Arnie and His School Tools: Simple Sensory Solutions that Build Success

My 7 year old son was recently diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. The school OT had made all of the classroom accommodations listed in this book. I was looking for a book that would help my son and his classmates understand why he gets special attention and all sorts of cool stuff to fidget with, sit on and jump on at school. This book is amazing!!! It fit my son to a "T", with the exception of playing basketball. My son is not at all athletic and prefers video games to sports and outdoor play. I sent the book in a few days ago and his teacher was so impressed that she shared it with a bunch of other teachers, the school OT, and the school psychologist. They all liked it so much, that they are planning on ordering several copies for the school district. Unlike the one reviewer that took issue with Arnie's mom saying he would probably never grow up to be an accountant, I get it! It's not about a child's mathematical ability, it's about their need to move and their inability to sit still for long periods of time. My son is a sensory seeker. He frequently needs to stand at his desk, and jumps up and down A LOT! He is ill-suited for the classroom environment, let alone a sedentary desk job. If you don't understand that, then read the book again! I will be sharing this book with all of my son's future teachers, so they will have a better understanding and tolerance of his disorder.

I am a preschool teacher. This is the first year that I've had a child with sensory processing disorder in my class. I was looking for a book that would help the other kids in class understand why their classmate need help focusing. They all liked him, but they'd get very frustrated with him because he couldn't keep his hands to himself, or he'd knock over their towers, or take their playdough. While this book is more geared to early elementary school age children, it did help me put his needs into terms my students could understand. The book also went home with the student with sensory processing disorder for awhile. He really liked it, and asked his mom to read it to him again and again. It give him a new set of "tools" because it gave him some new verbage that helps him express himself. We talked about his "motor" and we even tried the straw trick! Over all I'd recommend this book, especially for early elementary children (K-4th grade).

I have used this book every year since a mentor teacher suggested it years ago. Each year, there is a student who needs something different than the other students. I read this early in the year and then discuss the kinds of tools certain students need. I remind them that they will all get the tools they need in my classroom, as they need them, and that we don't need to feel envious of another person's tools or take them. I have never had problems with the rest of the class after reading this book. One of the best teaching purchases I have made!

Like other reviewers posted, I did not like the wording of one of the last pages: "I probably won't grow up to be an accountant like my dad," or something like that. I just change the words when I read it to my son & remind him he can do any job we wants to do, he just might like some jobs more than others. Otherwise, the book is great for helping my kids know we are all different and we all need different "tools" to help us during the day.

With the fall school semester right around the corner, I needed to find just the right book to help explain the sensory child for my son to thrive, not just survive in school. This book is perfect because it is for all ages, and it is just the right length, (especially for teachers who may not have the time to read outside of his or her school curriculum).I wish that I could buy a million copies to distrubute to schools thoughtout the country. I not only recommend this book as a parent, but also as a nurse and a caregiver for over twenty years to the best mom in the world. Educating others is over half the battle in providing a foundation for anyone, especially for our children.......our future leaders!!!Happy reading!!

I ordered this book for my daughter to use for my eight year old grandson, who has a sensory processing disorder. As she read it to him, he began to recognize some of the ways he has already been self-regulating while in school. At his recent annual review of his individual education plan, we told the committee about the book and they wanted to know where we got it and how could they get one for the school. It's an excellent tool to use for these little people who can't really understand what is going on in their bodies. It is easy for them to relate to and then apply the strategies recommended in the book...again, it is an excellent book!

I somehow thought this would help to give a 1st person narrative to my son's teacher about his sensory issues. He has ASD along with many sensory issues, and I don't think that the "regular ed" teachers he has been exposed to; truly understand what it is like for him to be in a crowded hallway with lockers banging etc..... This book is definitely more for a younger crowd, I'd say like k-2nd grade. The interventions are VERY basic. I am also an Occupational Therapist with another child with ASD; so understand from a parental point of view as well as a professional. I would suggest having a therapist do a sensory profile and discussing results with your child's teacher as a better way of having educators understand your child's sensory issues. I also think that for explaining the issues to other children, a teacher could just as well have a discussion with the kids saying, "Michael has a different way of hearing things. What may sound like a pencil dropping to you, would sound like it was a heavy brick dropping to him." I think as far as an educational book for explaining ASD sensory issues to other kids, there are better resources available.

Great book for explaining SPD in the classroom. The last page is terrible an we took the advice of other reviewers and just ripped it out. Gave it to my daughter's teacher in the hopes she would share with the class so everyone understands the use of tools in class are not toys or special 'treats' but something necessary for my daughter to do the work.

As a professional it little more than a list of things to try. I have used the book with parents or teachers, they may get more from it

I bought this to read with my class of autistic children, but I have to paraphrase it as the language is very American.

A very, very important book that EVERY teacher MUST read. OPEN YOUR EYES AND MINDS EDUCATORS OF NORTH AMERICA. AND DO IT NOW, GIVE THESE CHILDREN A CHANCE INSTEAD OF LABELING THEM AS BAD KIDS OR KIDS THAT CAN'T FOCUS.

This book is a fantastic way to introduce the use of personalized classroom tools!

Great to read to students during the first week of school. It lets them know that everyone has different strengths and needs and that fair does not always mean equal.