Teaching the tough ones: Creating a healthy learning environment

CrossCurrents

David Livingstone Elementary School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, offers a program for students with FAS. Dorothy Schwab, an occupational therapist at the school, offers these classroom adaptations, some of which can also be applied to home settings.

A de-stimulated environment. One of the first modifications was changing the visually busy classrooms. “We took everything off the walls,” says Schwab. “It’s what we call the high-tech sterile environment. It’s very low stimulus.”

The “bunny hole.” This is a quiet, calm area created in the classroom with a blanket draped over a table. It’s a place to go when students feel overwhelmed.

“Listening helpers.” Students are encouraged to fidget with items such as kooshballs or pencils to keep them alert. “If you stop some of these children from moving, they often go into a state of low arousal,” says Schwab.

Confidence builders. “These kids love being helpers,” says Schwab. “It boosts their confidence.” So concrete tasks are doled out, such as cleaning the chalkboard or being the mailbox helper.

But what about teachers in mainstream classrooms? “We often say to teachers, ‘Rather than try harder, try differently,’” says Schwab. “If something’s not working, the child is letting you know through their behaviour.”

• Print