Harnessing Energy
Sensory Tools and Techniques for Responsible Learning
Can you imagine a class where children sit still, pay attention, and independently listen and learn? Think back 50 years ago when children played outside, did chores and walked or biked to school. Today’s Children are rarely outside, up late watching TV and playing videogames, get driven or bused to school, and their energy is all over the map! Either ‘zoned out’ or ‘charged’ and ‘hyper’, Today’s Child cannot pay attention, much less listen and learn. Wired for high speed stimulation through videogames and TV, students think school is ‘boring’ and ’stupid’. Teachers can improve student’s attention 100% by giving students the knowledge, skills and tools they need to be responsible for their energy body, and consequently their ability to learn. Through using specific sensorimotor and self-responsibility strategies, students become aware of their Energy Zones, and learn how to Know and then Tone Their Zones to optimize attention and get Zone’in to Learn. Hear the latest research about development of children’s sensory, motor and attachment systems, and the effects on their cognitive, physical and emotional states. Understand the damaging impact of technology on neurological system development, resulting in A Cracked Foundation for attention and learning. Experience what you as a teacher, parent or therapist can do to repair children’s foundations, by empowering them to harness their own body energy, and consequently improve their ability to attend, focus and ultimately learn.
Workshop Goal -Harnessing Energy raises awareness regarding the reasons why Today’s Children are unable to pay attention and learn, and offers The Zone’in Concept to improve self-responsibility and empower learning.
Learning Outcomes
- Differentiate sensory impairment from behavior, and recognize sensory registration, modulation, and overload states.
- Using the provided Sensory Observations and Strategies form and the Foundation Scale for Grades K-6, identify specific areas of sensory impairment and apply relevant sensorimotor strategies.
- Analyze current research on technology’s impact on child development.
- Identify three critical factors for child development, and list five techniques to improve sensory and motor development.
- Using the provided Zone-O-Meter, identify body energy zones and apply relevant Zone’in tools and techniques to get Zone’in to Learn.
The Zone’in Program optimizes attention by helping children to understand more about their body energy. If their energy is charged and hyperactive, or sleepy and zoned out, they can’t start, sustain or finish activities. By watching the Zone’in DVD, and using a Zone-O-Meter, tools and techniques, children learn to “Switch On” to get “Zone’in and Learn!”
Foundation Series Workshops are designed to be introductory level for therapists, intermediate for teachers and advanced for parents, child care workers and teaching assistants. Foundation Series Workshops course content includes the following AOTA Classification Codes for Continuing Education Activities: performance skills, areas of occupation, evaluation, intervention and outcomes.