Teacher: Danielle Laird
School: Sleeping Giant School
District: Steamboat Springs School District
District Website: Steamboat Springs School District
School Address: 40250 Giant View Drive, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Grade Level: K-2 SSN Special Education
Region: Northwest
Project Title: Sensory Regulation/Task Boxes
Category: Supporting Special Populations (English Language Learners, Special Needs Students, Gifted Education)
Amount Requested: $2,000

Project Description:
Danielle Laird is a K-2 Significant Severe Needs (SSN) Special Education Teacher in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She works with students who have low-incidence disabilities, including Autism and lower cognitive abilities. Each of her students requires substantial support, such as 1:1 adult assistance to help them access their environment, perform functional life skills like toileting and eating, and learn foundational academic skills through alternative curriculums. Emotional regulation is a top priority as many students are non-verbal, and they can get overstimulated without being able to communicate their wants and needs with words. To address this, sensory breaks are regularly provided by paraprofessionals, aiming to proactively manage sensory input.

In addition to sensory regulation, the students are working on foundational literacy and math skills such as sorting, matching, sequencing, and discrimination. Danielle is seeking funding to expand her paraprofessional team's ability to teach essential skills, highlighted in students' individualized education plans (IEPs), through errorless learning and sensory input. The requested funds would also help improve progress monitoring by providing task boxes and sensory learning tools like a light table.

Budget Breakdown:

• Liquid Floor Tiles for Sensory Regulation: Helps students ground themselves during communication sessions.
• Light Table: Supports sensory learning experiences and can be used with math manipulatives, alphabet tiles, magnetic blocks, and interactive games.
• Other sensory and interactive materials: Provide meaningful learning experiences throughout the day.

Photos:

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