I am an occupational therapist who provides daily services to exceptional student education (ESE) students in modified curriculum classrooms. My students benefit from opportunities to develop hand strength, fine motor coordination, and dexterity through meaningful, hands-on play activities. These foundational skills are essential for increasing independence and reducing the level of assistance students require with activities of daily living and functional classroom tasks.
Durable, high-quality materials would provide students with engaging opportunities to practice these skills during daily center rotations. Activities that involve manipulating small pieces, constructing designs, and pushing or connecting pieces together encourage students to use both hands simultaneously while developing hand strength, hand-eye coordination, and precise motor control. These skills directly support functional tasks such as managing clothing fasteners, opening containers, using classroom tools, and participating in self-care routines.
Through consistent use of these materials, students will have opportunities to strengthen bilateral coordination, midline awareness, and opposition while increasing their ability to coordinate and control their hands. Most importantly, these hands-on activities will promote active participation, confidence, and greater independence both in the classroom and in everyday life.
Exceptional students will use a variety of durable, hands-on materials and toys to develop the hand strength, fine motor coordination, and dexterity needed to complete everyday tasks at school. These activities will provide meaningful opportunities for students to practice functional skills such as grasping, manipulating, pushing, pulling, and assembling objects.
The new materials will also offer engaging and motivating activities designed to sustain students’ attention and encourage longer periods of active participation. By incorporating these materials into daily classroom routines and center rotations, students will have repeated opportunities to strengthen their hands, improve coordination, and build greater independence with functional tasks.
Developing fine motor coordination, bilateral coordination, and hand-eye coordination is essential for helping our exceptional students build greater independence in their activities of daily living. Engaging in hands-on activities provides meaningful opportunities for students to strengthen these skills while practicing the motor abilities needed to participate more independently in everyday tasks.
These activities also support important cognitive skills, including problem-solving, spatial awareness, planning, and creative thinking. By combining motor and cognitive skill development through engaging, hands-on experiences, students can build confidence, increase participation, and establish a strong foundation for continued academic and functional success.
The grant money will be used to purchase durable FM activities and manipulatives that can be used during times of therapy and during center rotations. Because the items are durable they can be used for many years to come. This will cover the cost of taxes and shipping.
