I love working as a school-based occupational therapist (OT)! I work as a district employee at a public school in Pennsylvania. I am the OT servicing five of our district’s buildings: two secondary and three elementary schools. I love the variety because it really keeps me on my toes! No one day looks the same, but join me in a “day in the life” of a school-based OT:
Check out this OT room tour blog to see one of my elementary classroom spaces [that also doubles as a sensory room!].
Before School
I have to be at school by 7:30 AM, but I’m not much of a morning person… so it can be very challenging to get up with enough time to have a cup of coffee at home! I’m always working to improve my morning routine, so that I’m not rushing out the door. We often have IEP meetings that start right at 7:30 AM, so I’d love to arrive to work earlier than I typically do!
*Check out Whitney’s blog on how to be confident in an IEP meeting!
After any IEP meetings before school [if there is time before my first session], I typically complete the following routine:
- Check my email
- Review my schedule for the day
- Check attendance and note absences
- Print/prep materials for my sessions
During School
I typically have about 7-10 sessions [combination of group and individual] throughout the day [anywhere from 10-17 students in total], so my days are pretty full! Check out the American Occupational Therapy Association’s fact sheet on the role of school-based OT to see all the things that OTs can do in the school system!
Morning Routine/ADL Support
I love to “push-in” to classrooms wherever possible! OT is arguably most effective in the natural environment! Pushing in to daily routines not only helps me to see and address potential barriers to independence, but also helps my students stay in their least restrictive environment. My multiple disabilities classroom students have OT goals related to ADLs like hand washing, toothbrushing and other morning routines.
*Check out the Hand Washing Adapted Book if you are working on this skill!
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are probably one of the most targeted skills for school-based OTs. I target these skills in most of my sessions in one way or another! My younger students are often building fine motor skills to support classroom activities like (pre)writing, scissor skills and school tool use.
Check out some of my other blogs for ideas on how to target these skills:
- Pre-Writing Skills (series)
- Multi-Sensory Letter Formation
- Fine Motor Centers
- Cut & Paste Activities
Students of all ages on my caseload are working on coordinating both their hands together (AKA bilateral coordination) to complete skills like opening containers, clothing fasteners (zipping, buttoning), cutting, pre-vocational tasks, cooking skills, and so much more! We work on those activities explicitly as well as other fun activities that target the underlying skills needed to be successful in these school-related tasks!
I also love to work on fine motor skills (as well as sequencing, executive functioning, etc.!) with visual crafts! You can hit on a ton of different skills with these, and the visuals allow for students to be even more independent! I love to do a visual craft with my students one week, and then a visual recipe that matches the following week!
Lunch
It can be really easy to skip your planning and lunch as a school-based OT due to the chaotic schedule. Even if I have to do paperwork during lunch, I always make sure that I have time to eat something nutritious and healthy!
*Use the Simply Special Ed visual recipes to cook with your students!
Vocational/Life Skills
Speaking of visual recipes… that is one of my favorite life skills to work on with students! So many skills can be targeted, and often, my self-contained classrooms already have time designated for these types of activities! I’m all about the collaboration! I often to these sessions during the afternoon!
*I’m doing this hot cocoa recipe with my students this week! Check the picture below to grab it for FREE!
*See how I work on fine motor skills using visual recipes in my blog!
At the secondary level especially, we love to have the students complete jobs around the school! Get creative in seeing where your student’s skillsets could be used to benefit the school! Can they help clean the cafeteria or change the letter board sign in front of the school? Could they have a coffee shop/cart to make drinks for teachers or make goods to sell to support funding for community based instruction?
Check out these blogs for inspiration:
- How to plan life skills field trips
- Tips on starting a job skills program
- Student jobs for Valentine’s Day
After School
You may have seen me doing yoga as part of my sensory path, but I genuinely do love to do barre, yoga or cycling classes at the gym after work several times a week. OT is all about holistic wellness and life balance, so it is only fitting that we remember to take care of ourselves so that we can more fully support others! Remember, friends, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
*See more about the sensory walls at my schools here in my blog series!
