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This comprehensive manual (12 pages total) is designed for teachers to implement physical therapy strategies before referring students for a physical therapy screening in a school setting. It can be used in two ways:
Independent Use: Provide the manual to a teacher with a brief in-service training. Identify the student's top 2 issues impacting their physical function, find the corresponding strategies in the manual, and apply them consistently for 4 weeks. Revisit the strategies if needed or refer for a PT screening.
Collaborative Review: Review the manual together with the teacher, select appropriate strategies, and apply them consistently for 4 weeks. If successful, continue using them; if not, select new strategies or refer for a PT screening.
The manual includes Tier 1 interventions for improving balance, coordination, walking patterns, motor planning, posture, and more, aiming to enhance student performance and participation in physical activities by integrating physical therapy principles into classroom routines. See the "table of contents" for more details.
Table of Contents:
POSTURE & ALIGNMENT: Sitting Posture 
POSTURE & ALIGNMENT: Floor Sitting Posture 
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Balance and Coordination 
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Running, Jumping, etc. 
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Stairs 
GROSS MOTOR SKILLS: Unusual Walking Patterns 
MOTOR PLANNING: Difficulty with Completing Multi-Step Tasks 
MOTOR PLANNING: Struggles with Organization of Movements 
MOTOR PLANNING: Difficulty Following Complex Physical Directions
PROPRIOCEPTION & BODY AWARENESS: Bumping into Things 
PROPRIOCEPTION & BODY AWARENESS: Unawareness of Personal Space
 
SEE Kim's FREE form: "MTSS Tier 1 Strategies Worksheet by OTKimWiggins" (scroll down - the list is in alphabetical order). This worksheet is a tool to help you organize and plan your approach, making it easier to apply strategies effectively and address student needs.