Jan 23, 2019 CBS New York: Sensory Hallway Gives Students Innovative, Active Focus Boost https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/01/23/sensory-hallway-students-innovative-active-focus-boost/ (VIDEO) SUFFERN, N.Y. – A new sensation has come to Sloatsburg Elementary School helping students burn some energy and return the class ready to learn. The sensory hallway is a colorful sequence of stickers on the floorcreating an interactive pathway, reports CBSN New York’s John Dias. ... It takes about a minute to complete, and school officials say it helps kids who are having trouble sitting still in their classroom seats and staying focused.
Teachers say any type of movement can help kids settle down and refocus, but this impacts brain chemistry producing dopamine which facilitates improved attention, memory and mood. Less than a month after this sensory hallway was unveiled, staff already say they have seen some big results. Another elementary school in the district just made one on their hallway, and plans are underway to add them to all the elementary schools and possibly the middle school. ... The poll, to be published at the annual conference of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) on Thursday, finds that the vast majority – 97 per cent – believes further supports are needed to alleviate behavioural issues in the classroom. …
Many also say they face challenges ensuring sufficient access to essential clinical services such as psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy…. The poll also shows special schools very often struggle to get the equipment and provision they need to support those attending their schools. Some 85 per cent of special school principals believe they do not have sufficient funding to run their school effectively and efficiently. … e, however, will hear calls for these measures to be expanded to all special schools. “An administrative deputy principal in more special schools would make an enormous positive impact in meeting the complex needs of these unique schools,” said IPPN deputy chief executive Pat Goff. … Many principals of special schools have also called for the staff schedules for the schools to be revised in light of the growing complexity of pupils’ needs. … The Department of Education has pointed out that it has significantly increased investment in special education in recent years. Latest figures show funding for special education provision last year amounted to some €1.75 billion, up 43 per cent since 2011. …