West Elementary Introduces a Newly Designed Sensory Pathway

West Elementary School has introduced a newly redesigned sensory pathway for its students. The pathway offers students an opportunity to participate in a sensory break outside the classroom when needed. It is intended for students to release their energy and/or reduce building stress or apprehensions in a positive way. By allowing students to temporarily leave the classroom and walk the pathway, it limits classroom disruptions and increases the student's ability to refocus and re-center themselves. Furthermore, the pathway gives students the opportunity to collect their thoughts and engage in a reflective discussion with teachers/staff prior to returning to class. Before the redesign, students were walking a pathway of green tape. Now, students engage in activities such as wall push-ups, log jumping, and hopscotch. With the introduction of West's sensory pathway, there has been a reduction in the amount of time spent out of class and has strengthened student-teacher communication significantly. By honing their own skills, students will soon be able to quickly assess their feelings, calm themselves down, and communicate with their teachers instantly.