The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn

Summary

The sensory room plays a crucial role in helping students regulate their emotions and sensory needs, which enhances their ability to learn. Cheryl and Heather explain how the space, designed with thoughtful elements like sound-absorbing floors, adjustable lighting, and specialized stations, provides students with opportunities for physical activity, calming, and sensory input. With a predictable routine, students are able to release tension and refocus, returning to class more calm, focused, and ready to learn. By meeting sensory needs, the sensory room helps improve emotional stability, behavior, and academic performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Students are better learners when they are in the right mindset and their sensory needs are met.
• 😀 The sensory room plays a vital role in helping students calm their bodies and stabilize emotions before learning.
• 😀 The sensory room is designed with sound-absorbing carpets and light-changing ceiling shades to create a distinct sensory environment.
• 😀 Students use the sensory room for a daily 30-minute break to help them refocus and prepare for learning.
• 😀 The first activity in the sensory room involves bouncing on a ball to a metronome, providing grounding sensory input.
• 😀 The room contains different stations, such as punching bags, ropes, and swings, catering to individual students' needs for sensory input.
• 😀 One student benefits from punching bags and ropes to release anger and frustration, while another student uses the swing for calming movements.
• 😀 The crash pad in the sensory room provides a safe space for students who may have sensory issues, such as those who might bump into walls.
• 😀 The light wall offers interactive games that help students engage using their hands or feet, further supporting sensory development.
• 😀 Sensory activities also focus on balance and coordination, including a walking path that helps students adjust their body in space.
• 😀 At the end of their session, students finish with a squishing activity on the floor, reinforcing the predictability and structure of the sensory room experience.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the sensory room in the classroom?

The sensory room is designed to help students calm their bodies, regulate their emotions, and prepare them for learning. It provides a space where students can stabilize themselves emotionally and mentally before returning to class.

How does the sensory room support students' emotional regulation?

The sensory room provides various stations that address different sensory needs, such as activities that help students release anger or frustration (e.g., punching bags, ropes) or calm themselves with soothing movements (e.g., swings). These activities help students manage their emotions effectively.

What are some examples of activities in the sensory room, and how do they benefit students?

Examples include bouncing on a ball to a metronome, using punching bags and ropes to release anger, swinging to achieve calming movements, and crashing into a soft pad. These activities help students either expend energy or relax, depending on their individual needs.

How is the sensory room designed to cater to different sensory needs?

The sensory room is designed with sensory input in mind, such as carpeting the floor to absorb sound, installing ceiling shades to change the lighting, and offering various stations that target different sensory needs. This allows students to engage in activities that help them ground themselves and regulate their emotions.

What is the significance of the set sequence in the sensory room?

The set sequence in the sensory room ensures that students can predict what will happen next, creating a sense of structure and stability. This predictability helps students feel more secure and comfortable, which is essential for their emotional regulation.

How does the sensory room impact students' ability to focus after using it?

After using the sensory room, students are able to focus more effectively. They become quieter, more self-controlled, and better able to follow directions from the teacher. The room helps them clear out emotional tension, making them more ready to learn.

What role does the crash pad play in the sensory room?

The crash pad provides a safe space for students who may have a tendency to bump into walls or engage in other self-stimulating behaviors. It allows them to release energy in a controlled and safe environment.

How does the walking path in the sensory room support students' physical development?

The walking path in the sensory room helps students work on balance, coordination, and body awareness. It requires them to correct their posture and body alignment as they navigate the path, which contributes to their overall physical development.

Why are heavy objects like slam balls included in the sensory room?

Slam balls and other heavy objects are included to provide students with an opportunity to engage in proprioceptive activities, which involve the sense of body position and movement. These activities help students release tension and provide grounding sensory input.

How do the students feel after using the sensory room?

After using the sensory room, students typically feel more relaxed, focused, and ready to engage in learning. One student in the transcript even expresses feeling 'happy' after completing the sensory room session.