Welcome Back!

The Back to school hype is over and everyone is back into a routine.  Fall, football and homework are back in our lives.  Team meetings, IEPs and a set schedule are becoming more of my daily life while at work.

This year I will still be servicing Eaton Rapids 4 full days a week and then the 5th day I will be at an elementary school in Charlotte.

It's a lot of buildings, a lot of sensory and fine motor needs and it seems like there's not a lot of time!

So, I think this blog can be a way for me to reach all of you and give my perspective on how important OT is in the school setting.  I would love to post weekly, but this is will be done during my personal time (we'll see how I do!).

Stay tuned and learn a lot about how we can all help our students be more successful and actually more importantly......happy in the school setting.

In the past I have made handouts for teachers and parents to help understand fine motor development and sensory processing disorder.  My goal is for this blog to for go the handouts - I think it will save time and money/paper/ink.

As a teacher or parent - if there is something you would like to know more information about, let me know!

I like to be organized in my mind so I am thinking a weekly theme for the kids to work on specific skills and then I will explain "why I do, what I do?"  And hopefully a sensory tid-bit along with these explanations.

Since I didn't have a chance to write a post the first 2 weeks of servicing kids:
Week 1:  Who can draw all of their shapes perfectly?
Scribbling: the kids like holding a marker, crayon, pen, paint brush and seeing pretty colors (1st barrier complete).  About 1.5-2 years old

Straight lines (horizontal and vertical): Everything is becoming more purposeful.  Letters "i", "l" (I'm not developmentally expecting letters from a 2 year old but I feel like the pressure is on! This is all a toddler is capable of)  Age: 2 years-2.5 years

Scribbles in circular motions:  At this point in the school year, I myself feel like this stage lasts forever!  I see a lot of this.  Ages 2.5-3 years

Circles (1 single circle allows us to make smiley faces in Art class, "O", "C", "Q" and so on but we'll be getting to letters a different week).  Age: 3 years

Cross (horizontal/vertical line intersecting) = for an OT this helps us know that the kids are able to cross over a barrier to keep drawing (crossing the midline neurologically).  This helps with pre-reading skills and writing too.  Kids can then add a body and arms to their smiley face and make letter "T", "L" or "t".  Ages: 3-3.5 years

Squares: half of a square really makes an "L"!  Make sure the angles are all right angles.  The kids love to trick everyone with one rounded side.  Age: 4 years

Triangles:  Are getting harder and harder for the little ones.  I feel like we are rushing them into letters.  Neurologically kids are unable to create diagonal lines until 5 or 6.  Starting at the top left and going to the bottom right or starting to the upper right hand side and going to the bottom left.  This is hard with wiki sticks, pegs in a peg board, strings or other materials.....so I can imagine it's hard with using a pencil and paper.  I like seeing pointy triangle tops that could pop a bubble.  But I will see rounded triangle tops, triangles with a vertical left line and horizontal bottom line and a weird right line to connect the 2 other lines.  I see really interesting roof's on houses.  Since we are showing them letters at about 6-8 months (ha!), I tell them to start making an "A" but stop before they make the middle line.  I'd love to see some pretty triangles and confident house drawings (squares and triangles)!  Age: 5 years

Diamonds:  How many adults can draw a good old fashioned diamond?  Hard. Hard. Hard. Most kids I service cannot draw a beautiful diamond.  Practice.  My tip for the kids:  Start with your pointy bubble popping "A" and connect it to a "V" at the bottom.  Age: 6 years.

Some of my older students printed first/last names. Drew people. And some worked on drawing stars, hearts and noticed the difference between ovals/circles, squares/rectangles, +/X.

Everyone also had a finger strength activity (squeezing clips with a pinch grasp was a good choice).  A pinch grasp is using your thumb, index and  middle finger to pick up and squeeze items.  This will encourage an age appropriate grasp while holding a writing utensil.

After reading this your assumption is  "shapes should be easier to draw than letters" and the ability to draw some of these shapes does not occur until age 6.  So, if my child cannot print the alphabet at 4 or 5 years old, it's ok?? YES!

Sensory Tip: Feel free to get messy.  Touching different textures is going to make life easy at school.  We got out messy with moon sand or play dough during some of our sessions this week.

Whew!  Week 2s activity will be coming soon!

Combining My Good Ideas!

After messing around and realizing that I am no expert in blogging....I have decided to combine to really good ideas and topics together.  They would have been great as separate blogs....but I just don't understand the mechanics and behind the scenes work to successfully to that yet!  I tried starting something on Wordpress and there were spots for widgets everywhere and every picture I tried to post was a featured picture (I wanted lots of different pictures).  I have googled slightly and learned that blogger is the best and easiest for a hobby and not paying a monthly fee.  Wordpress lost me at having my readers read about how I should be adding widgets in 4 different places as a footer.  I was so confused and lost my patience.

But these 2 ideas have 1 thing in common, my understanding and perspective of OT thus far.  I realize I have a very long (hopefully interesting) career ahead of me.  Perhaps this career will include a class in blogging or hiring/working with a web designer.  And another plus...I know way more than I did a year ago!!  

Earlier this summer I thought of writing about yoga once a week (which is still a great idea)!  

My new thing will be writing about my perspective of OT in the school based setting.  Essentially, I will be writing lesson plans and explaining why I am doing certain things with the students I see each week.  I really hope this helps parents and teachers assist their kids with fine motor and sensory processing skills.    

My idea of an ideal office. 

How OT Relates to Organization and Time Management

It is easy to say OTs should be discussing play/leisure, work and other activities of daily living with individuals they service because these are obvious performance areas.  But I realize organization and time management seems like a very gray area.  Especially for billing purposes.

My thought is, we all need to strive to be good at organization and time management so we can remain happy/healthy while we are fulfilling each performance area to our maximum potential.

When thinking about it, as a person with cerebral palsy I am at less of a risk for falling, cutting myself when using a large knife or using poor speech when I sleep better.  This seems like an obvious example for everyone because it is so physical.

There are many cognitive components that I am capable of if I have adequate amounts of sleep and also ideal an ideal environment for my body.  Even if I have a superb memory (which I do), an in tact attention span (which can be spotty), problem solving skills related to my skills set/training and other cognitive skills to sit down and write an Occupational Therapy report, I could still struggle at work if I do not have superb time management skills.  I need to be in certain buildings at certain times and prepared for meetings at different times of day.  Without focusing on organization and time management I could essentially let my administrators down and loose my job.

Basically Occupational Therapists are taught if individuals are unable to complete performance components (motor and cognitive skills) then they are going to be unable to perform their simple ADLs (toileting, bathing, eating) and then more complex ADLs (work, play, household maintenance, driving/community mobility).

How do you feel your ability to problem solve, learn and attention span is when you are stressed, tired or distracted?  Will your work day be productive?  Will you enjoy your hobbies and relationships with others?  Will your "to do" list (if you have one) ever disappear?  Do you want others who are stressed, tired, distracted driving on the road while your kids are on the way to school on the bus?  Do you want your surgeons, pilots or kids teachers to have decreased cognitive or motor skills?  Is it okay if these individuals are a little disorganized and not on time?  Then, why is it okay for you?

I realize that America's administrators/bosses/supervisors are not all OTs.  Even if they have been told, they seem to forget that if someone is disorganized, not well rested and not happy this person will not be a productive employee.  But what can you do as an individual to be organized, more healthy and a better employee?

Where do you think you would start?  More sleep?  More time for hobbies and loved ones?  Spending a month or two to declutter?  Adding time in your day to meditate or take a power nap? Making a list of things that truly matter to you and then working hard to say "No" to the other things that are not as important?  Maybe you want to spend some time on Google researching to make sure that this post isn't just completely silly?  But why would you strive for insomnia and other forms of stress to fit "stuff" into your schedule, to purposely decrease your cognitive skills?

The 2nd link I found today is an article that states "time management benefits you."  It makes sense to me, put your life mask on yourself before you save others.


 https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/280638
https://timemanagementninja.com/2013/10/the-top-10-life-benefits-of-time-management/

How Organized Are You?

Yes, it is football season! But for many of us it is that time of year where things become over whelming and hectic.  Whether you are a parent rolling your eyes at math homework and sports schedules, a teacher/educator planning to rock your students world, a college student reading over syllabi or planning for a new job, move, wedding or new baby......life can be stressful.  Rather than just saying take a deep big "inhale and exhale" it's sometimes important to make a plan and attack these times in our lives in chunks.  Are you good at this?  Or is it insomnia, over eating and migraines to the max?

Since I have decided that a balanced life requires some amount of organization and I have been describing ways that I am organized and not so organized....I thought it was time for another quiz!  Rate yourself as you read this post and ask yourself how you feel about the outcome of each topic.  Good luck! Happy cleaning, scheduling and potentially preparing for another busy school year or just the messiness that life sometimes causes!  If you are in a phase where you can take a Siesta and enjoy Indian Summer and football - I envy you!

1.  I go through old things and decide whether or not I am using certain items:
              a.  Every few months
              b.  Every year
              c.  Why would I do this?  I can afford to purchase a  storage unit.

2.  Everything in my house/car/office, etc. has a place and a purpose.  Even if I use something once a year I know right where it is.
               True or False

3.  Junk Drawers:
           a.  My whole house looks like a junk drawer. I'm not a visual person.
           b.  I'd rather have the clutter hidden than in sight on my counter or floor.  But I clear them out when I have time.
           c.  Gross me out.

4.  Dr.'s Appointment's/Kids Sporting Events/Birthday's/Vacations:
           a.  I memorize them in my head.  If I don't make it, it's cool.
           b.  Everything is on sticky notes in the corner on my end table
           c.  Everything goes into my Google Calendar. My smart phone reminds me
           d.  I have a paper calendar to write things on.
           e.  All of the above, except A

5.  When it comes to setting priorities:
           a.  Setting priorities is not important.  Everyday is a new surprise.
           b.  Everything feels equally important - I take it all as it comes, until I feel stressed.
           b.  The health and overall happiness of me and my loved ones are important.  I work daily at  saying "No" to the things that aren't as important.

6.  I'm a meal planner:
            True or False

7.  I know what I am going to wear the next morning before I go to bed:
             True or False

8.  I have a certain routine each evening where I can finish certain quick chores.  Everyone old enough in the house helps with this.
              True or False

9.   I go to the Grocery Store 1x a week and make sure I use coupons/other discounts and have a list than going when I'm out of things I need.
               True or False

Bonus Questions for Educators/Therapist who are building hoppers:
10.  In 2 weeks your Opening Day Power Point Presentation will be:
          a.  Recycled. They told us during a breakout session to go paperless.
          b.  In my work bag in case I need to refer to it.
          c.  Under the seat of my car with coffee spilled on it.

11.  My Car:
         a.  Spotless.  They told us during a breakout session to go paperless.
         b.  Has some room for passengers.  But the passengers get to play with scissors, umbrellas and theraputty.
         c.  What's that smell?  Where is my coffee mug?  There's theraputty stuck to my floor.

12.  My work bag:
       a.  Don't you mean bags?
       b.  Is under 8lbs and I never carry it on my shoulder
       c.  Is the size of my carry on when traveling to Europe but at least I use a roller bag.
       d.  Is the size of my carry on when traveling to Europe and I put it on my shoulder, neck, arm.  (You people will be getting a blog post dedicated to you, someday. Tisk, tisk.).