Sensational Sensory Support

Funded Aug 10, 2022

First, I want to thank each and every one of you for donating to the sensational sensory support project. Here is my update on how the supplies are being used. As you know, satisfying the sensory diet of my scholars has been a challenge over the past year. My scholars have goals that could not be fulfilled with my current classroom setup. With your donations, I wanted to build a secluded sensory tent area with items to help soothe scholar anxiety and for scholars to utilize when overwhelmed.

Initially, my scholars were hesitant about the new room addition, and the idea of the tent seemed frightening. However, upon entering the tent, scholars recognized the materials and felt more comfortable, especially when the tent was introduced during a moment of stress. The tent really assists with SEL and managing certain scholars' compulsions that can be interpreted as uninvited or rude but do not come from a place of malice.

Next Steps: I plan to continue to expand the idea from tent to classroom over the next school year. I will add more light covers to reduce classroom brightness and incorporate more headphones to help manage loud noises. I also plan to incorporate more electronic communication devices throughout the room to assist my non-verbal scholars in expressing their desire to use the areas and better navigate the classroom. I want the classroom to be a seamless experience and not limited to a specific area.”

With gratitude,

Mr. Gipson