OT Ideas in Speech and the Clasroom

Here are some great ideas that teachers can use in the classroom for wiggly kids

or for in your next speech therapy session!~

 Interest-Based Learning. Use your student's interests to introduce academic concepts. 

If they are engaged in an activity, 

they are much more likely to focus and find success. 

These activities could be presented at Centre Time. 

These are examples below using Lego:

•  Creating Letters. First, make the letter with the Lego pieces, trace it with your finger, 

•  Patterns. Lego is terrific to use for patterns. Introduce A/B patterns with different colors of

·         Lego. Build towers with Lego using patterns. Build on this activity by adding in turn-taking to build the towers in a pattern. 

• Counting. Work together to build a house but give him the dimensions. Ex: Tell the student the 

house must be ten pieces long and seven pieces wide. This is also a great way to target concepts and following directions. 

Remaining Seated. Many students have a difficult time remaining seated throughout the day, and many students need more movement in their daily routines. Frequently by purposefully adding movement, we find students are more attentive and ready to learn. 

Some ideas for home and school are below:

Dynamic Seating. 

Trial an air-filled cushion or wobble stool in the classroom with students. 

Theraband. By tying a piece of elastic band to either the front legs of the desk or

between the legs of the chair it allows the students to wiggle and fidget their feet without distracting the class.

Work Positions. We often have students learn while seated at a desk or table. 

Vary work positions. Ex: Looking at a book while sitting cross-legged on the floor, 

coloring while standing with a paper taped to the wall, counting jumping jacks or

while bouncing a ball rather than working with manipulatives.

 Making letters with sticks in the sand rather than pencil and paper. Add hands-on learning whenever possible.

Movement Breaks. If there is an activity that requires sitting for long periods of time offer movement breaks to students. Some ideas have been previously provided.

 Heavy Work.

 Heavy work activities engage the big muscles in our body and provide

 proprioceptive (body in space) and vestibular (movement) feedback for the student. 

By purposefully engaging these senses through heavy work we find students become more organized and have better attention following these activities. 

Some examples of heavy work activities are below:

 Home: help unload groceries from the vehicle outdoor chores - help shovel the walkways, sweep, rake the leaves or carry a bucket to water the flowers. Carry the laundry basket, vacuum, wash floors. 

Home/School: Participate in sports and active games. 

Ride a bike. 

School: help carry a stack of books to the library or restock the photocopier with a

package of paper. 

push the lunch cart to the classroom. 

outside play – monkey bars, rock walls, push someone on a swing. 

Putting away and taking out gym mats and equipment.