Suncoast Credit Union

Think of all your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Most people take these fundamentals of life for granted. When one of these senses is either hyper (over, above) or hypo (under, below) sensitive, everyday life experiences can become very overwhelming and challenging. There are many students in Collier County Public School that experience these overwhelming and challenging life experiences on a daily basis. Having a variety of sensory items that engage these different senses in diverse ways allows teachers, therapists and other specialists to engage special needs students and encourage them in different ways.

The goal of this grant is to create an accessible, inviting, and engaging learning environment for the many different types of learners in Naples Park Elementary School’s IBI Unit (aka Shark Squad). The Shark Squad students experience life a little differently than others. Noises that others might not even notice are very distracting or even debilitating to some of our students. Students that struggle with focus and attention can attend to lessons and activities better when using different sensory items. When the world has too much input for some students, having a quiet place to deescalate and calm down makes engaging in instruction easier. The grant would fund the ability to buy a large variety of items to fit the specific needs of our exceptional students.

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Shush! Squish! Smush!

grant photo
School:
Naples Park Elementary 
Subject:
Special Needs Students 
Teacher:
Nicole Sponseller 
Students Impacted:
25 
Grade:
K-5 
Date:
August 27, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

 

Champions For Learning - $966.65

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Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 30

The “Shush! Squish! Smush!” grant impacts over 30 students at Naples Park Elementary School on a daily basis. The grant funded moving equipment for the IBI (intensive behavioral intervention) Unit which includes three classrooms that cover grades kindergarten to 5th grade. The grant funded many different sensory tools that were shared equally among the three classrooms. Each teacher uses the sensory tools differently, however, most allowed students to choose the tool that “fit” them the best.

As our program grows and new students enter the unit the sensory tools have helped the student’s transition into the program easier by providing sensory input which decreases their anxiety of being in a new place/placement. Students have access to the sensory tools and use them throughout the day. We incorporate the tools in our lessons which encourages our students to engage in different activities.

The grant also funded the purchase of 30 sets of sturdy and comfortable headphones. Every student uses these on a daily basis. These headphones have soft earphone areas and are able to expand to fit every students head. Using these has been wonderful, the students really love them! We were able to purchase noise cancelling headphones for each classroom as well. These come in very handy during fire drills or when students are feeling sound sensitive.

Finally, the grant funded a cozy teepee and sky projector that our therapist uses during individual and group sessions. Our therapist and students “camp out” and are able to feel calm when they meet. The students really enjoy this cozy experience at school, this is something new and different that they have access too!

We are all so grateful for Champions for Learning, the Education Foundation, and all the sponsors who participate in the classroom grant process.

Thank you!

 

https://twitter.com/Mrs_Sponseller/status/1184446491739545606

 

https://twitter.com/Mrs_Sponseller/status/1188819164003258368

 

Original Grant Overview

Goal

Think of all your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Most people take these fundamentals of life for granted. When one of these senses is either hyper (over, above) or hypo (under, below) sensitive, everyday life experiences can become very overwhelming and challenging. There are many students in Collier County Public School that experience these overwhelming and challenging life experiences on a daily basis. Having a variety of sensory items that engage these different senses in diverse ways allows teachers, therapists and other specialists to engage special needs students and encourage them in different ways.

The goal of this grant is to create an accessible, inviting, and engaging learning environment for the many different types of learners in Naples Park Elementary School’s IBI Unit (aka Shark Squad). The Shark Squad students experience life a little differently than others. Noises that others might not even notice are very distracting or even debilitating to some of our students. Students that struggle with focus and attention can attend to lessons and activities better when using different sensory items. When the world has too much input for some students, having a quiet place to deescalate and calm down makes engaging in instruction easier. The grant would fund the ability to buy a large variety of items to fit the specific needs of our exceptional students.
 

 

What will be done with my students

Naples Park Elementary Shark Squad teachers and staff will have access to the different sensory items to ensure that each student gets specifically what he/she needs. These items will be shared among the rooms as well as a central meeting area for calming down or deescalating. Shark Squad has a Behavior Analyst as part of the team, who would ensure the proper use of these items as well as suggest new and different items for students as needed.

The sensory items were selected with input from School Therapists, Behavior Analysts, ESE Teachers, Parents and Students.  

 

Benefits to my students

Having access to an assortment of different sensory stimulating tools helps students in a variety of ways, according to research by Creative Play UK. Sensory “play” builds nerve connections within the developing brain’s neural pathways, which trigger a child’s inclination for and ability in competing more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction. Sensory play aids in developing and enhancing memory functioning. Sensory play is great for calming an anxious or frustrated child. Sensory play helps children learn vitally important sensory attributes (hot, cold, sticky, dry, etc).

The students in Naples Park Elementary Shark Squad would be able to engage in classroom discussions and activities in a less stressful and more approachable way with access to the sensory items this grand would fund.
 

 

Budget Narrative

The equipment needed for this proposal can be purchased through amazon.com. After reviewing all of the available products, the most relevant, kid approved, and budget friendly options were selected.  

 

Items

# Item Cost
1 3 - Mini Rainmaker (sound sensory) $33.28
2 3 - Expandable Ball (touch sensory) $23.97
3 3 - Colorations Scented Colored Dough (sight, smell, touch sensory) $117.30
4 25 - Kids Tangle Free Headphones (sound sensory) $424.75
5 5 - Noise Cancelling Headphones (sound sensory) $64.90
6 3 - Kinetic Sand (touch sensory) $52.95
7 3 - Glitter Putty (touch sensory) $44.97
8 3 - Motion Bubbler (sight sensory) $47.97
9 3 - Squeeze Balls (touch sensory) $38.97
10 3 - Bunmo Stretchy String (touch sensory) $26.97
11 3 - Silicone Scrubbie (touch sensory) $23.97
12 1 - Calming Light Projector (sight sensory) $29.99
13 1 - Cotton Canvas Tent (sight, sound, touch sensory) $36.66
  Total: $966.65

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Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

Suncoast Credit Union