essential tool for teachers (with or without prior knowledge of SPD), to better support and understand their students and their sensory needs.
Monique Thoonsen is an expert in sensory processing, and also pedagogue, consultant, and trainer. Monique has experience working with various groups in both regular education and special education, including (severely) physically and/or mentally handicapped, speech and language impaired, and deaf and hearing-impaired children, as well as gifted pupils and children on the autistic spectrum. Through her company 7 Zintuigen she provides information and courses about the solutions that are available for under- or overresponsive children. https://7zintuigen.nl/ Carmen Lamp is a teacher, trainer, and advisor. During her years working as a teacher she has coached many pupils and teachers. She is convinced that people are naturally inclined to learning and therefore are eager to learn. Carmen's ultimate goal is for everyone to receive a stimulating education on their own individual level. Her passion lies in the development of easy-to-understand and inspiring educational material.
Preface - Professor Winnie Dunn; Introduction; Part I Theory - Knowledge is the beginning of all wisdom; 1 Stimulate your sensory side; 2 Do you prefer a double espresso or green tea?; 3 The first link: the eight senses; Part II Getting started - What can you do?; 4 Before you begin; 5 Strategies in the classroom; 6 Strategies outside the classroom; 7 More about strategies and tools; Part III What else can you do? Layout, organization and didactics; 8 Layout of the classroom; 9 Organize the classroom; 10 Tips for teaching methods; PART IV The teacher with SPi-Glasses; 11 Practice makes perfect; 12 He never does that when he's with me
The go-to guide for teachers on how to practically introduce a sensory supportive classroom for the many students who experience sensory processing difficulties
The content applies to anyone in teaching! This book facilitates practical application in a classroom situation. It's very accessible and useful. -- Kim Capone, Primary school teacher, West Kent Very engaging and lots of great examples. I really like the flow of information from neurology to practical application. It's very thorough! it is a great book, with lots of helpful information and strategies for the classroom. -- Gwen Wild, MOT, OTR/L, Sensational Brain LLC, Co-Author of Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for K-5 (R) The illustrations and charts make the processes clear, with simple strategies & good explanations of the strategies that teachers can put into their classrooms. I like the fact that a lot of the suggested strategies can be used for individual students and /or the whole class.This would be great information for the teachers to have at the beginning of the start of the school year to be prepared in the layout of the room but also with knowledge of what to do when they encounter children with sensory needs. -- Karen Apgar, Occupational Therapist, USA
