Porter Academy

Occupational Therapy

Lynn Schoeneck, OTR/L

Nancy Knight, OTR/L

Our occupational therapists visit each classroom at least once a week to teach pre-writing, manuscript and cursive skills using the Handwriting Without Tears program. They also work with teachers to incorporate multi-sensory learning into their lessons and provide activity ideas to help students develop skills in the following areas.

• Teach students how to understand, describe, and modify their level of sensory arousal so they can get themselves into an ideal state for learning. Sensory diet activities are incorporated into the classrooms throughout the day.

• Develop fine motor skills, visual-motor-integration skills, visual-perceptual skills, and visual memory

• Develop gross motor strength, primarily focused on trunk strength

• Develop motor planning and body awareness

• Develop gross motor coordination including hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination, and balance

Programs used:

• Handwriting without Tears

• Astronaut Program and Core Exercises through Listening with the Whole Body

• The Alert Program (a.k.a. "How's your engine running")

Private occupational therapy is available. If you would like more information, email Lynn Schoeneck or Nancy Knight

The occupational therapists conduct a comprehensive OT evaluation on every student every two years (possibly earlier if the student is leaving Porter Academy). Assessments conducted vary by student and are based on informal assessment of the student's weaknesses. OT supported goals are created based on these evaluations as well as on informal observations and teacher reports. Student progress on these goals is reported on every nine weeks. Standardized assessments currently given by the occupational therapists include

• Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency - second edition (BOT2)

• The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI)

• The Print Tool

• Sensory Profile

• Token Test for Children 2nd edition

Pre-Primary           Primary          Elementary          Back to Specialized Programs          Testing