Tag Archives: classroom strategies

Classroom strategies encompass OT-informed approaches that support attention, posture, sensory needs, and motor skills to help students succeed academically and socially.

Dual Control Teaching Scissors

Build Early Scissor Skills for School Success

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Build Strong Foundations with Early Scissor Practice

Early scissor skills development plays an important role in preparing children for success in preschool and kindergarten. Before students can confidently complete classroom projects, crafts, or written assignments, they need the fine motor strength, bilateral coordination, and visual-motor integration required to safely and effectively use scissors. With consistent practice and the right tools, children can build these essential skills while gaining confidence and independence.

For some learners, however, mastering the opening and closing motion of scissors can be a challenge. Children with developmental delays, motor planning difficulties, tremors, or perceptual-motor challenges often need additional support before they are ready to use conventional scissors independently.

Why Scissor Skills Matter

Learning to cut is much more than an arts and crafts activity. Cutting activities help develop:

  • Hand strength and endurance
  • Bilateral coordination between both hands
  • Visual-motor integration
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Motor planning
  • Precision and control for handwriting readiness

Practicing these foundational skills can make classroom tasks less frustrating while promoting greater participation and independence.

A Teaching Tool Designed for Success

Dual Control Teaching Scissors

The Peta Dual Control Teaching Scissors are uniquely designed to allow an occupational therapist, teacher, or parent to guide the cutting motion while the child actively participates. Although the double loops may appear unusual at first glance, they serve an important purpose.

The double-loop design allows both the adult and the child to hold the scissors simultaneously, completing the cutting activity together. Appropriate force, hand placement, and movement can be modeled while the child experiences the correct motor pattern firsthand. Over time, repeated practice helps build muscle memory, so assistance can gradually be reduced as confidence and control improve.

These scissors are especially beneficial for children who can grasp traditional scissors but struggle with the opening and closing motion required for successful cutting.

Additional Benefits for Diverse Learners

The Peta Dual Control Teaching Scissors can also support children who have difficulty aligning the blades on a cutting line due to tremors or perceptual-motor challenges. Their thoughtful design includes:

  • A wide finger contact area for improved comfort and control
  • Loop positioning that allows therapists and teachers to assist without overstretching their hands
  • Right-handed (blue handle) and left-handed (green handle) versions to meet individual needs

Developed in close consultation with occupational therapists and tested across a variety of learning environments and age groups, these scissors have proven effective in promoting motor skills while reinforcing correct movement patterns.

Helping Children Build Independence

As children become more proficient, adult guidance can be slowly faded until they are confidently cutting on their own. This gradual release supports successful early scissor skills development while reducing frustration and encouraging positive learning experiences.

Whether you’re an occupational therapist working on fine motor goals or a parent preparing your child for school, the Dual Control Teaching Scissors provide an effective bridge between assisted learning and independent cutting.

Explore all Teaching Scissors available at Therapro and help children strengthen fine motor skills and gain confidence with every snip. For additional cutting tools and resources, visit Therapro’s Scissors category to find solutions for a variety of developmental needs.

5 Ways to Support School Participation

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Participation is the foundation of learning. When students with developmental disabilities are supported with the right tools and strategies, engagement, confidence, and independence increase dramatically.

Here are five practical, classroom-ready school participation strategies that therapists and educators can implement immediately.

1. Optimize Seating for Regulation and Focus

Postural stability directly impacts attention and fine motor performance. Students who struggle to sit upright may fatigue quickly or seek movement in disruptive ways.

Practical supports include:

The goal is not eliminating movement — it’s channeling it productively.

Wobble Stool
Attachable FootFidget® Footrest
Attachable FootFidget® Footrest
the alert seat a large round ball inside a metal base with wheels for sitting
The Alert Seat

2. Support Fine Motor Access

When writing, cutting, or manipulating materials is difficult, academic participation suffers.

Consider:

Reducing motor strain increases classroom confidence.

Pencil Grips
Easi-Grip Loop Scissors
Adapted Scissors
With line paper assortment by therapro
Raised Line Paper

3. Build in Sensory Regulation Opportunities

Students with sensory processing differences may struggle with noise, transitions, or tactile input.

Support regulation by:

Regulated students participate more consistently.

Comfy & Portable Weighted Sensory Lap Pad
Weighted Sensory Lap Pad
Sensory Dark Den framed tent for quiet, low-stimulation environments
Sensory Dark Den
Move your body fun deck
Move Your Body Fun Deck

4. Modify Tasks Without Lowering Expectations

Participation improves when tasks are accessible — not simplified.

Examples:

  • Shortened written responses with oral explanation
  • Visual checklists for multi-step tasks
  • Adaptive technology for written output
  • Chunked assignments with structured breaks

The focus is access, not reduction of learning goals.

5. Foster Inclusive Peer Interaction

Participation extends beyond academics.

Encourage:

  • Structured cooperative learning
  • Peer modeling
  • Leadership opportunities
  • Classroom jobs that highlight strengths

Inclusive environments increase social participation and belonging.

Final Thoughts

Small environmental shifts create meaningful change. When we prioritize access, regulation, and motor support, we empower students to engage fully in school routines.

This Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, consider one strategy you can implement immediately to improve participation in your classroom or therapy space.

New Year, New Goals: Turning IEP Objectives Into Daily Practice

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January is a natural reset point in schools and therapy settings. IEP goals are active, routines are re-established, and teams are asking an important question: Are our goals showing up in daily practice? Effective functional IEP goal implementation goes beyond isolated therapy activities; it ensures skills are practiced meaningfully across classrooms, therapy sessions, and home routines.

Too often, IEP objectives are addressed only during scheduled service time. While direct intervention is essential, true progress happens when goals are embedded into everyday tasks. This means shifting from “therapy-only” strategies to functional, repeatable opportunities throughout the day.

From Goals to Real-Life Skills

Functional IEP goals should answer one key question: What will this student be able to do more independently in daily life? Whether the goal targets fine motor skills, sensory regulation, attention, or executive functioning, carryover is critical.

Drive Thru Menus

One effective approach is using structured, classroom-friendly tools that support consistency across providers. Drive-Thru Menus® are a practical example. These activity cards combine movement, academics, and sensory input, making it easier for teachers and therapists to reinforce goals such as attention, postural control, and self-regulation during natural transitions, not just during therapy time.

Supporting Sensory and Self-Regulation Goals

Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum for K–5

Many IEPs include goals related to sensory modulation, emotional regulation, or classroom participation. The Just Right! Sensory Modulation Curriculum helps teams use shared language and evidence-based strategies to support these goals throughout the school day. When everyone, from therapists to classroom staff, understands why a strategy is used, implementation becomes more consistent and effective.

Embedding sensory strategies into morning routines, work periods, or transitions allows students to practice regulation skills when they matter most.

Making Fine Motor Goals Functional

Fine motor goals should directly support classroom performance, not just skill acquisition. Resources like the Fine Motor Skills in the Classroom help therapists and educators design interventions that improve handwriting, tool use, and classroom participation while aligning with educational demands.

By focusing on functional outcomes—such as completing written assignments or managing classroom tools—teams can better track progress and demonstrate meaningful growth.

Collaboration Is the Key

Successful functional IEP goal implementation relies on collaboration. When therapists, educators, and families use shared tools and strategies, students experience consistent support across environments.

For more ideas on embedding therapy goals into daily routines, explore the Therapro Blog or browse Therapro’s classroom-ready therapy resources designed to support carryover beyond the therapy room.