Educator Professional Development

WORKSHOPS

Sensory Awareness – Neurodiversity

As educators we are navigating and juggling providing a safe learning environment, managing behaviors, planning lessons that are engaging and differentiated, tracking data, communicating with caregivers, providing extracurricular support, grading papers, and evaluating every moment on how we could have been a “better” teacher. There never seems to be enough. In this post-pandemic era, managing behaviors tends to be encompassing most of our time.

Let’s start to get time back! Starting with the basic understanding of sensory systems, Neurodiversity and what that means in our lives, we can begin to make subtle changes or reframe behavior to reduce the time maladaptive behaviors take away from classroom instruction. Start increasing learning time and decreasing referrals.

Learning Objectives:

Differentiate between neurodiversity, neurodivergent and neurotypical.
List strengths and deficits associated with neurodivergence.
List the eight sensory systems.
Identify behaviors that may be attributed to sensory integration

120 Minutes

Sensory or Other – ABC’s of Behavior

Requirement: Must have taken Sensory Awareness

Is it a smell, scratchy tag, inability to judge space, florescent lights flashing, lack of sleep, hunger, fear of failure, anxiety, trauma, learning disability, writing hurts…why does this behavior happen? As educators it’s a reality that some students display more disruptive behaviors than others. It is also a reality that we become fatigued in redirecting the same behaviors repeatedly. Teachers are like forensic investigators trying to find the best way to connect with a student and spark learning. This is difficult when similar behaviors continue to disrupt and frustrate the class. Behavior is a form of communication and with tools to identify why behaviors are happening, we can reduce frustration, disruption and increase the enjoyment of learning and teaching for all.

Learning Objectives:

Identify behavior scenarios from a sensory regulation perspective.
Identify antecedents of behavior.
Identify different consequences of behavior based on antecedent.
Identify classroom tools that can reduce the need for consequences.
Move to an understanding of behavior as regulation of environment.

90 minutes

Creating a Sensory-Friendly Learning Environment

Requirement: Can identify the 8 sensory systems and how they affect behavior

We love our classrooms. Hours are spent organizing and finding ways to make it fun and engaging to our students. Posters for motivation, cute boarders around the whiteboard/smartboard, behavior charts, goal charts, student work, steps of the writing process and scientific investigation next to each other, table numbers hanging from the ceiling, small group rotations, schedule for the day, homework list, date, lunch menu, student cubbies, mailboxes, colorful circle carpet, gifts from students of the past, learning objectives, assignment directions… Don’t forget florescent lighting, the over powering smell of a table partner’s fabric softener, the pencil tapper, nose sniffing, hum of the lights, HVAC on and off, foot tapping, laughing from the class next door, an airplane, adults talking in the hall, crunch of a water bottle, recess bell, movement of the clock, table numbers waving in the breeze of the fan, the granola bars sitting on the teacher’s desk, smell of someone’s lunch in the cubby, thirst, ripping of paper from a notebook…

Each one of these things has purpose, but how do we lower the stimulation and still put our stamp on learning? Learning will increase and maladaptive behaviors will decrease once we create a less sensory stimulating environment and create an environment that stimulates learning.

Includes self-evaluation of classrooms or other learning spaces.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the sensory input that is active in an average classroom during learning
Describe how visual stimulation can affect learning
Describe how all the senses can impact learning
Able to evaluate a classroom to develop a sensory-friendly and focused space

120 Minutes

Strategies for Self-Regulation

Requirement: Understanding of the 8 sensory systems and teach in a sensory-friendly learning environment.

Sensory systems are a human condition. Each one of us are affected differently whether we are seven years old or forty-seven years old. Emotional regulation is also part of our everyday lives. When we experience difficulties with sensory regulation, we often become emotional dysregulated. Once we understand our sensory needs and are learning in a sensory safe environment, we can begin to learn how to self-regulate. This workshop helps educators have a deeper understanding of regulation so they can incorporate strategies and tools to give students the power to understand their behaviors and how they can take control of their wellbeing.

Learning Objectives:

Identify dysregulation in oneself.
Describe regulating behaviors for each sensory system.
Teach self-regulation to students in a fun engaging way.
Understand the limits and barriers of classroom regulation for the safety of all.

90 minutes

OUR TRAINERS

Katie McMurray, M.Ed., CDMS

From work as an elementary and middle school teacher to working with adults as a certified disability management specialist, Katie has what it takes to understand the impact sensory processing, trauma and ACES have on learning. With her master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling, she focused on sensory processing disorder and has continued her passion to learn and further support the neurodivergent community. Katie's careers and education give her a unique perspective on how education and the workforce are affected by sensory processing and neuro-differences. It is this perspective that gives her the expertise and experience to pass on to others.

Lauren Howard

Lauren holds a BS in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from UC Davis. She is neurodivergent and the parent to three neurodivergent children. Lauren is an expert in resources, behavior, and accommodations. She is engaging and is creative in her views on accommodations in the classroom to support not only the student, but all.

Amelia McCarry

Amelia is an incredible teacher. She holds a degree in special education and prior to working at STH taught students of all abilities. She is an expert in IEP's, 504's, accommodations and behavior. As a late in life diagnosed neurodivergent, Amelia is passionate about recognizing the symptoms of neurodivergence in all genders and ensuring that everyone gets the support that they need.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

"Learning about the 8 senses and what to look for was SUPER helpful."

"It like the idea that there is no special formula - we should look at things through a different lens."

"Made me more aware of my student's needs and why they may react or respond the way they do."

"Loved learning the "why" and "seeking" information."

"Katie identifies with the audience and makes herself vulnerable to make us care."

"It really makes me want to learn more."

"I found this to be awesome info and a great presentation, knowledgeable."

"I loved the real-life scenarios, identifying it's a "human thing" not a "kid thing".

Pricing

Up to 50 Participants - Includes all Materials:

90-minute Workshop $300
120-minute Workshop $400
More than 50 participants or district wide training, please contact for pricing.

Special: Book 2 or more trainings and receive $50 off

*All pricing is local within 30 miles from 5831 Lacey Blvd. SE, Lacey, WA 98503

Travel outside of 30 miles will be charged at $0.65.5 a mile plus a $30/hour roundtrip travel charge. For locations more than 180 miles from our location a travel stipend for overnight accommodations will be negotiated. If travel requires airfare, a stipend will be negotiated.

SPEAKING

Further Inclusion District Wide - Decrease Referrals

Start the year with training that increases learning and supports teachers, staff and administration.

Katie McMurray is an engaging, fun, energetic and to the point speaker. She connects with her audience through her humor and vulnerability about her struggles as a neurodivergent person and former educator.

As a former educator, she understands the challenges that teachers encounter and knows they don't need one more thing to do. Rather than giving teachers, staff, and administrators another "thing" to do, she gives them new perspective, understanding, and tools to decrease maladaptive behaviors and increase instruction time.

By incorporating sensory awareness into your school's culture, further understanding of individual needs and support are naturally created. Start the year off by making school an even more inclusive, fun, and engaging learning environment for all.

60 Minutes

Sensory Awareness – Neurodiversity Understanding the Sensory Impact on Learning

*Talks can be tailored to the needs of your community.

$400

*All pricing is local within 30 miles from 5831 Lacey Blvd. SE, Lacey, WA 98503

Travel outside of 45 miles will be charged at $0.65.5 a mile plus a $30/hour roundtrip travel charge. For locations more than 180 miles from our location a travel stipend for overnight accommodations will be negotiated. If travel requires airfare, a stipend will be negotiated.

Sensory Room and Learning Environment Consulting

Why choose to work with STH to ensure your students and teachers are getting what they need?

We know what products last and what products don't. You need products that last.
We are educators. That matters when helping you make decisions.
We understand the limitations of budgets, we will work with you.
Stop searching the internet for hours.
Custom sensory cubbies, walkways and more? We can help with that too.
We work with many, manufactures and companies, giving you one-stop access to items.
What you see in our store catalog is not everything. We offer most everything our vendors have and will recommend items based on your requested needs.
Our consultation is custom based on your needs.