Good Sensory Learning Blog

I am delighted to share one of my favorite resources with you: Executive Functioning Game: No Match Penguin. This game is the third in a series of four executive functioning games I created to strengthen core cognitive skills through playful learning. My students helped test and refine this game from the very beginning, and their excitement, laughter, and eagerness to play again and again confirmed that it was a winner. I am thrilled to now share it with you. What Makes No Match Penguin So Special? No Match Penguin is the simplest and most approachable game in the series, making...

My favorite piece of technology in my house is my Amazon Echo. It offers me so many great features with quick voice-activated access to the time, music, weather, the news, traffic, local stores, and much more. It even pairs with other devices to turn on my lights, adjust the thermostat, put shopping items on my iPhone, and more. When I explored this device, I purchased a second Echo for my office, at Learning to Learn, when I realized all the great ways that it could benefit my students! What is the Amazon Echo? The Amazon Echo is a wireless speaker...

Strengthening Direction-Following Skills in Young Learners Many young learners struggle with the complexities of linguistic cues, and following both written and oral directions can be a real challenge. When students have difficulty understanding multi-step tasks, classroom routines, or verbal instructions, it can impact their confidence and overall academic performance. These challenges often arise from underlying skill areas such as auditory processing, visual processing, sequencing, attention, and working memory. Strengthening these foundational cognitive processes can make a world of difference in a child’s ability to listen carefully, retain instructions, and complete tasks accurately. Why Following Directions Can Be Difficult To successfully...

Although dyslexia is called a learning disability, it does not mean that one is unable to learn. Instead, dyslexia is a learning difference that often requires multisensory instruction as well as cognitive remediation. Therefore, certain cognitive skills that may come easily for most students may require additional attention and training for many students that struggle with dyslexia. What Types of Cognitive Skills Need This Extra Attention? Each individual with dyslexia has their own unique profile, but here is a list of some of the common cognitive deficits that result in a diagnosis of dyslexia. Auditory processing: Auditory processing problems do not originate in the...

In every classroom, students learn in diverse ways. While some thrive by sitting quietly at their desks, others need movement to maintain attention and encode information effectively. Unfortunately, the needs of these active learners often go unaddressed. Behaviors such as tapping a pencil, fidgeting, leaning back in chairs, or frequently asking for bathroom or water breaks can sometimes be seen as disruptive by teachers and peers. Who Are Kinesthetic Learners? Kinesthetic learners excel when they can incorporate movement into their learning process. For them, sitting still and passively listening can feel impossible. So how can teachers embrace these learners' needs...