Appleton schools are integrating sensory tools in classrooms to help young students manage their emotions and stay focused, Aug. 27, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Kids are back and school, and some may find the start of the new year to be overwhelming or overstimulating.
This year, Appleton schools are looking at new ways to help students control their emotions and stay focused on their learning.
To the untrained eye, it may just look like a table full of toys. But they’re actually science-backed tools to help kids self regulate.
“I think the easiest is just to think about ourselves. As adults, if you’re sitting in a meeting and you’re playing with your pen cap or twirling your hair, you’re doing something like that, that’s actually skills that kids can be taught. And so you give [kids] appropriate tools so they’re not biting on their shirt, tapping on their desk or doing something that is distracting to others,” said Stacy Wickershiem, an adaptive physical education leader.
That’s where these sensory objects come in.
“These are sensory stones that have a different texture on each side, so they can figure out which ones calm them down,” Wickershiem said.
She said the tools in these regulation kits are backed by physical and occupational therapists, and are meant to help students quietly calm themselves and maintain control of their emotions and focus on learning.
“This is a breathing ball, where you inhale when it’s out exhale when it’s in. So especially with the little ones, it’s very visual. They can see what they’re doing,” Wickershiem said.
These regulation kits and all these tools will be placed in every kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms at Appleton schools this year, thanks to the Appleton Education Foundation.
“Over the last few years, we had seen an increasing number of requests for sensory, wellness and regulation tools. A classroom here, one school here. So we were kind of piecemealing funding these things across the district, and we thought there must be a better way that we can ensure that all students have access to the same materials to support their learning,” said Appleton Education Foundation Executive Director Julie Krause.
A $95,000 grant is funding the 400 kits, and all teachers will receive training to help students understand the purpose of them and how they can help.
“I think any schools would be extremely lucky. I’m really hopeful that everybody really embraces it and they can see the benefits of it and it makes a difference in the behavior and learning of kids,” Wickershiem said.
The regulation kits will also be placed in specialty classrooms, like art and music classes. Leaders say they’re tools for all ages.
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