Regulation Rendezvous: Reduce Student Overwhelm with a Calming Classroom Environment

The school environment is full of stimuli that can add to overwhelm for autistic learners and those with learning and sensory processing differences. When overwhelmed, it can be hard for them to learn, apply skills, and cooperate with calming sensory supports. To avoid overwhelm, teachers can take a proactive approach by setting up a classroom environment that is calming and welcoming for students so that they feel safe and ready to learn. Today's Regulation Rendezvous provides examples of how you can Reduce Student Overwhelm with a Calming Classroom Environment.

Lighting

Overhead florescent lights can add to overwhelm because they are bright and directly overhead which can cause a glare on materials and worksheets. Additionally, some individuals are especially sensitive to the "hum" or "buzz" of these lights as well as any flickering that may occur. 

Reduce student overwhelm by using indirect lighting such as natural light from windows, string lights, or lamps.

Overhead String Lights and Lamps
Ashley Holtz
Kleptz ELC, Northmont

Light Cover
Tracey Cooper
Tecumseh, Clark ESC

Pendant Lights and Lamps
Jon Rowley
Smith Elementary, Oakwood

String Lights and Light Covers
Maggie Brackman
Northwood Elementary, Northmont

Visual Barriers

Items hanging on the wall, people walking around the classroom, and movement of staff and classmates can add to overwhelm because it can be visually distracting or even startle sensitive students. 

Reduce student overwhelm by using visual barriers such as dividers, study carrels, or individualized work spaces.

Portable Divider
Kathy Nance
Springfield

Student Work Space with Flexible Folding Mat Divider
Cindy Bowling
Dixie Elementary, New Lebanon

Portable Rolling Divider
Holly Smith
Nevin Coppock Elementary, Miami County ESC

Student Work Space With Physical Boundaries
Lauren Dickey
Indian Riffle Elementary, Kettering

Flexible Folding Mat Divider
Amanda McCormick
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Portable Rolling Divider
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Room Divider
Cassandra Hebauf
Northmoor Elementary, Northmont

Additionally, cover open storage, use consistent storage bins, and cover distracting items or displays within the classroom. 

Covered Interactive Whiteboard
Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Anchor Chart Bulletin Board with Curtain Rod

Covered Phone with Flexible Folding Mat
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Covered Storage
Taylor Ruef
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Student Covered with Blanket
Nicole Bellard
Fairview Elementary, Dayton

Classroom Calming Space

When extremely overwhelmed, a student's fight or flight reflex may be activated leading to aggressive behaviors, hiding, or eloping out of the classroom. 

Reduce student overwhelm by providing a safe, calming space within the classroom where students can go to escape overwhelming stimuli and regulate. 

 

Student Home Base/Safe Space

MaKynzie Lowery

Learning Center-West, MCESC

Classroom Calming Corner

MaKynzie Lowery

Learning Center-West, MCESC

Calming Classroom Environment Decor
Julia Millikin
Milton Union Elementary, Milton Union

Classroom Calming Spot
Kendra Krumpe
EJ Brown Middle School, Dayton

Wall Mural Station
Deanna Granroth
Wogaman Middle School, Dayton

For more information regarding calming classroom setup, check out our previous posts:

Calming Classroom Environment

Classroom Calming Sensory Space

Around Town Round Up: Incorporating Interests to Increase Student Engagement

Many autistic students have strong special interests. These can be a great avenue for increasing engagement in the classroom during classroom activities and work times. They can even help students with emotional regulation! Today's Around Town Round Up will highlight some of the best ways we have seen special interests incorporated in classrooms across the region to increase student engagement. 

Positive Environment

Creating a positive, supportive environment is essential to educating all students. You want them to feel comfortable, safe, and ready to learn within the classroom and school settings. Incorporating special interests can be a great way to build positive associations with the classroom and work times. 

The Rock Bulletin Board
Northmoor Elementary, Northmont

Frozen Structured Work Strip
Cynthia Resch
LC-West, MCESC

Schedule with Paw Patrol Stickers
Lauren Bridgens
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Encanto Rule Reminder
Bruce Elementary, Eaton

Special Interest Classroom Table Labels 
Genevieve Harvey
West Carrollton ECC, West Carrollton

Additionally, research has shown that for some individuals, having access to their special interest items at all times is essential to their well-being. We have seen some great staff flexibility when it comes to allowing students to have their special interests at their desk or in a nearby location so that they don't become too anxious without them. 

Pepsi Cup Water Bottle
Maria Wilder
Hayward Middle School, Springfield

Superwhy Desk Buddy
Jessica Hartman
Northmoor Elementary, Northmont

Alphabet Magnets in Student Home Base
Jennifer Jackson
Northridge Elementary, Northridge

Student in Wonka Costume
Nicole Bellard
Fairview Elementary, Dayton

Reinforcement

One of the most traditional uses of special interests is for reinforcement. Many teams allow students to work for special time to engage in special interests. 

Space Special Interest Activities
Michelle Heigel
Miami East Junior High, Miami East

Wednesday Coloring Paper
Maria Wilder
Hayward Middle School, Springfield

Animation Cell
Cassandra Hebauf
Northmoor Elementary, Northmoor

Captain Underpants Book and Tablet Activity
Sheyanne Olson
East Elementary, Eaton

If you have a student who needs free access to a special interest item, you can still use this for reinforcement by allowing additional earned free time with that item or finding special ways to enhance their special interests such as new Lego kits or special scented playdoh that is only used during reinforcement breaks. 

Scented Playdoh
Lindsey Woods
Fairborn Primary, Fairborn

Incorporating special interests into a student's work completion reinforcement systems such as a token board or visual contract is another way to build a positive association with work times. 

Special Interest Token Boards
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Disney Princess Visual Contract
Emily Collura & Arah Maggard
Primary Village North, Centerville

Special Interest Token Boards
Heather Clark
Saville Elementary, Mad River

Dinosaur Visual Contract

Queen Token Board
Claire Jamito
Fairborn Primary, Fairborn

Classroom Tasks

If you have a student who is especially resistant to completing adult-directed tasks, start with a preferred activity to pair your time with them with this reinforcing activity. Activities like art projects, Mr. Potato Head, or Lego building can be great options because they can be broken up into separate steps to introduce a structured work system or visual contract to build positive momentum and work stamina. 

Lego Task
Michelle Barnhart
Bell Creek Intermediate, Bellbrook

Special Interest Prewriting Worksheets
Michelle Wade
Northridge Elementary, Northridge

Disney Following Directions Scene
Hannah Reckman
West Carrollton ECC, West Carrollton

Art Project with Teacher
MacKynzie Lowery
LC-West, MCESC

Special Interests can also be used to increase engagement with independent tasks because students will be more willing to engage with these items. This can entail creating an entire task with that special interest or just making a small tweak like the the example below of a calendar time book using a superhero marker icon rather than a standard token or arrow. 

Superhero Icon on Calendar Book
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Sesame Street Put-In Task
Heidi Horner
Nevin Coppock Elementary, Miami County ESC

Toy Story Put-In Task
Debi Gnau
Mad River ECC, Mad River

McDonald's Fry CountingTaskbox

Dinosaur Figurine Packaging Taskbox

Lego Matching Taskbox
Katie Mlod
Mad River ECC, Mad River

Lego Man Taskbox

Car Counting Stacker
Taylor Ruef
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Additionally, look for ways to incorporate interests into whole group activities. We love the examples below of using video games and animals for group work times!

Video Game Article and Writing Activity
Tim Cundiff
Greenville High School, Greenville

Zoo Area Group Activity
Shelby Ashbrook
Bruce Elementary, Eaton

Sensory Activities

At times, students can be resistant to much-needed sensory supports and sensory break times. Decrease resistance and increase engagement through incorporating interests. 

Butterfly Matching Purposeful Walk 
Taylor Ruef
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Sonic the Hedgehog Brain Break
Hannah Walters
Kenwood Elementary, Springfield

Superhero Break Time Sign
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Special Interest Figurines on Weighted Ball Sensory Room Activity
Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Animal Headphones
Granville Bastin
Twin Valley South Middle School, Preble County ESC

Emotional Regulation

Another area where we see many students struggle is with applying emotional regulation strategies. This can cause them to feel threats to self-image or difficulty with generalization. Using special interests can increase the student's motivation so they are more willing to learn and apply these strategies.

Superhero Incredible 5-Point Scale
Megan Logano
Clark County ESC

Special Interest Break Cards
Haley Urschel
Perrin Woods, Springfield

Space Station Calm Down Space
Denise Campbell
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Pixar Emotions Signs
MacKynzie Lowery
LC-West, MCESC

Pigeon Bathroom Cue
Kleptz ELC, Northmont

For more examples of Incorporating Interests in action, check out our previous posts:

Incorporating Interests

Incorporating Interests Tasks