Power Paws Visual SchedulePower Paws Schedule My Day at School Name: Date: Arrival Hang bag & coat Morning Circle Hello friends! Power Paw: 5 Wall Pushes Centers Learning & Play Snack Time Eat & Drink Power Paw: Bear Walk to Hall Recess Run & Play outside Math Numbers & Counting Power Paw: Chair Push Ups Reading Story & Letters Pack Up Going Home Check off each box when you finish! You are a superstar!
Sensory Snack MenuSensory Snack Menu Pick a way to help your body feel just right! Strong Body Heavy Work Wall Pushes Heavy Mail Bear Crawl Calm Body Deep Pressure Weighted Vest Hand Squeezes Cozy Corner Ready Body Tactile Fun Putty/Dough Fidget Toy Drink Water Point to your choice! I can do ___________ minutes of my snack.
Heavy Work Hero CardsHeavy Work Hero Cards Proprioceptive Activities for Strong Bodies The Wall Crusher Push the wall hard! Keep your arms straight and count to 10. You are strong! The Bear Trek Crawl like a bear! Hands and feet on the floor. Hips high! Walk to the rug. The Mail Carrier Carry the "Heavy Box" Carry a weighted box or pile of books to the office or teacher. The Chair Lift Lift your body! Hold the sides of your chair and lift your bottom off the seat 5 times. Cut along the dashed lines. Laminate for durability. Use during transitions or when the student shows signs of dysregulation.
Transition Triumph GuideTransition Triumph Guide Teacher Support: Task Avoidance & Meltdown Strategies Why "Heavy Work" (Proprioception)? Proprioceptive input (resistance to muscles and joints) is naturally organizing for the nervous system. For a student who avoids tasks or has meltdowns, heavy work acts as a "reset button," helping them feel grounded and reducing the fight/flight/freeze response. The "Transition Bridge" Strategy Use these steps to move from a preferred activity to a non-preferred task: 1 Visual Warning: Point to the Visual Schedule and show the next "Power Paw" break. 2 Active Transition: Use a Heavy Work Hero Card (e.g., Bear Crawl to the desk) instead of walking. 3 Regulating Start: Give a 1-minute "Sensory Snack" (like hand squeezes) before the work begins. Handling Task Avoidance Chunk the Task: Use "First [Small Step], Then [Quick Sensory Break]." Limited Choices: "Do you want the blue pencil or the red one?" Movement Seating: Allow standing or using a wiggle cushion during work. Meltdown Management Reduce Language: Speak less during the peak of the meltdown. Visual Support: Point to the "Cozy Corner" on the Sensory Menu. Validation: "Your body feels big mad. Let's do a wall push to help." Note: This toolkit includes the Power Paws Visual Schedule, Sensory Snack Menu, and Heavy Work Hero Cards referenced above. Consistency is Key — Every Body is Different
