How to Introduce Sensory Integration Activities in the Classroom

Many teachers have long believed in the effectiveness of multisensory instruction, or sensory integration in the classroom. Yet most teachers' main way of instruction is to lecture their students. There are many more way to reach students. Multisensory learning means learning through sight (visual), sound (hearing), and touch (kinesthetic) methods. A good teacher has a variety of ways to ensure student learning.

Things You'll Need

• Lesson plan about what you want to teach
• Large pictures and diagrams of what you are studying
• Notes or an outline of the material for the students
• Blackboard and different colored markers
• Paper and pens for students

Instructions

1. Provide students with clear, simple, and well designed visuals including pictures, maps, charts, and diagrams. Use the blackboard, overheads, computer generated imagery and pictures in books to reinforce what you are saying to your students. Organize information using different colors for different main ideas and details. This will help develop their visual skills.

2. Make sure that students verbalize what they know by explaining, summarizing, expressing their reactions, asking and answering questions, and participating in discussions. Teach students how to set up and work in study groups, and to study out loud for tests. Have students teach or explain the information to one another. This will help develop student aural and speaking skills.

3. Provide students opportunities to participate in labs, projects and learning outside of the classroom such as field trips. Role-play and perform demonstrations. Build physical models of concepts. Incorporate physical activity into assignments. This will help increase student kinesthetic skill sets.

4. Teach active listening and note-taking skills. Use different colors for note taking, with one color for the main idea and another for supporting details. Have students repeat back, in their own words, what they heard you say. Have them repeat back what other students say. Also have them take their text book and say back what they just read in their own words. This will help students increase their listening and comprehension skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Teaching students how to process visual, auditory, and kinesthetic sensory input helps students better manage their learning and behavior. Designing lessons that engage students’ senses helps ensure that all students will connect to the material.

• When teaching note-taking, make sure to talk about the dangers of plagiarism--especially from internet sites.