Literacy 4-6

Sensory Stimulation

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Overview

Incorporating multiple senses with strategies like chewing gum, using a vibrating pen, and sitting on a ball chair supports focus and Attention. This kind of stimulation also helps meet the needs of learners who seek additional sensory input to better support their learning.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how this school has integrated fidgets and other tactile supports into their classrooms to support student Attention and Sensory Integration. By turning their classrooms into super-sensory spaces that allow students to use fidgets during lessons and testing, students' sensory needs are being met as they develop their Inhibition & Self-Regulation skills.

  • Allowing students with sensation-seeking behaviors to use hand fidgets, like a squishy ball or putty, provides the necessary stimulation they need to focus their Attention on learning. Teachers can keep a basket of fidgets with different textures that students can choose to use, supporting the development of Inhibition & Self-regulation skills as students identify and support their own Sensory Integration needs.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Learn how Skoog allows learners to create music through a tactile cube. By providing immediate sensory input and physical stimulation, this product promotes further exploration as learners receive acoustic feedback with each touch.

  • Products can provide varying textures and shapes of touchpads, digital pens, keyboards, etc. for different sensory experiences to support sensory needs.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

    Autism & Sensory Processing

    Subtopic that describes how individuals with autism engaging in sensory processing on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Resources for Children with Special Needs

    Resources for Sensory Integration and stimulation

    Self-Regulation

    Subtopic that explores children's developing ability to regulate their behavior on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Tactile Toys

    Examples of tactile objects

    Teacher Tips on Fidgets

    Understood.org explanation of the dos and don'ts of using fidgets

    Video on SuperSensory Space

    Example of a school's sensory space

    Ways to Use Play-doh

    Tips for incorporating play-doh

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition & Self-regulation
    Sensory Integration
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Physical Well-being
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status

    More Multisensory Supports Strategies

    Audiobooks

    Audiobooks allow students to hear fluent reading and to experience books above their reading skills.

    Dictation/Speech-to-text

    Dictation can allow students with transcription difficulties to still participate in the writing process and generate ideas.

    Dictionary & Thesaurus

    Dictionaries and thesauruses can serve as resources for students to expand their Vocabulary knowledge.

    Gestures

    Adding gestures and motions to complement learning activates more cognitive processes for recall and understanding.

    Manipulatives: Sentence Combining

    Full sentence manipulatives allow students to practice producing more complex Syntax and writing.

    Manipulatives: Sentence Construction

    Providing physical representations of parts of a sentence activates learners' mental processes.

    Mindfulness Breaks

    Short breaks that include mindfulness quiet the brain to allow for improved thinking and emotional regulation.

    Movement Breaks

    Brain breaks that include movement allow learners to refresh their thinking and focus on learning new information.

    Music & Dance

    Connecting information to music and dance moves enhances Short-term and Long-term Memory by drawing on auditory processes and the cognitive benefits of physical activity.

    Physical Activity & Recess

    Research shows physical activity improves focus and creativity.

    Sound-blocking Devices

    Using earplugs or headphones can increase focus and comfort.

    Text-to-speech Software

    Transforming written text into audio supports learning by activating different parts of a learner's brain for comprehension.

    Tossing Activity

    Tossing a ball, beanbag, or other small object activates physical focus in support of mental focus.

    Visual Reading Aids

    Visual supports, like text magnification, colored overlays, and guided reading strips, help students focus and properly track as they read.

    Web-based Dictionary & Thesaurus

    Web-based dictionaries and thesauruses can serve as visual and audio resources for students to expand their Vocabulary knowledge.

    Word Processing

    Research has shown that students write longer pieces with stronger quality when they use word processing software.

    Word Sorts

    Word sorts are multisensory activities that help learners identify patterns and group words based on different categories.

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