Exploratory Application of a Sensory Activity Schedule in Head Start Preschool

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> The objective of this research is to determine whether the implementation of sensory activity schedule in a preschool classroom can increase the on-task behaviors of the students.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three students were recruited to participate in a quantitative multiple single subject design with qualitative follow-up study. The participants performed sensorimotor activities before circle time and were monitored for frequency of their off-task behavior using a time sampling frequency data collection. Afterwards, the head teacher was interviewed to discuss the experience.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> Off-task behavior decreased from baseline on all three children, which supports the efficacy of sensory activity schedule in reducing off-task behavior. Cultural disconnect, classroom dynamics, and scheduling conflict were identified as barriers to successful implementation of sensory activity schedule.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Occupational therapists are encouraged to conduct a needs assessment before starting a research to identify potential barriers. More research is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of sensory activity schedule in a classroom.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Level thesis:degree_level

Capstone Project

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Occupational Therapy

Year dc:date.available

2019

Authors dc:creator

• Perez, Marian
• Wong, Elaine
• Perryman, Michelle

Contributors dc:contributor

• Julia Wilbarger, PhD, OTR/L

• sensory diet
• sensory activity schedule
• SAS
• Ayres Sensory Integration ®
• sensory regulation
• sensory integration dysfunction
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education
• Occupational Therapy
• Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education
• Special Education and Teaching

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholar.dominican.edu/occupational-therapy-capstone-projects/9

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.dominican.edu:occupational-therapy-capstone-projects-1008