The Development And Implementation Of Sensory Integration Workshops For Elementary Educators

Sensory Integration plays an important role in students’ regulation, behavior, and participation in the classroom. However, there are gaps in educators’ knowledge and implementation in sensory based strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of workshops and resources focused on sensory integration and the application of sensory-based strategies. Workshops were held at Birch Creek Elementary. The workshops focused on understanding sensory integration, recognizing sensory processing difficulties in students, implementing classroom strategies to support sensory regulation, providing hands-on learning by sensory stimulation activities and resources, and real-life practice scenarios through case studies. A sensory integration informational series was developed for the staff of Birch Creek Elementary. Eight participants participated in the workshops. Three themes emerged from the results of the workshop: education relevance, knowledge of sensory strategies, and application of sensory strategies.