Project Classroom

I see move and sit and disc o sit cushions very commonly in schools and classrooms. Yay!! I freaking love how we are understanding that all of us have different conditions which help our bodies learn and engage.

One challenge with these cushions is that when we use them, they make our core work HARD. While for some, this is not a biggie, for lots of kids who have difficulties with their postural control, it's not a great fit.

A simple alternative to try is seating a child on the chair and popping the cushion under their feet. The get a wiggle in their legs, but the postural demands aren't as high.

Have you used these cushions in this way?

I remember when I first wore a mask in public. It was the very beginning of the pandemic, and it was rare for masks to be worn.

I felt uncomfortable.

I felt different to everyone else.

I didn't like this at all.

I knew why this mask was important and how it was helping me, however that feeling of being different outweighed this.

Guess what happened when mask wearing became more typical?

As I saw more people talking about them and using them, I also felt more comfortable about using them too.

I was speaking to a school leader this week and she mentioned that she rarely sees students above year 3 using headphones (even ear buds) for noise reduction, even though they would really benefit from them.

This is not the first story I have heard about how students are accessing sensory tools.

So.

I really challenge you to reflect.

"How can we make sensory accommodations and tools the norm in my classroom?"

or I'd love to know what you already do.