In the article, “Sensory Friendly Enters the Classroom” by Blythe Bernhard, different adjustments are described to make the classroom more sensory friendly for the students. Educators are becoming more and more aware, that in order for the students to be academically successful, they must make design accommodations to the classroom that will be beneficial to the students. Sensory friendly designs help with sensitivity to things like smell, sight and sound. In a classroom I observed during my sophomore field, some students chairs has bristles on the arms of the chair because their sensory needs were touch related. Simple adaptation such as that can make a world of a difference in the classroom, so the student is able to concentrate while their sensory needs are being met as well.
In the article it is mentioned that Nicole Eredics, an educator in California will be writing a book about creating a welcoming classroom for all students. I think that is a fantastic idea, for other educators to get insight on what other educators may do to create a welcoming environment. Lately I have seen many educators integrating flexible seating options into their classrooms along with integrating sensory activities into their everyday lesson plans! Sensory seating can be anything like colorful chairs, bean bags, and standing desks. Other sensory activities can be integrating sand trays for the students to use their finger to write, or even putting rice in a bag for them to touch.
I believe that it is even better that the education community is recognizing that adaptation need to be made and schools are being built to fulfill those needs. The article mentions a district where the hallways are shorter and curved which discourages running. The results in that district have been successful from minor changes that make a large difference. They recommend using natural light, and the less clutter in the classroom the better. Clutter on classroom walls can be distracting, but things like colorful carpets are beneficial in order to reduce noise. Ensuring the students are comfortable in their learning environment is crucial, they don’t want to feel like the environment is closed in. The design of the classroom is just as important as the actual content of learning material. If the students aren’t comfortable they will never be able to concentrate and achieve their goals. The learning environment should be a safe and happy place where the students feel they proud of what they are accomplishing.
https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2018/10/04/sensory-friendly-design-classroom/25534/
Brianna's Education Journey 