Managing student behavior in the classroom can be challenging, especially when students struggle with emotional regulation, focus, and self-control. Whether they are off-task, disruptive, distracted, or impulsive, having the right strategies in place can make a significant difference. Below are five effective classroom strategies to support students who need extra help managing their emotions and behaviors.
Easter is just around the corner, and while you’re getting ready for the festivities, you might find yourself with a pile of leftover plastic Easter eggs. But don’t worry—those colorful plastic eggs are more than just for hunting! They can be a great tool for improving focus, attention, and classroom management. Use them for a fun social-emotional learning activity to help your students burn off some energy, re-engage their minds, and practice self-regulation with a fun, active game: Eggsercise!
Many of the teachers I work with love using stations to give students a productive way to start the day. It’s also been an incredibly helpful strategy for me during therapy sessions. These short, easy activities allow me a few precious minutes to organize my day, prepare materials, or catch up on session notes—while my students work on essential fine motor skills.
Writing effective and measurable IEP goals can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task. As occupational therapists, we know what our students need, but putting it into words that meet SMART goal criteria—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound—takes time and careful thought.
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank screen, struggling to write a goal that truly captures a student’s needs, you’re not alone! AI tools like ChatGPT can help streamline the process, saving time while still allowing you to customize goals for individual students
Are your students struggling to stay focused or feeling restless during lessons? As an educator or occupational therapist, you know the challenge of keeping students engaged and motivated throughout the day. That’s where Brain Breaks come in!
Looking for a fun, no-prep winter activity that gets students moving and helps build important skills? Try a paper snowball fight in occupational therapy sessions! It’s a great way to work on fine motor, gross motor, visual perception, and emotional regulation all at once—and it’s sure to be a hit!
Winter can be a challenging time for teachers and occupational therapists. Cold weather and shorter days often lead to restless students, indoor recess and low
Handwriting remains a vital skill for students, blending fine motor precision, cognitive organization, and literacy development. For teachers and occupational therapists, finding engaging ways to target these skills can be challenging. Scrambled sentence activities provide an effective and versatile tool for building handwriting and literacy skills in a fun and purposeful way.
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