Because sensorimotor and environmental factors have a profound effect on children's learning, every teacher should know how to weave strategies from occupational therapy (OT) into their everyday instruction. This is the guidebook K-3 teachers need to "think like an OT"--and form effective partnerships with OTs in their schools--so all students can…

This column describes activities for use with students having visual impairments, focusing on various types of calendars, including a sensory calendar and voice calendars produced by the Voxcom tape recorder (which uses magnetically striped cards to record and play brief messages). (DB)

The article suggests activities to help learning disabled children develop awareness of the differences between right and left. Techniques for combining movement, language, and sensory skills as well as for using musical, visual, and tactile stimuli are described. (CL)

This paper offers teachers basic information about sensory integration and suggests strategies for managing classrooms which include children with sensory integrative dysfunction. The first section looks at what sensory integration is, noting especially the roles of the three "near senses": the vestibular system, the proprioceptive system, and the…

The article offers management strategies to help teachers of elementary students with cerebral palsy. Suggestions address aspects of neuro-developmental and sensorimotor integration and describe such activities as sandbox writing, feel-it boxes, and painting. (CL)

The author reviews aspects of visual integration which should be assessed in students with suspected learning problems: visually directed and monitored movements, visual tactual integrations, visual auditory language integrations, and visual systems integrations. (CL)

The paper focuses on the needs of visually impaired preschoolers in various developmental areas. The importance of attachment to a significant other for establishing trust is outlined and the fact that body awareness, object permanence, range of motion, spatial awareness and orientation must be logically and actively introduced is cited. Aspects…

The role of an occupational therapist (O.T.) in the education of emotionally disturbed children is examined. The neurological involvement of many emotionally disturbed children is linked to abnormal responses from sensory input and distortion or disorganization of perception. Possible explanations for differences between emotionally disturbed and…

Discussion of ways to use the World Wide Web in college instruction considers first, logistical issues; second, ways the Web can meet the needs of the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learner; third, ways to accommodate the social learner; and fourth, using the Web with four cognitive learning styles, as measured by the Gregoric Style Delineator.…

Sensory development, activities in language arts, problem solving, science, health, physical education, and art are listed along with resources for making students more aware of their senses and of visual impairments. (CB)

This article summarizes the early development of the visual system within the context of the other sensory systems and preterm birth and relates this information to early intervention. Retinopathy of prematurely, ocular defects, cortical visual impairment and potential impact of the neonatal intensive care unit environment are discussed. (Contains…

The Orton-Gillingham method, a multisensory structured language approach which adheres to the direct and explicit teaching of phonology, is presented as an alternative instructional strategy for dyslexic/learning-disabled or other "at risk" students learning a second language. A method for adapting this approach to teaching Spanish is…

This article describes all the steps and materials necessary to organize and conduct a handwriting club that provides direct instruction in handwriting combined with sensory integration activities. Typical club session format, sample activities, the promotion of social skills, handwriting strategies, and external stimulants are discussed.…

The article describes the neurolinguistic programing model and applies it to teaching orientation and mobility skills to congenitally blind students, who have access to only the auditory and kinesthetic primary systems. Understanding the effects on thought of limited representational systems can help trainers teach more effective cane or dog guide…

Examines how sensory integration disorders contribute to behavioral difficulties in young children and how considering the neurological underpinnings to behavior problems can help to clarify their origins and lead to obtaining appropriate and effective help. Lists signs of sensory integration disorders. Delineates techniques to use when a child…