Written words using pencils, pens, and paper won’t disappear any time soon. Many classrooms have daily tests or assignments that require brief, limited-word answers. For those exercises, teachers often require paper-and-pencil completion. But for some students, the simultaneous coordination of muscles and movement is a challenge, and that can include pencil-gripping and handwriting. At Tomball schools, these students have special education professionals that help them fine-tune motor and other developmental skills they need to level the educational playing field.
Staff representing TISD K-12 schools applied for Tomball Education Foundation grants in 2023; 35 grants were awarded in February 2024, and project supplies and elements were delivered in spring and continued into fall of 2024. Tomball ISD Special Services received 3 Tomball Education Foundation grants.
Fine Motor Strengthening Activity Boxes
Special education classes are for students with mild, moderate, or severe disabilities and include Developmental, Structured Learning Labs, PreK Collaborative, and Early Childhood Special Education programs at the preschool and elementary school levels. Elizabeth Goodrich, OTR, ATP, PhD, FAOTA is the Related Services Lead for Special Services/Student Support. She said of the activity boxes, “The actual numbers fluctuate from year to year. We targeted 37 classrooms serving 284 students. The Activity Boxes are designed to align to typical instructional goals for these classrooms and to target hand manipulation, pincer and grasp skills commonly experienced by children with developmental differences served in these programs.”
The activity boxes were distributed to classrooms around the end of September 2024. “We didn’t just send them out,” Goodrich continued, “The teachers were given the opportunity to request them.”
Grant application developers and contributors were Vy Thai, Occupational Therapist (the coordinator for the Activity Box grant); Patsy Ward, Occupational Therapist; and Kimberly Keller, Occupational Therapy Assistant. The teachers will provide feedback to demonstrate how the activity boxes benefited classrooms and individual students. “Teachers use the activity boxes differently,” said Ms. Thai. “Some use them as incentives; rewards. ‘If you’ve finished your assignment, you can use the Activity Boxes,’ for example. Others use them as stations/center activities during their instructional routines.”
CAN USE ACTIVITY BOX PHOTOS 1,2,3. Caption for 1: TISD’s Vy Thai, Occupational Therapist, explains how each activity box contains tools/toys that can help develop fine motor and cognitive skills.
ACTIVITIES BOXES PHOTOS
Special Education (SPED) Music Therapy Resource Library
Allison Landes is the Board-Certified Music Therapist for Tomball ISD. She recently received the musical instruments provided by a TEF grant, and she’s already mulling over next year. “I’m thinking another music grant targeting secondary students would really help,” she said.
She designed a Music Library resource catalog for teachers to cross-reference how to improve students’ developmental skills using instruments and musical activities. “Soon, the catalog will be linked to a form. Teachers can go in and select the library’s musical tools they would like to try in their classrooms,” said Landes.
Special education services in public schools provide a range of programming to meet the individualized needs of students with disabilities. TISD Special Services’ Goodrich said, “Our programs serving our students with the most significant needs provide a low student-to-teacher ratio and alternate curriculum to meet the individualized needs of each child.” Through an individualized education program (IEP) including specialized instruction, children with disabilities achieve personalized goals aligned to the state standards. The TEF grants provide a means for staff to envision additional methodologies to support the unique needs of children with disabilities.
Another Student Support Services grant was received by Adaptive Physical Education teacher Brooke Looney to expand options used in Motor Labs supporting students with significant developmental differences. These age-appropriate activities improve academic and physical functioning. Exercises can include:
Attention-span building
Focusing
Learning about movement sensations
Speaking
Throwing and catching
Writing
…and more
MUSIC THERAPY LIBRARY PHOTOS 1,2,3. Caption for Music_1: Allison Landes, TISD Special Services’ Board-certified Musical Therapist, explains how the Music Library will assist SPED teachers.
MUSIC PHOTOS
TEF 35 grants totaling $125,430 were awarded in 2023 and were distributed by TEF volunteers in February 2024. This year’s Innovative Learning Grants applications were accepted through Oct. 18, 2024. BEST OF LUCK to all our exceptional educators who seek to provide our students with superior learning experiences through TEF grants, which are only available thanks to sponsors, donations, and volunteers.
Our schools need the Tomball Education Foundation. And TEF needs you. Ask us about ways to help. Contact Tomball Education Foundation.
FAQ
Two frequently asked questions include:
No. An education foundation supplements a school district’s educational mission by holding fundraisers and developing grants that target areas of need. Foundations’ donations do not replace state/county funds for core assets (including teachers).
One-hundred-percent of your donation will be used to support TISD students, teachers, and schools.
Support is key to Tomball ISD’s educational foundation. TEF depends on the support of:
Businesses
Community leaders
Families
Individuals
Volunteers
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