Amy Beukema and Katie Gordon

Beukema's and Gordon's innovative teaching idea, “Multisensory Learning Kits,” includes offering visual, tactile and auditory components to students with disabilities at Brennan School to create an engaging learning experience. Each kit, which is designed to be accessible to different ability levels, focuses on a thematic unit such as outer space, insects, camping, and more. Planned content for the kits includes nonfiction and fiction books, sensory bins, manipulatives, pretend play materials, and games. Beukema and Gordon believe hands-on learning provides access to the curriculum in a fun and motivating way, and that the variety of materials will provide opportunities for students to practice such skills as language, social communication, literacy, as well as fine and gross motor proficiencies. Hopeful the kits will increase student engagement and learning outcomes via hands-on, multisensory learning, Beukema and Gordon are also making sure the kits will provide teachers and speech pathologists with the necessary resources and instructions for implementation.