A student who has trouble following multi-step directions may complete the first step, forget what comes next, or ask for help immediately after instructions are given. These moments can interrupt classroom routines, but they also provide clues about the support a student needs. Learn more about how to help students follow multistep directions. Following directions […]
A fast heartbeat can happen for different reasons, and children can learn to notice this body signal without assuming it always means the same thing. A child may feel their heart beating quickly after active play or while waiting for something exciting. This is a simple way to introduce interoception, the ability to notice and […]
Why does a student need constant adult reassurance, even when they seem to understand their schoolwork? Some students repeatedly ask, “Is this right?” or “Can you check my work?” after completing almost every question. Others hesitate to continue working until a teacher, related service provider, or classroom aide confirms they are doing the assignment correctly. […]
The After Lunch Calm Down Song is a simple mindfulness song designed to help students transition from a busy lunch period back to classroom learning. The song combines slow breathing, grounding, gentle body awareness, and predictable lyrics to help students pause, reset, and get ready for the afternoon lessons. This song was created after receiving […]
Big reactions to small problems can be confusing for teachers, therapists, counselors, and other school staff. A pencil breaks, someone sits in a student’s usual seat, the schedule changes unexpectedly, or a student makes one mistake, and suddenly there may be tears, yelling, shutting down, refusal, or leaving the area. These reactions can be connected […]
Self-injurious behaviors in young autistic children, such as head banging, self-biting, and skin picking, are more common than many school teams realize. Research estimates that up to half of autistic individuals experience these behaviors at some point in their lives. For educators and therapists, these behaviors can affect a child’s safety, learning, and ability to […]
Students move through an enormous amount of information during the school day. A lesson ends, and almost immediately there is another question to answer, another worksheet to complete, another conversation to have, or another activity to begin. But what happens when we occasionally stop adding more information? Research on wakeful rest suggests that periods with […]
Helping children notice signals from their bodies can support greater body awareness, self-regulation, and independence. This free body awareness worksheet gives children a simple visual way to identify what they may be noticing in their bodies and think about what those signals could mean. The What Is My Body Telling Me? printable includes common body […]
Children need many skills to participate successfully in school. Attention, organization, problem-solving, self-regulation, working memory, flexibility, and independence all support learning throughout the day. These skills need opportunities to develop and be practiced. Fortunately, families and educators do not always need special activities to build everyday skills. Many opportunities are already part of a child’s […]
Helping students succeed is not about reminding them of every step or staying beside them until the work is finished. One of the most important student success strategies we can teach is how to recognize what they need and take the next step with less adult support. The free printable 50 Things Students Can Try […]