June 1, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Whether it is the normal stresses of the day, or more timely issues related to the impact of coronavirus or civil unrest, there is value in taking time for calm reflection. In today’s post, we share a resource that can be used in face-to-face therapy, online instruction, and family counseling. The Virtual Calming Room, developed by Osseo Area Learning Center in Minnesota, is worth a look. You can select from a range of calming videos in several categories: Sound and Music, Visual Relaxation, and Guided Practice. Each one has a selection of short videos (1-6 minutes) that can be used in a variety of ways. There are also app suggestions to take these calming practices with us as we go through the day, and a resource section. You can view a tutorial here or the full site below. Enjoy! Many thanks to the Osseo Area Learning Center for creating... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC activities, Self-Calming
January 27, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Communication and behavior, as we all know, are deeply intertwined. In this week’s featured video, we hear from Lindy McDaniel, the author of one of my favorite blogs, The Considerate Classroom. In this video, Lindy guides us to think about some of the tools and strategies that we can use to help young learners build their self regulation skills. I appreciate the prAACtical nature of the information and tips, along with the video examples that she shares in this presentation. Many thanks to the fine folks at TASN for making this available. You can see other posts featuring Lindy’s work here and here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: behavior, Self-Calming, TASN
July 28, 2012
by Robin Parker -
Throughout this month we focused on visual supports & strategies for positive behavior. We have discussed transition supports, environmental arrangements, and consequence mapping. As we wrap up, we don’t want to forget PrAACtical AAC strategies for self-calming. We like to think about self-calming like this- some weeks we need it more than others, some days we need it more than others. We all need self- calming strategies. Whether we vent to a friend, go for a run, knit, take deep breaths, or get a glass of wine (although we are not advocating this), we all use self-calming strategies. It makes a huge difference. Sometimes though helping our students self-calm at times may seem “easier said than done”, but we know it truly is ‘easier when SEEN‘. Self-calming strategies can help before, during, and after behavior challenges . We will often teach and use self calming strategies if we know a potentially stressful situation will... [Read More...]
Filed under: Strategy of the Month
Tagged With: Challenging Behavior, resources, Self-Calming, strategies, visual supports