Do you have students with sensory needs? Sometimes the littlest things can make the biggest difference! This year has been a unique year for me. I have a large number of students with sensory needs. Many times, these needs can be met with stress balls, chewing gum, student rocking chairs and brain breaks to name a few. Although I tried all these things and some more, I still wasn't able to find what one particular student needed. That is until I tried water beads and sand!
The idea of water beads was shared with me, so I headed to Dollar Tree. Once I was there and found them, I then started to look around for other options. In the same area in the store, they had colored sand. I picked up a couple packages and it was a hit!
Of course, I knew everyone would want to try them out, so during our station time, I opened this station up where I supervised the students letting them know how the station will be used. Like all things that are new, everyone LOVED it! Like all things, when the newness wears off, it is only used by those that need that station.
I have a child this year that gets angry very quickly and he struggles with managing those feelings. He has learned to go to the "relaxation station" to get himself calm and then return to whatever he was doing. The first day, he went to the station 6 times. His first choice is the sand. He likes to rub the sand in his hands, bury his hands, and let the sand run through is fingers. After the first week, I gave him a special pen and stack of post-it notes and asked him to tally every time he went to the station. He created his own goal of trying to go back there less each day. It was AMAZING to see how he took ownership of this station and how it calms him. Now, there are days he doesn't go back at all, and other days he will start in that station before he starts his morning work. I am able to get a quick reading of his feelings as soon as he walks in the door!
I encourage you to try sand and water beads in your room if your students have sensory needs!
