Can the Alert Program® help my students?

Yes, and we can show you how easily you can support attention for those who are in General or Special Education through low-budget activities in our books, songs, and games!In our Take Five! book, you’ll find lots of practical activities that have been kid-tested and teacher-approved; “we’ve been there, done it” for decades. So, we know the concerns of classroom teachers and we provide you with self-regulation activities for individual students, small groups, or your whole class.Your students will love learning about the Alert Program® vocabulary and strategies through the Test Drive (book and CD). It couldn’t be easier: This book and its engaging songs lay it all out for you, explaining what to say to your students and how to keep them alert for learning.We’ve adapted the classic games Go Fish and Bingo to be economical and fun for your classroom. Your students will enjoy them so much, they won’t even know they are learning concepts to make school easier.And you can teach the entire Alert Program® to your students using the Leader’s Guide’s step-by-step activities, and 50+ pages of reproducibles, so your students can learn how to be independent in changing how alert they feel.All of our books, games, and songs were developed to be easily implemented by teachers (General and Special Education), so you’ll want to check out our list of Alert Program® materials to learn more. Or you may want to begin by viewing our Overview of the Alert Program® Webinar.

What evidence supports the use of the Alert Program® in my classroom?

The Alert Program® has been helping students of all ages and ability levels since 1990 and research has demonstrated its effectiveness.Many teachers print out the 20+ pages of our “Alert Program® Literature and Research” document to share with parents, school administrators, or other team members to show the excellence in evidence-based practice. Want more ideas of how to get administrative support in your setting? Click here or browse answers to common questions in the Need Support section of our footer.

How can I explain the Alert Program® to parents?

Our complimentary, one page handout helps you pave the way in explaining to parents (team members or administrators) how the Alert Program® supports your classroom curriculum. Click here to print the “What’s All This Talk About Engines?” free handout.Also, many teachers have our Introductory Booklets on hand for parents (team members or administrators) who want to learn the basics of the Alert Program®. Or you may want to direct them to our website’s New to the Alert Program® page, Blog articles, or Free Resources to learn more.

How do I help my students attend and be focused in my classroom?

The Alert Program® online course has received rave reviews from teachers and administrators who feel empowered to implement self-regulation strategies in their classrooms, schools, or school districts. Learn how implementing a few self-regulation ideas into your lesson plans can yield positive results, in a relatively short amount of time! See our Alert Program® Online Course.

I’m totally new to the Alert Program®. Where should I begin?

We are happy to support you to find ways to help your students. You may have more questions and we’ve got answers! Click here to learn more about the Alert Program®.

Blog – Page 2 – The Alert Program

Self-Regulation Strategies Support our Overall Health and Wellness

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In addition to positively impacting your health, physical activity breaks are important for self-regulation, productivity, and focus. Here at the Alert Program®, we emphasize that we do exercise and take frequent movement breaks throughout the day because it’s an often missing piece of our self-care, and an important part of self-regulation. And understanding our self-regulation helps us tremendously to have more ease in our day. Read more »

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

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Conversations around workplace mental health and well-being have rightfully received increased awareness in 2023. While employee mental health is still not a #1 priority in many workplaces, it’s become a much more widely discussed and prioritized topic. In 2022, the office of the U.S. Surgeon General released its framework for workplace mental health and well-being. This includes a list of “Five Essentials to support workplaces as engines of well-being.” These include: (1) Protection from Harm, (2) Connection & Community, (3) Work-Life Harmony, (4) Mattering at Work, and (5) Opportunity for Growth. Read more »

High Marks Alert Program® Courses Continue!

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Each year, we carefully analyze the data and feedback from the Alert Program® Online Course and Your Best Self Online Course post-tests and evaluations. Sorting through your answers and comments helps us to continually improve our courses and offerings. We are thrilled to report that in the 2021-2022 assessment, the results continue to be outstanding. Read more »

How Self-Regulation Supports a Smooth Transition From High School to College

It’s college admission season here in the US, which comes with a flood of emotions for high school students and families across the nation. Coming to a decision on where to begin one’s higher education journey can be one of the biggest decisions in a young adult’s life. And receiving acceptances and rejections can play … Read more

The Alert Program®: Empowering Your Team and Organization

Listen to this blog here! Within the span of two years, the job market has oscillated from hiring booms and job shortages, to hiring freezes and layoffs. More than ever, having a reliable, high-performing, and satisfied staff is essential to riding out unpredictable times. The ability to self-regulate is important in staying focused and efficient … Read more

Alert Program® Car Metaphor is one Approach but not for Everyone!

When the Alert Program® first got rolling, it was an idea in search of a visual. Children and adults alike needed to wrap their brains around a mental picture of three basic alert levels – high, low and middle, or what the program developers call “just right.” A little car came to mind. Maybe lurching … Read more

How the Alert Program® Online Course can Help You

How’s it going? Comfortable at your computer or plagued by screen glare and a back ache? Good music in the background or nagging construction going on next door? Sipping a glass of iced tea or nursing a dry throat? Yeah, those small things can go a long way toward distracting you or keeping you alert. … Read more

Who can Benefit From the Alert Program®?

You might think the Alert Program® is just for elementary school-aged kiddos. But it supports self-regulation (changing how alert you feel) for all ages, populations and settings. Once you know about the importance of self-regulation, it can take you to some surprising places. Here are seven Alert Program® success stories. After taking an Alert Program® training… Read more »

Engine Analogy? One Metaphor Does not fit All!

The engine analogy is not the “be all and end all,” although the Alert Program® often uses the metaphor of a car engine running high, low, or just right. Young children relate to the playful side of it; adults drive and own cars, so they understand it from a practical standpoint. Naturally, each level has its … Read more

Exploring the World Inside Your Kid

Something going on with your kiddo? Maybe learning or socializing isn’t going so smoothly? You’ve come to the right site. Here are five Alert Program® tips to ease your mind and set change in motion. 1) Know that there are a lot of kids and teens like yours and parents like you — and loads … Read more

Introductory Booklet – What’s the Alert Program®?

Let’s Chat: What Is the Alert Program®? What makes a child too sluggish or hyper to learn, too wired to go to bed? Well, it all has to do with a bunch of stuff we occupational therapists have been studying for years, like alert states, sensory integration, self-regulation, automatic responses, sensory motor preferences. Jargon, jargon, … Read more

How Hard is it to be Your Kid?

How are things going with your kiddo? Maybe you’re seeing some behaviors that get in the way of learning and socializing. Or maybe your son or daughter has actually gotten a diagnosis, like autism or a learning disability. Well, take heart, you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. We’ve made these challenges our life’s work … Read more

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