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Showing posts from 2015

How to Support an Anxious Child

Yesterday we posted information on how to prevent stress during the holiday season.  When you have an anxious child, holidays usually add to the worries they already have.  I really like these ideas from the Child Mind Institute for supporting a child with anxiety.  As parents, it is not always possible to avoid anxiety-provoking things or situations.  In fact, this article encourages parents to do just the opposite.  At those times, it is important to teach kids how to manage their feelings and to model positive coping skills. The author also suggests that parents respect the feelings of the child without reinforcing them.  To hear more suggestions, visit http://www.childmind.org/en/posts/articles/2010-11-24-how-parent-anxious-kids

How to Help Children Manage Holiday Stress

Although a break from school and the upcoming holiday season can bring much excitement, it can also trigger significant stress in families. According to the American Psychological Association's website, more than eight out of 10 Americans report feelings of stress during this season.  In that same 2008 poll, households with children were even more likely to experience stress.  Parents can feel pressure to purchase gifts, decorate houses, travel to visit family, and keep with holiday traditions.  This pressure can lead to financial and emotional strain.  As we all know, children are extremely perceptive at reading our emotions which in turn can impact their feelings and behaviors.  This list of recommendations from Duke Children's Network provides a realistic list of recommendations for helping make the holiday season enjoyable and stressfree. http://www.dukechildrens.org/about_us/newsroom/holiday_stress

26 Days of Kindness in Memory of Sandy Hook Victims

Today marks the three-year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary.  It is still difficult to fathom such violence in any setting, much less an elementary school full of children excited about the upcoming holiday break.  I recently read a story about the 26 Days of Kindness Campaign which was started in 2013.  The campaign asks you to do something simple but nice for others for 26 consecutive days.  Each day honors a victim of the attack on Sandy Hook, which took the lives of 20 students and six educators.  During a time when it seems we hear of a new act of violence every day, it was nice to read this story of hope.  To learn more about this year's campaign, read this article written by the Hartford Courant. http://www.courant.com/community/newtown/hc-sandy-hook-26-days-of-kindness-1125-20151124-story.html

Google Glass and Autism Research

We recently published a blog posting on the partnership between Duke University and Apple for a research project to develop a screening tool for autism using your smartphone. http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/11/duke-university-and-apple-collaborating.html Apple isn't the only tech giant supporting research efforts on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Google Glass is partnering with Stanford University on a project to help individuals with ASD better recognize the emotions associated with facial expressions.  Researchers are using the face-tracking technology of Google Glass in a game called "Capture the Smile," in the hopes of developing effective at-home interventions for individuals with ASD.  While Stanford and Google's research is still in progress, it's exciting to see the technology industry partnering with researchers on these projects.  The article below also contains a link directly to Stanford's research project, if you would like to learn m

The 2X10 Strategy for Behavior Problems

I will admit that I love Pinterest!  I pin ideas for work, home, crafting, cooking, etc.  You name it and if I like it, it will end up on my wall.  Over the past few weeks, I keep seeing pins about this "miraculous" strategy for dealing with difficult behavior problems in class.  This intervention, The 2X10 Strategy, is getting rave reviews from teachers all over Pinterest and beyond.  The concept is pretty simple.  The teacher spends two minutes talking with a difficult student for ten days in a row.  That's it!  Why does this strategy work? The idea is that as the student and teacher develop a relationship, the student begins to feel that someone truly cares about them while the teacher starts to see the positive attributes in the child.  Have you tried this intervention?  We would love to know what you think?  To learn more about this strategy and why it works, visit: http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2014/10/the-2x10-strategy-a-miraculous-solution-for-behavior-is

Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Diosrder

As our students are appearing with more anxiety in the classrooms it may be important to understand the facts and characteristics about disorders that could be affecting them. Most of us use the term "OCD" in a general and at times almost in a casual way to describe students, our family members, or even ourselves! Research suggests that 2-3% of adults and 1.9% of children have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Onset varies between males and females, with females showing onset in young adulthood and males showing onset between ages 6-15. Please follow the link to find further information about symptoms and patterns, the impact, treatment, and support for our students with OCD. http://www.nasponline.org/publications/periodicals/communique/issues/volume-36-issue-2/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-information-for-parents-and-educators

Do you believe in Santa Claus? The benefits of Belief

As parents and teachers many of us struggle with aiding and denying the belief in Santa. Has Santa turned into a belief that just focuses on more materialism in our culture? Well, some research as shown ' that teaching children to be less selfish depends partly on the gradual development of cognitive recognition of the needs of others, and children begin to comprehend sharing through similar experiences within the family unit. Many children grasp the symbolic lessons regarding charitable giving and consideration of others from the Santa rituals.' (Breen, 2004).  Research also supports the effects of imaginative thoughts on students cognitive development as well.  If someone is still on the fence about supporting the belief of Santa please find the link below and let us know your thoughts! http://www.nasponline.org/publications/periodicals/communique/issues/volume-36-issue-4/the-benefits-of-belief-children-and-santa-claus

Cyber Bullying

The rapid growth of technology in our society has led to a new type of bullying...cyber bullying.  A surprisingly high number of students report being a victim of this type of bullying.  It can be difficult to determine when it is happening to your child because it can take place through email or texts, in chats rooms, and on numerous social media sites.  Children are often more tech-savvy than their parents which can make it even more challenging to keep track of when this type of behavior is occurring.  Just like with other forms of bullying, cyber bullying can cause significant stress and emotional problems for the child.  This presentation from Mayorlaw gives current statistics regarding the prevalence of cyber bullying and the impact it could have on your child. http://mayorlaw.com/cyberbullying/ Here are some other blogs we have posted on the topic of bullying. http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/10/national-bullying-prevention-month.html http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.

Using Mindset as a Coping Strategy

As psychologists, we understand a great deal about emotions.  We often work with students to teach them ways to cope with their feelings.  But what if we started applying the concept of Mindset to our emotions in order to view them in a more positive way?  This article from PsychCentral tells us all the "Good Stuff about Your Bad Stuff."  The author even uses research to back the idea that changing our mindset about our emotions just might help us cope with them in a more effective way. http://blogs.psychcentral.com/stress-better/2015/10/thoughtbuster-the-good-stuff-about-your-bad-stuff-according-to-science/

How to Dance in Ohio

How to Dance in Ohio is a documentary that is currently being shown on HBO on Demand.  It follows three teenage girls with high-functioning autism as they prepare for a spring formal dance.  For any adolescent, social events such as a spring formal can be stressful. For these girls, however, the anxiety associated with this important milestone could have been overwhelming.  This film gives great insight into their daily lives, their social challenges, and the challenges their families face.  As they work with their psychologist and families before the event, the preparations reveal the strength of the girls as they learn the skills needed for the occasion.  This documentary celebrates their differences and helps viewers understand what makes them special.  If you have HBO, we highly recommend watching it!  If you do, please share your thoughts on their experience.  To find out more about this film, visit  http://www.howtodanceinohio.com/  or  http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/how-to-d

Birth Order Research

Most of us, either with our own siblings or our children, have heard comments about the relationship between birth order and personality features over the years.  Generally, the oldest child is considered to be a leader and a high achiever; the youngest child may be more creative, or a bit of a risk-taker; and the middle child, often referred to as the "peace-keeper," is....well, stuck in the middle.  As psychologists, we know that personality development is complex and that each child is unique, regardless of whether they are the "baby" of the family, the oldest, or somewhere in between.  New research reinforces the idea that birth order really doesn't shape personality.  A study of 20,000 adults from the United States, Great Britain and Germany reveals that there is no pattern of personality traits based on birth order.  You can read more about these findings at the link below: http://healthfinder.gov/News/Article/704381/study-challenges-theory-that-birth-or

Duke University and Apple Collaborating on Autism Research

You may have seen stories about this on CBS national news broadcasts or heard mention of it on our local National Public Radio stations in the past few weeks.  Researchers at Duke University are working with Apple on the development of an app called "Autism & Beyond" that is currently collecting data from families around the world.  The research team hopes to determine whether an iPhone app could reliably screen children for an Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The app evaluates children's emotional responses using your smartphone's camera.  To participate in the project, you can visit the iTunes AppStore and download the following: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/autism-beyond/id1025327516?ls=1&mt=8

Ways to calm an Agitated Student

Intervention Central. org is great resource for educators to help solve classroom behavior and academic concerns with research based interventions and useful progress monitoring tools and various checklists. As we know our students have many things in their lives going on that we do not know about. Different situations can cause a student to become agitated in the classroom. The article below provides quick tips for educators to be mindful of when speaking with an agitated student, to keep the student, teacher and peers safe. The main points include: create a 'safe' setting, limit the number of adults involved, provide adequate personal space, do not block escape routes, show open, accepting body language, keep verbal interactions respectful, communicate using simple, direct language, coach the student to take responsibility for moderating behavior, reassure the student and frame an outcome goal, identify the student's wants and feelings, and identify points of agreement

Apps to Build Social-Emotional Skills

By Amy Clay, WS/FCS School Psychologist Earlier this month, I was at Brunson Elementary and saw a huge amount of movement and excitement in one of our classrooms.  The children were laughing, smiling, and clearly having a great time.  Naturally, I had to find out what was so much fun.  The classroom teachers told me about "GoNoodle," which they described as "the best thing ever."  Students are able to do "brain breaks" involving physical activity, which increases attention and concentration - and gets them ready for more learning!  It was interesting to see this app that I had just seen in action mentioned in an article describing tools for improving the social and emotional skills of our students.  For more information on GoNoodle and other apps, please check out the link below: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/social-emotional-apps-special-ed-jayne-clare

Retention is not an Intervention

By Liz Williams, WS/FCS School Psychologist In response to our defined district goals, it is important for us to reflect upon our current practices and whether or not they support meeting these goals. Additionally, with increasing pressure to meet grade level standards and a call to end social promotion there has been a renewed emphasis on grade retention as an educational remedy for underachieving children. Sometimes children are recommended for retention when their academic performance is low, if they fail to meet grade-level performance standards, if they seem socially immature, display behavior problems, or are just beginning to learn English. Occasionally, students who have missed many school days because they were ill or because of frequent moves are recommended for retention. We need to examine whether or not these retention practices are effective or not. “6th grade students rated grade retention as the single most stressful life event, higher than the loss of a par

Autism Health Insurance Coverage Act for NC families

Governor McCrory recently signed the Autism Health Insurance Coverage Act which provides family coverage for children birth to 18 years of age. Under this law, "qualifying health benefit plans" coverage 'includes  “Adaptive Behavioral Treatment” therapies, which the legislation defines as research-based “behavioral and developmental interventions that systematically manage instructional and environmental factors or the consequences of behavior.”' Can we get a HOORAY!?!! As we all know early intervention is key to more successful outcomes for our students. Below is the link for the article and other resources to further information. This does seem like a huge step in the right direction! Please share your opinion on the coverage act. http://fpg.unc.edu/news/fpg-report-helps-guide-law-expand-health-insurance-children-autism

'Concussion' Movie to be Released in December

By Amy Clay, WS/FCS School Psychologist As a school psychologist who has recently been certified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to conduct evaluations with students who have experienced significant brain injuries, I have been following the developments of the movie 'Concussion' for several months now.  The movie stars Will Smith as forensic pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, who uncovered the fatal effects that repeated head injuries have had on many NFL players - and on athletes from other sports, as well. http://www.athleticbusiness.com/media-technology/quot-concussion-quot-movie-generates-buzz-raises-awareness.html Dr. Omalu identified the first case of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, commonly referred to as CTE, which refers to a degeneration of brain tissue and the accumulation of Tau protein in the brain.  Individuals with CTE may show symptoms of dementia, such as memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression, and these symptoms may appear

The Force Awakens: The Hour of Code... Are you in?

Computer and computer systems are our present and future growing areas of careers. They are also one of the main interests in our students. So... why not join a world wide learning event Dec 7-13?Check out the links below about the Hour of Code. It is a one-hour tutorial from Princess Leia or Rey on how to build their own Star Wars games and program the droids R2-D2, C-3PO and BB-8. The tutorial demonstrates the basic computer programming skills and is appropriate for ages 4- 104 and geared for males and females! The below links provide an article by USA Today on the phenomenon. The hour code link will allow you to learn more about and sign up for the event and the Code.org link will send you right to the nonprofit organizations page to learn more about the other great opportunities for our next generations. This could be a whole class event or individual, but its an opportunity for us all to learn. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/11/09/codeorg-hour-of-code-star-wars-the

How to Help Your Child Navigate Current Events

Here are 2 great guides for helping our kids understand recent terrorist events. Both websites give recommendations for what to say and what is developmentally appropriate to share. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/explaining-the-news-to-our-kids http://www.nasponline.org/assets/documents/Resources%20and%20Publications/Handouts/Safety%20and%20Crisis/Helping%20_Children_Cope_With_Terrorism_2013.pdf

Staff Spotlight - Lead School Psychologist - Dr. Corliss Thompson-Drew

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In honor of School Psychology Awareness Week, Psychological Services wishes to highlight our Lead School Psychologist.  Dr. Thompson-Drew has been a psychologist for 33 years. In her career, she has filled many roles such as being a traditional school psychologist, a professor of school psychology, and working in a community mental health center. As the Lead School Psychologist, Dr. Thompson-Drew wears many hats. She observes Psychologists at their schools, works on team projects, attends meetings, consults with school staff and community agencies, and conducts trainings. Her favorite part of being a School Psychologist is working with elementary-aged students and observing them in the classroom. Thank you, Dr. Thompson-Drew, for being our boss and leader. We appreciate all that you do for us! 

Is a Career in School Psychology for You?

There is no time like now to consider a career a school psychology or encourage someone else to pursue a rewarding career in the field. The following brochure offers a great resource about the School Psychology profession.  Demand for school psychologists is exceptionally strong and on the rise.  As life has become more stressful, schools and communities have come under increasing pressure to provide mental health and instructional support for children and youth.  According to the Bureau of Labor statistics (2014), school psychologists will enjoy expanding job opportunities through 2022.  They cite school psychologists with a specialist degree as among those having the best prospects.  Have more questions about the profession?  Ask us! http://www.nasponline.org/assets/Documents/About%20School%20Psychology/Brochures/careerbrochure.pdf

Ted Talk: The Importance of Connecting with Kids

As we continue celebrating this year's theme for National School Psychology Awareness Week of "Connect the Dots and Thrive," this Ted Talk by Rita Pierson stresses the importance of that connection in the classroom.  Ms. Pierson, an educator for 40 years, uses humor to explain why educators must believe in their students in order build their self-esteem and help them reach their full potential.  To do this, she believes teachers must connect with students on a "real, human, and personal level." This talk is a must see for all educators! https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion?language=en

Dr. Emory Celebrates National School Psychology Awareness Week

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The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has designated November 9–13, 2015 as National School Psychology Awareness Week. This year’s theme, “Connect the Dots and THRIVE!” emphasizes the importance of connecting students to the academic and social-emotional skills they need to promote personal achievement, growth, and resilience, as well as a sense of belonging and well-being.  Please follow our blog this week as we share this theme of connecting the dots at the individual, classroom, grade, school, and systems levels. This video from Dr. Emory highlights the value of our profession as well as the importance of mental wellness for our students. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPT7-BeuDgw&feature=youtu.be

Target Ad Includes Model with Disability

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Target has previously included models with disabilities in their advertising materials and they are continuing that trend with a new Halloween advertisement. In their weekly sales circular, which is distributed across the country, a child with braces is pictured in a Halloween costume, with a huge smile on her face. Kudos to Target for their efforts to reflect diversity and inclusion in their advertising materials! To read more, please follow the link below: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/10/27/target-ad-model-disability/20905/

Male Teachers are Making a Difference at Kimberly Park

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We have some amazing teachers in the WS/FCS but male teachers are in short supply!  Keith Snow, a teacher at Kimberly Park, is being recognized for being a role model to his students. Learn more in this Winston-Salem Journal article about Mr. Snow and Kimberly Park's efforts to get more male teachers in their school. http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/in-short-supply-male-teachers-make-a-difference-at-kimberley/article_bc18b3f3-34cc-5c67-894b-6caa9e17c315.html

Youth Suicide

Two of our very own School Psychologists wrote this helpful guide on youth suicide for the popular parenting blog, Triad Moms on Main.  In this article, Abby Flynn and Liz Williams explain the facts, risks, and warning signs and provide resources for when you need support and help.  We hope you will take the time to read this information as we continue to promote awareness and prevention of youth suicide. http://triadmomsonmain.com/my-blog/youth-suicide-facts/

Early Childhood Disabilities and Special Education

A child's development is fascinating but may also be concerning for some parents and adults. Many times we question whether a behavior is normal, or we wonder about appropriate developmental milestones and whether our children are achieving them at the appropriate rate. If our children seem behind others, where do we turn? and what does it mean? These questions go through every parents mind, even if they are involved in education. The link below provides information about milestones from ages birth to 5 years, when caregivers should make referrals, and identifying disabilities in early childhood. At the end of the article there is also great resources for parents and educators, to further investigate! http://www.nasponline.org/Documents/Resources%20and%20Publications/Handouts/Families%20and%20Educators/Early_Childhood_Disabilities_and_Special_Education.pdf

Graduation Rates Rise for Students with Disabilities

The United States Department of Education has released data on graduation rates for children with disabilities.  Historically these students have not been as successful as their non-disabled peers in achieving high school graduation in four years.  While there is still more work to be done - for both disabled and non-disabled peers - this is a positive trend that we hope will continue in the coming years.  Additional information about these findings can be found at the link below: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/10/20/graduation-rates-rise/20889/

Temper Tantrums

Temper Tantrums!! We have all seen, heard, or experienced them with our children, students or watched others endure them in grocery stores, restaurants or church. No matter what your experience with them, we have all wondered what is the best way to handle a temper tantrum. The link below, provided by NASP, provides information about the age appropriateness of temper tantrums and what to do about them, specifically the DO's and DONT's! If you have further questions or experiences of your own, please feel free to share with us. http://www.nasponline.org/Documents/Resources%20and%20Publications/Handouts/Families%20and%20Educators/Temper_Tantrums_Guidelines_for_Parents_and_Edcuators.pdf

New Research on Autism Diagnoses

The results of a collaborative research project, which included researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, was just published in the journal Autism . The investigators reported that Autism Spectrum Disorders "may be overdiagnosed in more than 9 percent of cases." The research suggests that this overdiagnosis may be related to imperfect screening/evaluation methods or the difficulty in distinguishing Autism Spectrum Disorders from other language processing difficulties. Concerns were also reported with clinicians providing diagnoses in order to facilitate services for children. Autism Spectrum Disorders are complex and clinicians are doing a much better job of identifying these disorders than ever before, but these findings suggest that there's still room for improvement. To read more about this study, please visit the link below: http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/10/27/government-study-autism/20907/

School Refusal: Information for Educators

We all can think of a student that we have heard of or had a direct experience with, that just refused to come to school. This is a frustrating situation for everyone involved, the student, parents, teachers and school staff involved. Research suggests that 2-5% of students refuse to come to school due to anxiety or depression. The article below, identifies anxiety and depression characteristics and key strategies and interventions for educators to get these students back in school and feel successful. http://www.nasponline.org/Documents/Resources%20and%20Publications/Handouts/Families%20and%20Educators/School_Refusal_Information_for_Educators.pdf

Character with Autism Joins "Sesame Street"

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The newest character to join Grover, Oscar, Elmo, and the other familiar faces on "Sesame Street" has orange hair, green eyes-and autism.  The introduction of a new character named Julia, a preschool girl with autism who "does things a little differently" is part of the nonprofit's "See Amazing in All Children" initiative, which is designed to teach kids about autism.  Their website offers tools-including a song, storybook, and other resources-to support children with autism and their friends and family.  You can find more information here: http://autism.sesamestreet.org/

How to Best Support Children with Head Injuries

Unfortunately, concussions are a fact of life for many children, either through sports injuries, automobile accidents, or other mishaps.  Many children need help in integrating back into the school setting after experiencing a concussion.  This link provides tips from the CDC on helping children do their best in school after a head injury. http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/pdf/TBI_Returning_to_School-a.pdf

Teen Suicides in North Carolina

When I read this article earlier in the week, it stopped me in my tracks.  In spite of all our efforts to increase awareness about the warning signs, teen suicides in North Carolina increased by one-third from 2013 to 2014.  More than ever, we need to focus on our youth and develop ways to improve their mental health. http://www.wral.com/report-north-carolina-youth-suicides-double-since-2010/14986761/ For more information about those warning signs and what you can do, please visit some of our other blog postings. http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/09/september-is-national-suicide.html http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/search/label/teen%20suicide

National Bullying Prevention Month

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If you saw a lot of people wearing orange yesterday, there was a good reason for that! October is National Bullying Prevention Month and 10/21/2015 was designated as "Unity Day."  This is a day for everyone to come together to show their united support for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.  If you'd like to learn more about this topic, the National Bullying Prevention website has great information for educators, families, and students at: http://www.pacer.org/bullying/ The U.S. News and World Report also took to social media to gain insight from educators and students on how to best address the subject of bullying.  Three themes on prevention stood out: building relationships between educators and students, stopping bullying behavior immediately when it happens, and creating a climate of safety for all educators and students in our schools.  To see some of the tweets they received, you can visit their article here: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-schoo

Signs of Stress in Teens

High school students seem much more stressed these days than they did when I was in school.  Not only is there pressure to do well in school, students must also fill up their college applications with extracurricular activities.  Between homework, sports, clubs, and volunteering, there isn't much time left to just enjoy their teenage years.  This juggling act can be especially overwhelming for the student with learning or attention problems. This article from Understood.org explains what it might look like when your teenager is stressed.  These red flags might be easy to overlook if you aren't aware of what they could mean. https://www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/managing-feelings/stress-anxiety/at-a-glance-signs-of-stress-in-high-schoolers

Staff Spotlight - Patsy Barrett

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Staff Spotlight - Patsy Barrett Patsy has been a school psychologist for 29 years. She has been working in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools for the past 14 years. Patsy enjoys working with younger students who think they are just playing games during assessments. She especially enjoys seeing students smile during assessments. She currently serves Kernersville Middle School, Kernersville Elementary, and Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. Patsy is originally from Jamaica and speaks a Jamaican dialectic called Patois (Pataw). Patsy and Jason Levi recently presented on internships at the 2015 North Carolina Association of School Psychologist (NCASP) conference. They were also selected to present in New Orleans at the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP) conference in February 2016. Way to go Patsy!

A Guide to AD/HD Medications from the Child Mind Institute

Although medications for AD/HD are pretty common, the sheer number of them can be confusing. Why do doctors prescribe one over the others?  Is one better than the others? If you are a parent trying to make the decision about whether to medicate for the symptoms of AD/HD, this article does a nice job of explaining the options as well as the pros and cons of each. http://www.childmind.org/en/posts/articles/2012-1-13-guide-adhd-medications-ritalin-adderall

WS/FCS Psychological Services Internship Program

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Our department is proud of the internship program we started 12 years ago.  Over those years, we have provided supportive opportunities for numerous school psychology students who are trying to bridge from the university world to the practical world.  To learn more about this program and how our department is being recognized at the state and national level, visit http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=12708&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=191465&PageID=1 Samantha Martenstyn (current intern) and Liz Williams (intern from 2014-15)

Every correct answer is 10 grains of rice!

Help end world hunger by visiting freerice.com. This online game allows people to answer simple questions from word definitions to math facts to SAT Prep questions. It provides practice and knowledge on humanities, chemistry, math, languages, English, and geography. You can play just by going to the website, or creating a log in that will track your progress. The great thing about is... for every answer you get correct they will donate 10 grains of rice through the World Food Programme to help end hunger. This is a great resource if you have students who finish their work a little bit early or if you have 2-3 minutes here and there. By word of mouth, Freerice has fed millions of people. 'I rice up' against hunger.... will you? http://freerice.com/

School Psychology Awareness Week Nov 9th-13th

The National School Psychology Awareness Week is right around the corner! During the week of November 9th- 13th, look for special posts/ information from your School Psychologist. Also, if there is something wonderful that is going on at your school, or there is someone doing something extra special, let us know and we may feature you or them that week. School Psychologists are here to provide support for students, families, schools and communities. This year's theme is Connect the Dots and Thrive. We look forward to celebrating School Psychology Awareness Week with you all!

Having "Collaborative Conversations" Instead of Parent Conferences

As educators, we are always looking for more ways to involve parents in their children's education. In this article from Edutopia, John McCarthy offers suggestions for how to turn parent-teacher conferences into, what he refers to as, collaborative conversations.  He makes the point that parents know their children better than teachers.  What better way to gain a greater understanding of our students than to collaborate with the ones that know them best? http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parent-teacher-conferences-collaborative-conversations-john-mccarthy

October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

With October being National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, it is a good time to take a closer look at our school-wide bullying prevention and safety plans.  This article by the National Association of School Psychologists provides information on what the research says, factors which contribute to bullying, the effects of bullying on students, and what your school can do to prevent it from happening in the first place. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/bullying/bullying_brief_12.pdf

Growth Mindset

We shared information in an earlier blog post about Dr. Carol Dweck and the concept of "growth mindset."  In case you missed it, you can see that entry here:  http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/08/what-is-mindset.html In her book,  Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,  Dr. Dweck describes students with a "growth mindset" as those who believe that their intelligence can be changed or developed and students with a "fixed mindset" as those who believe that their intelligence is fixed.  Students who believe that they can "grow their brains" through focusing on the learning process, trying different strategies and learning from mistakes actually perform much better academically than their fixed mindset peers, according to Dr. Dweck's research - which has also been supported by additional studies since the publication of her book.  When students with a "fixed mindset" struggle, they may think they are  "dumb" or t

Two of our very own are selected to present at both the State and National Conferences

Patsy Barrett and Jason Levi, were selected to present at the North Carolina School Psychology Association Conference (NCSPA) in October and at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Conference in New Orleans in February, which draws over 5,000 School Psychologists from around the country each year. The presentation is on providing a high quality systematic and comprehensive experience for interns and practicum students. They will be presenting on Monday October 19th, in Winston Salem for the annual NCSPA conference. We hope you join us in congratulating them, all of their hard work and success! Be on the lookout for more information on these two School Psychologists this month, as they will be spotlighted!

Safe School Environments for Transgender Students

Transgender is not a new topic of discussion, however how we talk about it and legalities surrounding how we support transgender students is. At the beginning of the 2015-16 school year, one of our school lawyers, discussed changes to Title IX, that includes discussion and rights for transgender students within our school system. Below is an informative look into ways that schools can provide an accepting environment for our 'trans' and 'cis' gender populations. For specific information or inquiries about your school and rights of different populations, please contact the school attorney's office. We are fortunate to have such a supportive school system where all our children can feel supported, so let's make that happen! http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/44/1/gender.aspx

Talking about violence

We all hate to think about the unthinkable happening to us and our students, and some of us may still think, "it will never happen here." With the recent events that have occurred across our nation, our children may became scared and unsure about the environment around them. They often look to adults for answers to help them feel safe and reassured. Attached is information from the National Association of School Psychologists that guides a conversation between the adult and child. It is a quick read, but will hopefully be something that remains in the back of your mind, or in your tool box for when those hard questions in these tough situations come from our children. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/talkingviolence.pdf

Staff Spotlight - Lora Sheridan

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Meet Lora - Lora is an Educational Diagnostician for Psychological Services. She has been working in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for 25 years. Lora also oversees all of the Academically Gifted assessments. Her favorite part of being an Educational Diagnostician is that she gets to work with a wide variety of students in many different schools. In her free time, Lora volunteers at Forsyth Animal Rescue. After a 25 year break, she has started to play the piano again. Thanks for all you do, Lora!

Help! All of my student are in red in DIBELS!

by Liz Williams, School Psychologist Research states that the best approach to reading instruction is one that incorporates: Explicit instruction in phonemic awareness Systematic phonics instruction Methods to improve fluency Ways to enhance comprehension So, how do we ensure that students are getting these important literacy skills? How do we measure this? And how does this relate to DIBELS? First, what are DIBELS? The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) were designed for use in identifying children who are experiencing difficulty in acquisition of basic early literacy skills in order to provide support early and prevent the occurrence of later reading difficulties.  So what do I do with all of my students who are “red?” First, don’t freak out. DIBELS is a screener . It’s designed to be brief, efficient, and to identify students that are likely to need additional support. Check. Now you know which of your students need extra support. So wh

Phonemic Awareness Webinar from Understood

Are you looking for ways to strengthen phonemic awareness in your students?  This hour-long webinar from Understood has numerous activities that are fun and practical to implement individually or in small groups.  They also share several computer programs and apps (some free and some that must be purchased) that can be used to reinforce phonemic awareness skills.  The presenters explain how to implement the activities and why they will work.  Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LX3-4pg58M

PsychSpeak 2015

Did you know our department puts out a newsletter several times a year?  The articles are written by members of our very own staff.  This month's topics include retention, collaborative and proactive solutions to behavioral and emotional problems, Khan Academy, and the benefits of early reading exposure.  To see our newest edition, click on this link: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/cms/lib/NC01001395/Centricity/Domain/47/September%202015.pdf You can find past issues if you visit our department's webpage: http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/786

The Ongoing Homework Debate-How Much is Too Much?

Last year we posted an article from Edutopia about the 5 homework questions every teacher should ask.  It included recommended guidelines from the National PTA.  If you did not get a chance to read it, here is a link to that information. http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/05/is-homework-helpful-5-questions-every.html Here is another comprehensive article from MindShift that covers how much homework students are actually doing, how much homework is being completed by students in other countries, how much homework is too much, and the actual effect homework has on student performance and achievement.  The thing we like most about this article is that the information is backed by research. Let us know your thoughts. http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/09/22/what-kinds-of-homework-seem-to-be-most-effective/

Supporting Children's Mental Health

As we close out Suicide Prevention Month we wanted to share some quick tips on how parents and educators can support children's mental health. Click on the link to find some easy tips and great references for how we can all better support our students. Let us know if you would like more information about a certain topic or strategy! http://www.nasponline.org/resources/mentalhealth/mhtips.aspx

Children's Self Esteem

  Children's Self-Esteem by Ann Vernon and Ginger Calhoun Since it first emerged into the psychological spotlight, the term "self-esteem" and its importance to one's mental health may seem to be over-used, and possibly misunderstood. It almost goes without saying that everyone needs positive self-esteem, but what is it actually? How is it created and would you recognize it if you saw it? Self-esteem is essentially self-evaluation and self-judgment. Nathaniel Branden, one of the foremost psychologists writing in this field, has identified two basic components. The first is having an innate confidence in the ability to face whatever comes one's way. Secondly, inherent in one's self-esteem is self-respect and having the assurance that one's personhood has value and that one is worthy of happiness. Self-esteem is developmental, and there are many who influence its growth in children. Parents, teachers, relatives, siblings, and peers all add to or ta

Letting AD/HD Kids Fidget in Class

Teachers, it is hard to get hyperactive kids to sit still, right?  Well, there is an interesting new study from a researcher at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  The research suggests that by letting those kids fidget, it actually increases their focus and performance.  This article from Mindshift summarizes the findings from that study.  It certainly gives us a different perspective when trying to figure out ways to instruct AD/HD kids who have difficulty sitting still. http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/05/15/let-kids-fidget-in-class-why-it-can-be-good-for-those-with-adhd/

StopTheStigma, a video by the NCSU Counseling Center- Suicide Prevention

As we continue to talk about suicide prevention during Suicide Awareness month, the N.C. State University Counseling Center has released this powerful video.  The video features three N.C. State students who attempted suicide but survived. They hope the video will help people feel more comfortable talking about mental health issues, especially suicide. At the end of the clip the students offer encouraging words of support that could touch the lives of our students who may be feeling the way these students did.  Although the video has a positive message for our high school students, we encourage teachers, counselors, parents, and guardians to review it first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR6YBcwkA7k

Is it time we stop and listen? Oral Narratives predictor of early literacy skills with African American students

In a sample of more than 6,000 students nationwide, African American children were the only group where preschool oral narrative skills were a significant predictor of emergent literacy skills. Research out of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute shines on light on something in education we may be missing. As we talk about development we first learn to speak, then read and then write, each skill providing us with essential information needed to move onto the next. This is an intriguing article, that I hope we can reflect on, share discussion about, and hopefully change how we foster this skill for our students, who knows it may be the key to unlocking a magical door. http://fpg.unc.edu/news/storytelling-skills-support-early-literacy-african-american-children

Staff Highlight

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Each month, Psychological Services will be introducing various staff members. First on our list is Marty Farmer. Marty has been a school psychologist for 27 years. She has worked 24 of her 27 years in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Marty enjoys working with students one-on-one and figuring out their individual learning styles. Currently, Marty is the school psychologist for Meadowlark Elementary, Meadowlark Middle, and Clemmons Elementary. In years past, Marty has served as a school psychologist for 12 other schools in the district. In her free time, Marty enjoys reading, knitting, and playing the trumpet. One interesting fact about Marty is that while she attended college at UNC-Chapel Hill, she had a class with basketball star Michael Jordan. Thank you Marty for all of your years of service!

Understanding Self-Injury

The topic of self-injury is one that not many people want to discuss.  Although it is not well understood (even some of the research is unclear), the prevalence of these behaviors is shocking (this article suggests that 12 to 24% of young people have tried it).  This article from Cornell University explains what self-injury is, who is at-risk for these behaviors, the dangers associated with self-injury, and how to detect whether someone is engaging in self-injury.  It is important to understand self-injury and what drives it so that we can help young people learn more effective coping skills. http://www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu/perch/resources/what-is-self-injury-9.pdf

Time Delay Module to assist our students with Autism

AFIRM: Autism Focused Intervention Resource and Modules, is a great resource for our teachers who have contact with students with Autism. A training technique: Time Delay , was recently featured in the News and Resources email from the Frank Porter Graham Childhood Developmental Institute (also a great resource for up to date information coming out of NC; you can sign up to receive emails from them as well). Time Delay: is a response prompting procedure that systematically fades prompts during instructional activities.It is used to increase students academic, social, communication, motor and play skills. The module offers each person training in the basic knowledge of TD and applying it to the classroom setting. The module takes about 1.5- 2 hours to complete, and with many modules offered through the state, you can stop and then come back and complete it whenever it is convenient for you. Also... its FREE! AFIRM also offers modules for Peer- Mediated Instruction and Intervention,

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

We posted this link on Twitter last week from the National Association of School Psychologists.  The  printable pages include resources for youth, parents, and educators on how to create safe and supportive learning environments, identify students at risk, and provide support following a suicide or attempted suicide.  One student is too many!  Please take the time to read this important information. http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/suicide-resources.aspx

Pledge to Choose Kind, a Challenge by Author R.J. Palacio

Last year we posted a blog on one of our favorite books, Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  In case you missed it, check it out here: http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-wonder-by-rj-palacio.html This year, R.J. Palacio is encouraging entire classrooms to "ChooseKind" by inviting them to take The Certified Kind Classroom Challenge.  This is a great opportunity for your class to win a ChooseKind classroom banner and become eligible for other great prizes.  ChooseKind fits in nicely with the WS/FCS support of Rachel's Challenge.  Teachers could consider reading Wonder with their class and taking the ChooseKind challenge.  Although Palacio believes that just one act of kindness can make a difference, she hopes entire classrooms can have an even greater impact!  To learn more, visit her website. http://choosekind.tumblr.com/certified-kind-classroom-challenge?ref=92FCCE87CCCA&utm_source=RH_Children\%27s&utm_medium=Social_Media&utm_content=&utm_t

10 things you can do to support a person with difficult behaviors

As the newness of the year starts to wear off on some of our students, we begin to see more behaviors emerge that get our attention or behaviors continue that we thought should have been distinguished already. In the article below, David Pitonyak provides us with important tips on simple things we can do to support the person who may be having some difficult behaviors. Also at his website www.dimagine.com you can find more useful tips and information about students with behaviors. Take a look around and let us know what you think or if there are other behavior supports you feel are important to consider with our students! http://www.dimagine.com/10things.pdf

New Staff Members in Psychological Services

Check out the article on the WS/FCS website about the new staff members in Psychological Services. We have enjoyed getting to know them and are excited for you to learn more about them! http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=12708&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=186252&PageID=1

Did Your Child See Inside Out?

I must admit I haven't seen it yet.  My children went to see it with their grandmother and had very different perspectives on the movie.  I've heard this movie can open the door to conversation with your child about emotions, especially the role they have on our behaviors.  This article by MindPsi does a great job of explaining why this is such a great movie for you to see with your child. We would love to hear your thoughts on Inside Out.   http://mindpsi.net/blog/the-emotions-of-inside-out/

Stress Busters from PsychCentral

Even though school has only been in session for two weeks, many students are already experiencing stress.  In spite of our best efforts, some of them lack appropriate coping strategies for dealing with that stress.  Throughout the year, we will be posting blogs to help you teach students more effective and healthy ways to cope.  Here are five really smart ways to help them lower the stress in their lives from psychcentral.com http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/09/23/5-stress-busters-for-students/

Checking for Understanding

Are you looking for some new ways to check for understanding in your students and to find out what they have learned?  The folks over at Edutopia have complied a list of 53 ways to do just that!  Check it out! http://www.edutopia.org/resource/checking-understanding-download?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=checking-understanding-link

Avoiding Homework Battles

At my middle school, homework completion is one of the biggest problems I see.  On a regular basis, I come across students who could be making above average grades if they would just do their homework. It is frustrating for both the parents and teachers.  Unfortunately, finding a solution to this problem is not easy.  I've found it is difficult to find ways to motivate those students.  The smart folks over at www.understood.org, a website devoted to helping students with learning and attention problems, have an idea that might be worth trying.  They suggest a homework contract signed by both the student and their parents or guardians.  Check out the sample contracts for both younger and older students and see what you think. https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/learning-at-home/homework-study-skills/download-sample-homework-contract?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=understoodorg

What is Mindset?

Mindset is a topic you probably hear about frequently.  For those of you who do not know, it is a relatively simple idea discovered by Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist.  She developed this concept after years of research on achievement and success.  Mindset explains the most basic beliefs we hold about ourselves and how shifting them can affect positive change in our lives. As the new school year starts and everyone is talking about improving student achievement, understanding how to foster a growth mindset is important.  This Ted Talk by Dweck provides a great overview of why this relatively simple idea about the brain can raise student achievement and productivity.   https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en

Children and Resiliency

Many people truly believe that we learn more from children then they learn from us. When faced with adverse situations many children demonstrate courage and strength that we did not know they had in them. Our jobs as parents, and educators is to provide children with the tools that assist them in overcoming these situations. By doing some simple things we can help build students into mindful, and emotional component adults. Check out the link below on ways to help Build Resiliency in our students, as we all know... its a tough world out there! http://www.nasponline.org/communications/spawareness/spweek2005_resilho.aspx

Help! I Don't Know How To Do My Child's Math Homework!

By Alison Sharp Does this sound familiar?  I don't know about you, but I can tell you that my last formal math class was several years (ahem...decades) ago.  Even as someone who is starting her sixth year working for the school system, I often feel that way.  Things are taught quite a bit differently from when I was in school.  Don't panic! There is help out there... Khan Academy is a wonderful free online learning site.  It has numerous lessons that are aligned with common core, and is especially good for when you don't know how to help your child with his or her math homework.  So, if I have a third grade student, and don't know how to help him with his homework, I could click on third grade, then on division, and then on whatever aspect he is learning.  There are lots of explanations and then practice items with immediate feedback.  There is even an "I need a hint" button to click.  There are other subject areas as well like science, arts, and huma

Welcome Back!

It seems like summer went by so quickly!  We hope everyone enjoyed lots of great family time.  As the new school year starts, we wanted to share some ideas for how to get it off on the right foot.  Here is an article from Scholastic on how to do just that.  Some of the ideas might seem like common sense but a reminder never hurts.  Parents and teachers, we would love to hear more strategies from you! http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/3-superstar-tips-starting-school-year-right

Keeping a Summer Routine

With school finally over, this last link is for everyone at home with kids this summer. I think kids do best when there is some predictability in their lives, even during the summer months. I know, I know, summer is supposed to be all about sleeping in, relaxing, and having fun. I agree, it is! However, a little routine will probably lead to less stress for everyone, parents and kids alike. The author of this blog has some great ideas for keeping your summer running smoothly and teaching kids how to get a few things done around the house. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer! See you in August! http://www.landeeseelandeedo.com/2015/04/creating-summer-routines-and-chore-charts.html

Teaching Mindfulness to Kids

Here is a great resource for teaching mindfulness to kids. The ideas are practical and easy to do at home or school. http://leftbrainbuddha.com/10-ways-teach-mindfulness-to-kids/

Only 4 more days....

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Standing Desks: What Do You Think?

Childhood obesity is one of the biggest problems facing our youth, a problem many contribute to their sedimentary lifestyles.  One school in California is taking a unique approach to addressing this concern.  What do you think about using standing desks in classrooms?  New research is suggesting these desks increase student engagement and attention in addition to leading to a more active lifestyle.  Read this article and share your opinion. Do you think standing desks would work in your classroom or with your child? http://www.fastcoexist.com/3045201/should-your-kids-school-have-standing-desks-these-crossfitters-think-so

How Do You Regulate Screen Time?

If your house is anything like mine, limiting screen time is a constant battle. My kids are pretty active so I don't worry too much, but chores and homework often take a backseat to that ever moving screen. With summer coming, I am looking for fresh ideas that will take the "battle" out of it. I encourage you to read this article from the author of narrowbackslacker.com.  Her strategy leaves it completely in the hands of her children. Share your thoughts about her Momentum Optimization Project as well as your own ways of managing screen time. We would love to hear from you! http://narrowbackslacker.com/2014/05/13/how-i-limited-screen-time-by-offering-my-kids-unlimited-screen-time/

Celebrating the Retirement of Lezlie Pierce

by Gretchen Troutman, Ph.D. Lezlie Pierce, who has been a school psychologist in the Psychological Services Department since August of 1985, retired at the end of May.  No one currently on staff was here when Lezlie started 30 years ago.  At that time there were a total of 14 psychologists on staff, there are now 23 psychologists in the department.  During Lezlie’s first year with the school system she served Bolton Elementary, Old Town Elementary, Independence (an alternative school for middle and high school students), and South Park High School.  At that time South Park served all of the high school students in the school system with mental disabilities.  During Lezlie’s first year she had 110 re-evaluations just at that one school!  Of course there were no computers being used in the department in 1985 so all of the psychological reports were either dictated or handwritten and then typed by the secretaries on a typewriter.  Lezlie has served a number of different schools o