What Would Smokey Do?

Enrich Environment 

Fill the environment with interesting and stimulating activities (does NOT mean overstimulate the classroom walls with posters, multiple crazy colors, etc.)

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Access to Materials

You can have an area where you keep sensory items (e.g., squishy balls, Rubix cubes, and moveable tangible items).  You can teach the expectations of how and when it would be appropriate to use them and how students may request or have access to them.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Provide Opportunities for Choice

Choice is my favorite and “go-to” strategy that I always try first.  Choose things that will allow the student to have some say.  Do you want to read the book first or complete this phonics worksheet?  Would you rather practice your spelling words or write in your journal first?

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Increase Predictability

Consistency of task requirements is very important, especially when you are consistently stating your expectations.  By completing items or tasks during the same time, same amount, same requirements allows the student to have an understanding of what it entails.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Behavioral Momentum

Make sure to have a lot of requests that they will respond to, that are easy for them and that they are successful with, and then add in a request that is more difficult or that they may not comply with.

Ask them five things you know they will do or say/answer.  “What’s your name, age, favorite color, touch your nose, wiggle your toes…then the task they don’t like.  Get out of bed and get dressed.”

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Transitional Warnings

Provide warning whenever possible.  We will move on from centers in 5 minutes.  We have 3 minutes left until we begin math.  In 1 minute we will end center time and begin math.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Provide Alternative Sensory Reinforcement 

Offer music to a student seeking auditory reinforcement or visual stimuli to a student seeking visual reinforcement

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Include Movement Activities within the Problematic Area

Try to incorporate some movement breaks or movement within the activity.  Write the Room activities are a great resource to include not only in writing activities but across the curriculum.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Modify Task 

You can decide to modify the task by length or mode. Perhaps shortening the activity or providing frequent breaks throughout would be beneficial?  You can also change up the medium or materials used.  Try to replace some paper/pencil tasks with hands-on activities or computer use.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal

Give Periodic Attention

Timer - 2 minutes, attend to them, make eye contact, and positive reinforcement.

• Sensory

• Escape

• Attention

• Tangible

• Universal