Sensory at Rosa Parks

Teachers at Rosa Parks Elementary in North Portland are successfully sharing sensory tools with their students in general education classrooms

“The sensory tools have already done wonders for keeping the kids calm and focused,” said Patrice Pierre, who teaches third grade at the year-round Rosa Parks. “I did not know they would be so perfect for my whole class! The kids really understand that these are tools, not toys. A surprise has been my shyest kids who are using the fidgets for anxiety.”

Rosa Park is the first public school in Oregon to ask for and receive the Shadow Project’s Sensory Tool Kits and teacher training. In a June 2015 Portland Public Schools survey, 60 percent of the district’s staff members felt they needed more professional training, mentorship, or other support in serving special education students.

“We have wonderful sensory libraries from The Shadow Project in the learning center and counselor’s office,” said Principal Tamala Newsome. “But kids need to be able to access sensory tools in whatever classroom they are in, so they are supported throughout the day.

“We are so over telling kids not to move in class,” she said. “Our goal is to work collectively to meet kids where they are at, and keep them in the classroom, so they can focus on learning.”

Fourth grade teacher Marsha Wolfe is excited to have sensory tools in her classroom (above) 

Children in special education who are on (IEPs) Individualized Education Programs need the sensory tools for when they are in their general education classrooms and elsewhere in the school. But the tools are also a benefit for the “children of the gray” who have not been identified for special education but clearly need sensory help.

The Sensory Tool Kits for each K-5 teacher included one dozen hand-held fidgets selected by Rosa’s occupational therapist Martha Thomas, O.T., as well as kinetic sand and beanbag chairs. Teachers were trained on how to work with kids on selecting the fidget that works best for them.

“We know the sensory tools are great for empowering students to regulate their own bodies and behavior,” said Learning Center TeacherKim Giarelli, M.S. “Self-awareness is the first step to student responsibility for setting and achieving academic goals.”

Said third-grader Natalie, 8, who is not in special education: “I talk a lot. When I read, I use Silly Putty and roll it back and forth. It helps me stay calm and quiet.”

(paraphrased from this article)