Sensory Integration in the Classroom

Sensory Integration in the Classroom

By: Erica Hamilton

What do you aim to learn/discover?

Reflection

A Senior Thesis Submitted to the

School of Education

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for Graduation

Endicott College

2015

Strategy of Inquiry & Theoretical Framework

• To discover the impact sensory integration has on students, especially those with Sensory Processing Disorders, in a general education classroom
• Specifically:
• focus levels
• behavior
• classroom benefits
• strategies

• Informational - reading the various case studies opened my eyes to the impact sensory integration can have on students
• Stressful at times - condensing the information found and creating mini-papers to accurately reflect the information was difficult
• Time Consuming
• Satisfying once complete

Strategy of Inquiry - Phenomenological Approach

• Gathering deep information through interviews, discussions, observation, about the effectiveness of Sensory Integration in a classroom setting

Theoretical Framework - Engagement Theory

• Focuses on student involvement in interactive and worthwhile tasks
• 3 components: working collaboratively, project-based learning, and having an authentic focus
• Students with Sensory Processing Disorders cannot become engaged in a lesson without sensory integration

Literature Review

Major Discoveries

Rationale

Subtopics:

• Importance of Sensory Integration
• Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT) and Sensory-Based Intervention (SBI)
• Goals and Benefits of Sensory Integration
• Enhance children's performance in self-care, academic activities, and participation at school
• Sensory Integration Strategies
• Computer-mediated intersensory learning, sensory motor interaction in virtual environments, web-based instruction, instructional and classroom strategies

• Focus on Occupational Therapy students
• Research deals with out of classroom services rather than sensory integration in the classrooms

Research Questions:

• 1. How does sensory integration improve the focus levels of all students, including those with special needs?
• 2. How does sensory integration positively affect students’ behavior?
• 3. In what ways does sensory integration benefit the classroom as a whole?
• 4. What strategies can be used to implement sensory integration in the classroom?

• Originally wanted to study Occupational Therapy
• Worked at the LEAP School and observed an OT Specialist
• Wanted to see the impact it has on students
• Wanted to learn more about simple Sensory Integration Strategies in a general education classroom