Fort Simpson (Oct 01/04) - An experiment in classroom conduct is starting to bear fruit at Bompas elementary school.

Fetal alcohol specialists Donna Wheway and Sandy Berg returned to Fort Simpson last week to assess students' behaviour. In the spring of 2003, they made their first visit to help school staff better supervise and enhance learning for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), who often have learning disabilities and short attention spans.

After observing classroom activities, Berg was delighted.

"I've got to tell you that the changes have been significant in the children. It's wonderful," she said.

Principal Terry Jaffray can vouch for that. She said the school environment, including the playground, has become much calmer and happier over the past year. The students are more organized and ready to work, according to Jaffray.

A number of approaches have been embraced at Bompas, such as Move and Sit seats, which are large, hollow, rubber wedges that provide a sensation of movement.

Children with FASD tend to wander around the classroom, but with these seats, they can get similar stimulation without leaving their desks and thereby cause fewer disruptions.

Some students also use lap pads "to make them feel more grounded," Jaffray said.

Classrooms have fewer posters and notices on the walls, which sometimes serve as distractions.

Clocks with faces that change colour as time elapses make it easier to understand the concept of time.

Students are encouraged to follow routines such as standing up, tucking in their chairs and putting their shoes on the chair when they leave the classroom.

Books are colour coded by subject. Jaffray noted that it's not uncommon for professionals in offices to use colour-coding schemes.

"What we're doing is just preparing them for life, all kids," she said.

Pat Waugh, chair of the Fort Simpson Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) working group, applauded the effort.

"The working group is absolutely thrilled with what's happened at Bompas," Waugh said. "I think this school has surpassed anybody's expectations."

The Kids' Corner day care and the Open Doors Society, a family resource centre, are also incorporating similar strategies, according to Waugh. As well, staff at Thomas Simpson secondary school are looking at adopting some of the approaches, she said.

Consistency from one grade to the next makes a big difference, Berg noted. Waugh added that the working group has purchased FASD resource kits for each Deh Cho community.