How to Create a Sensory Aware Classroom

To create a sensory aware classroom is to ensure that all the children’s needs who attend their day in your room, can have their sensory needs met. I have carefully chosen the word ‘aware’ because it’s not about classrooms being perfect for everyone (there’s no way that can happen!) but instead, this will provide you with a bank of ideas to use in your own classroom to make it more sensory aware, so that if they are struggling, then you can make your classroom as inclusive as possible. 

If you have been searching for how you can make your classroom more sensory aware, then this blog post will be for you! These ideas come from a teacher, special needs mum, advocate and sensory avoider myself! 

 

Fans 

The noise that fans make, especially on high is so loud and distracting. The way I describe the noise is ‘buffering’! It also moves things that are hanging and can make the lights flicker. 

Instead, try this: 

• Aircon instead 
• Use a lower setting 
• Avoiding hanging items directly below 
• Sit in the kids seats, and look up – are things moving? Is the light changing? 

 

Things Hanging on Wires 

Sometimes it can be the only place you can hang things, I get it, but items that hang over the kids heads can be super distracting and sometimes distressing, especially for ASD kids. 

Instead, try this: 

• Avoid hanging A3 – use A4 or smaller 
• Avoid hanging items over the carpet (focussed learning space) 
• Laminate and hang (it won’t move as much) 
• Hanging smaller artworks/creations, add a hole punch and tie a few down a long piece of string and hang in one spot instead of individually all over the room 

 

Glare 

While we didn’t design the rooms, it is something that we can still think about in terms of where the light is coming in, if it’s bouncing off anything, does the glare make anything tricky to see, does it change the look of anything? And how bright are the lights in your room?! 

Instead, try this: 

• Sit where the kids will be sitting and look at what the board etc will look like from their angle. It can be useful to do this throughout the day to see where the sun hits! 
• Chat with your admin if it’s really bad, because we don’t want it to impact the kids learning experience 
• Use the window as a display space (but keep in mind that the sun will ruin whatever you pop there!) 
• If there are kids who are impacted by this greatly, look at moving their seat, offering sunglasses or a hat to wear inside 
• Look into reflecting apps for the iPads or tablets that mirror what is on the board so that the child can sit anywhere in the room, and still be able to engage in the content with the whole class 
• Turn off the lights where possible (usually a row is enough)  
• Use black or blue pens on your whiteboard 

 

Displays on the wall 

It’s important to remember that every child is an individual! And while some ASD or SPD kids can be overwhelmed by displays on the walls (where there’s all the colours and backgrounds covering the walls); there are others who need the walls to talk because they need to be able to access information without having to ask (because it cause them anxiety) and good teaching displays will allow this to occur! 

Instead, try this: 

• Have blank space at the start of the year 
• Use zones for subject areas for the displays so they are easy to reference 
• Consider the background you are putting the display on (will the colours clash/be overwhelming) 
• Plain is better than patterns 
• Reduce the size and space the display takes up by printing in A5 
• Consider the use of QR codes to access the information 
• Consider the size of your room 
• Put up the displays with the kids, and talk about why it’s there 
• If you have kids that it might impact, send a picture of the new display to them prior to them getting back to school (seesaw or email) – this is also a great one if you more tables around 

 

Laminating 

You don’t need to laminate everything! Laminating displays causes them to reflect glare and you will actually get more noise bounce back off them! Plus, environmental impact. 

Instead, try this: 

• Print on 250gsm (or higher) paper for your displays  
• If you’ve already laminated, then consider a matte spray on them to reduce glare 

 

Noise 

Some kids really struggle with loud noises (sudden or gradual build up). While you might think it means your room needs to be silent, it doesn’t. These kids will often be the loudest ones as it given them a sense of control (I have two of my own!) 

Instead, try this: 

• Headphones (not noise cancelling) can be a great way to reduce the excess noise for when it gets too loud 
• Bunnings have kids sized earmuffs and can be handy to have available 
• If possible (and this is going to be super dependent on a number of factors), allowing some kids into the room before others in the morning can assist then in coping with the noise build up, rather than walking into a room full of noise 

 

Visuals 

Visuals are needed for your room. All children love to daydream, they don’t always pay attention, and sometimes they need to be able to source information without asking the question (because asking is anxiety inducing!) 

Instead, try this: 

• Use the board to highlight the routine for the day, the things they need during the day, and the tasks to complete (for this one, you could use our handy visual timetable or instruction and equipment cards)
• Some kids might need the above set up for them as an individual – you could use a folder or check out the app Choiceworks. 

 

Let me know if you have any questions or even additional suggestions in the comments on how to create a sensory aware classroom.