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Multisensory Lessons - Math

This is the second in a series of posts on creating multisensory lessons in the classroom or home. Go to Simple Multisensory Lessons - Spelling to read the first post. By incorporating various sensory pathways in learning you can help all students especially kinesthetic learners.

Here are several ideas for math lessons:

1. Clapping: When counting, clap hands. Count by 2's, 5's, 10's and clap at each number. Clap at chest level or overhead.

2. Ball Math: Throw a beach ball to a student. Call out a math problem. The child solves the problem out loud then creates a new problem for a different child. The child throws the beach ball to the next kid to solve the problem. C

3. Ball Math #2: Beach balls are very cheap at the end of the summer. Use a permanent marker and write math problems all over the ball. Maybe do all of one family of problems (i.e. all 9 addition problems). Throw the ball to the child. Whatever problem the child has their thumb on must be solved.

4. March around room while doing math facts.

5. Write large numbers outdoors with sidewalk chalk. Create math problems and children run to the correct answer. Try running to only even numbers, odd numbers, multiples of 2, etc.

6. Manipulatives - this one is quite obvious but use manipulatives to give meaning to math and they frequently encourage fine motor skills.

7. Clothes Pin Line - children can hang math problems in numerical order. See video below.


8. Jump Rope: Jump rope while counting or doing math problems.

9. Large Number Line: Draw a large number line with sidewalk chalk outdoors to learn about positive and negative numbers.

10. Movement and Math activities for the whole class

Any one else want to add to the list?

Simple Multisensory Lessons - Spelling

This will be the first post of a series on simple multisensory lessons. Traditionally, a classroom lesson is delivered as verbal or written material. The student relies on auditory and/ or visual input to understand the concepts. The student is expected to sit for extended periods of time and remain on task. For many of the students who receive related services, this can be a frustrating method of comprehending academic material. If a student exhibits deficits in auditory or visual input, failure may ensue. On the other hand, if a teacher uses a multi-sensory approach to teaching material this student may succeed. A multi-sensory lesson allows for a student to learn using the various senses of the body instead of just auditory or visual. School based therapists can play a large role in helping teachers to incorporate additional sensory input such as tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular and motor skills when presenting academic material.

Occupational and physical therapists have a strong understanding of the large role that sensory input and sensory output plays in a students life. By offering that expertise to teachers when planning lessons, all students receive the benefits of multi-sensory learning. In addition, the students who receive related services will be able to experience improved carry over of therapeutic interventions.

By employing multi-sensory strategies in the classroom, information is delivered to the brain from several sensory systems. This spreads the load on the brain over several systems which may result in improved memory. Students can improve problem solving skills and retain more information by touching, feeling and moving to learn new concept When physical activity is included in the lesson plan, students are able to release energy, reduce stress, increase level of alertness and practice motor and coordination skills.

For elementary school children spelling is an integral part of the curriculum. Here are 5 simple multisensory lessons to practice spelling:

1. Spell the words in the air using different body parts - hands, elbows and feet.

2. Use magnetic letters to spell the words out.

3. Write the spelling words on a partners back. Can the person guess what you spelled out?

4. Write the words in shaving cream, sand or flour on a tray.

5. March around the room and spell out loud.

6. Write letters on small objects (i.e. small ceramic tiles from home store, white beans, letter dice from Boggle game, Scrabble tiles) to manipulate to spell words

7. Put paper over bumpy material such as rough sandpaper or plastic needlepoint canvas. Write spelling words on paper and you will have tactile feedback.

8. Hide magnetic letters in sensory table (i.e. rice, beans, sand). Find letters and spell words.

Need more activities? Check out Get Up and Learn! or Educational Sensory Motor Activities.

Children with Autism and Handwriting

The current issue of Neurology published research on handwriting abilities in children with autism (14 children with autism and 14 children without autism). The research indicated that children with autism displayed poorer quality in forming letters but size, alignment and spacing were similar to their peers without autism. In the study, motor skill level was predictive of handwriting performance but age, IQ, gender and visuospatial abilities were not predictive of handwriting performance. The researchers recommend training in letter formation and fine motor skills.

Reference: Fuentes, Christina T., Mostofsky, Stewart H., Bastian, Amy J.
Children with autism show specific handwriting impairments Neurology 2009 73: 1532-1537

Ways to Motivate Children

Pediatric therapists know quite well that motivating a young child is the key sometimes to successful outcomes. If a child is not interested or motivated in a task, he will not want to practice the task. Therapists try various ways to motivate children through the use of toys and reward systems. Here are several creative ways to reward children for completing whatever goal has been set.

1. Charm bracelets - buy some cheap charms and jewelry supplies. Each time a child completes a goal add a charm to the bracelet. Order charms that relate to the goal if possible - i.e. feet charms for gait training.

2. Free play - if you have an exciting therapy room full of toys, reward the child with a certain amount of free time in the room to play with whatever toy or piece of equipment that the child wants.

3. Earn play money - purchase a variety of inexpensive prizes and create prices for each item. When the child achieves the goal, give the child a fake one dollar bill. When the child accumulates say $10, you can open your shop of prizes. The child can choose to spend all the money at one time or save up for higher priced prizes.

4. Lunch - if you work in a school setting, perhaps reward a child with a lunch date. The child gets to eat lunch in the therapy room, maybe bring a friend, and the therapist can provide dessert. Play a game together after you eat.

5. Music - reward your older clients with a download for the mp3 player or put the song on a CD.

6. Reward box - Print and create this reward box to use

7. Therapy Bingo - Print and play Therapy Bingo

8. Award Cards - Print and create these free awards for OT and PT.

Check out these motivational tools:

Positive Affirmation Posters and Cards












Awards and Certificates for Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists

Can't Seem Forget that Smell - Good or Bad

A recent study published in Current Biology reports on the sense of smell and memory. In the study the researchers noted that people remembered unpleasant smells the best. Associations of objects and good or bad smells made an imprint on the brain. This only occurred with smells and not sounds.

In addition, functional MRI scans were done to determine how people associated new objects with smell and sound. The amygdala and hippocampus lit up on the MRI's for associations with smell and not sound.

Now let's think about kiddos with sensory processing disorder and/or autism. Research indicates that children with autism exhibit certain sensory sensitivities one of them being smell (read more in previous post on Autism and Sensory Sensitivities). Some children have aversions to certain smells, some find certain smells calming and yet others find smells distracting. If certain associations are being made between objects and smells perhaps these can be changed for children. Perhaps probe further as to why a child has certain smell dislikes or preferences. Are there negative or positive objects or memories associated with the smells? Answers to these questions could help to formulate a plan of action regarding the smells. Any thoughts?

Reference: Reuters Study Explains How Strong Smells Conjure Strong Memories Retrieved from the web on 11/6/09 at http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5A46JQ20091105?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

Fine Motor Activity Idea - Clay Imprints

Here is a simple, fun activity that encourages muscle strengthening in the hands and fingers, fine motor skill development, visual perceptual skill development, tactile and proprioceptive input. All you need is clay, small objects and a tray.

Want to take this activity outdoors? Take a nature walk and collect small, tactile natural items. Make clay imprints of different tree trunks, acorns, pine cones, rocks and more.