OTs working with teachers!

We are not the only experts.

Currently, I work with teachers from 9 schools and preschools.  
I was trying to count the number of schools that I've work at  over my 26 year career and it is well over 30. 
I know that I have experience and expertise. It's not a case of false modesty. 

BUT... 

What I have learnt in my career, is that we are not the ONLY experts.  Recommendations are easier to make than to implement. 

I've seen occupational therapists (and other allied health professionals) who are amazing advocates, amazing with children,  making fantastic recommendations ... becoming disillusioned with working in schools, frustrated by a lack of carry over into the classroom or being asked by schools not to return. 

My secret to working with teachers should not be a surprise.  I come from a place of respect.  Respect for the work they do, respect for the experience they have (even if they are new graduates), respect for their limitations. Teachers deserve respect.  They have a hard job! They face pressures of the curriculum, the classroom, parents and OTs; let alone teaching children who may not all want to be there to learn. 

As paediatric OTs we spend a lot of our energy connecting with our clients (our children) to provide client-centred practice.  We also may work on rapport building with parents but do we have the same therapeutic relationship with teachers? 

Rapport comes from good communication (written, verbal, informal and formal).  It comes from opportunities to develop the relationship even if it is a hello in the playground or borrowing a key! Rapport comes from empathy and connection. 

How can I help you?
As I mentioned previously, recommendations are easier to make than to implement.

When our recommendations are not implemented, we have to ask why.  Are they unrealistic? Is it time? Has the teacher implemented these before?  Does the teacher understand the reasons behind the recommendation? Is it practical to implement? How did we make the recommendation?

When we ask the teacher ... "how can I help you"?, we are inviting collaboration, listening to their main concerns, listening to practical issues about implementation. We can ask, "what has worked for you"? "what hasn't?" 

Strategies to work with teachers:

• Can we help by providing whole class strategies (that benefit the client as well as the whole class)?  For example, can we provide brain breaks that provide sensory input that the whole class can do? 
• Are our recommendations practical? Did we try the recommendations ourselves? 
• Can we offer to provide resources? For example, modified paper, checklists, pencil grips, social stories, visual prompts. 
• Would the teacher like activities that the child can do independently? 
• Would the teacher appreciate a group activity where other children can also benefit? 
• Would the teacher like activities that could be part of a rotation between stations? 

"Push in".... I actually hate this expression.  I know that it is widely used in some parts of the world to express a therapy style where OTs are in the classroom, providing support to the students. The term "push in" implies that we are not wanted, not needed, not valued. 

I hope we (OTs) are not "pushing in" but being "invited in". If we want to be valued as a profession, we need to value those whom we work with. 

If you are a teacher reading this blog, I would love to hear from you.  How do you want occupational therapists to work with you? 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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