The hallways of a busy school are exhilarating, but let’s be real: for a school-based OT, they are also exhausting. Between the massive caseloads, back-to-back IEP meetings, and the complex classroom dynamics you navigate daily, your emotional bandwidth is constantly being tested. While you are surrounded by teachers, school-based OT can feel incredibly isolating. Whether […]
Why You Need Community in School-Based OT Read More »
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a school hallway, you already know the vibe. It’s a mix of fluorescent lights, interesting smells, and the overwhelming realization that your “Pediatrics 101” class barely scratched the surface of what it actually means to be a school-based OT. This gap is exactly why school-based OT mentorship
10 Reasons Every School-Based OT Needs a Mentor Read More »
This blog will be a departure from the typical format you’ll find on this website, which tends to be articles relevant to the day-to-day of school-based practice. And fair warning, it’s a bit long – so feel free to skip to the end if you want to cut to the chase about changes around here.
A Peek Behind the Curtain at The Dynamic School OT Read More »
Note: Affiliate links are used in this article, but please don’t feel pressure to use them! Your use of these links comes at no additional cost to you and helps support The Dynamic School OT. Like it or not, if you work in school-based OT, handwriting is an inescapable part of your job. And while
The Evidence OTs Should Know When Addressing Handwriting Read More »
If you’re a school-based OT, you already know that spring doesn’t just bring flowers and sunshine – it brings IEP season. Calendars start filling up, emails come flooding in, and suddenly, you’re juggling evaluations, meetings, and paperwork with barely enough time to breathe. The good news? You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it.
How to Survive IEP Season as a School-Based OT Read More »
This spring marks 5 years of The Dynamic School OT. It is wild to think it’s been that long, and at the same time, it feels like it’s been part of my life forever. I had been working in the schools for a few years and absolutely loved it. Maybe it’s because school had always
Happy 5 Years to The Dynamic School OT Read More »
If you’re a school-based OT, you might have heard of RtI or MTSS. But what are these programs? Short answer: it’s complicated. Generically, RtI or MTSS are both frameworks that allow struggling students to get the help that they need, regardless of special education status. These programs were born from special education to help all
What School-Based OTs Should Know About RtI/MTSS Read More »
Can OT be the only service provided on an IEP? If you work in special education, it’s likely you’ve heard some variation of this question before. And while many people might dismiss this question as a simple “no,” the reality is much more nuanced than that. Like most things in school-based occupational therapy! What Does
Can OT Be the Only Service on an IEP? Read More »
In March 2023, I received news that no 30-year-old is prepared to hear: You have cancer. What unfolded next was a series of diagnoses, tests, and treatments that I could have never imagined. As challenging as this time has been, it has also come with a series of lessons about life and about being an
What Cancer Taught Me About Being an Occupational Therapist Read More »
In the world of special education, missed related services – such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, or physical therapy – are an inevitable occurrence. Whether due to student absences, therapist availability, or other logistical challenges, the question of how to address missed services often leaves school-based OTs in a bind. Unfortunately, the Individuals with Disabilities
Missed Related Services: What School OTs Need to Know Read More »
