Learn how simple it is to add a sensory space in your classroom that will contribute to your Social-Emotional Learning program
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The school and classroom provide a wealth of sensory information. Whether or not your students have special needs, processing sensory information can be a real challenge and also impact their behavior (e.g. difficulty paying attention, sitting still, working cooperatively with others, etc.).
Sensory processing difficulties arise when the brain can’t sort, organize, analyze, or integrate sensory messages
It’s like a “traffic jam” in the brain, with a few snippets of sensory information “stuck in circulation”. When this happens, certain parts of the brain don’t receive the sensory information they need to do their job.
Providing a sensory space helps students to calm down and is a way to avoid disorganization. It’s a simple solution for improving social-emotional behaviors and beneficial for cognitive development.
What is a sensory corner?
A sensory corner is a designated area inside your classroom that is dedicated to supporting the sensory development of all students. It allows the child to take refuge there completely independently. Their withdrawal into this space helps them regulate their emotions and energy level in order to be more available to learn and interact with others.
A sensory space stimulates the primary senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, vestibular and proprioception without creating overload because the senses are chosen on a voluntary basis.
The 7 senses
1- Sight: anything related to what we see. Typical needs include sensitivity or overt attraction
to light and overly busy environments.
2- Touch: refers to touch and feeling of different textures. Some may be uncomfortable or pleasing on the body.
3- Oral: associated to the mouth. Specific tastes and texture preferences and chewing are common needs.
4- Auditory: related to what we hear. Some noises are overwhelming or comforting. Sometimes the brain has issues processing what is heard.
5- Olfactory: everything we feel. Some may have trouble distinguishing smells or may be hypersensitive to smells.
6- Proprioceptive: helps to understand where our body parts are in relation to each other and estimate how much force to use in different activities (think of picking up a feather versus a brick).
7- Vestibular: this sense refers to balance and coordination of the body, it is responsible for controlling our muscles, and most of our reflexes.
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