Psyched About School

Remember last year when we posted about a very special student at Sherwood Forest Elementary, Elisha Simmons? If not, you can read that blog here  Psyched About School . This year, Elisha has done it again! This blind fifth grader won the spelling bee at Sherwood Forest for the second year in a row.  He went on the represent Sherwood Forest at the district spelling bee. Although he didn't win (he did make it to one of the last rounds), he has won the heart of those who know him. Watch his WXII interview here WXII Interview  to meet Elisha and his very special teacher, Donna Hunt.

This week, several of my school psychology colleagues and I had the opportunity to talk with the district's Exceptional Children's Case Managers about Traumatic Brain Injuries.  We discussed some of the functions of brain structures and how head injuries might "look" in a classroom setting.  A TBI can often be an "invisible" injury, as the damage could occur internally, with no obvious outside trauma, such as skin bruising, fractures or other surgical scarring.  The impacts of TBI also vary widely, and can impact children in many areas of development, including vision, hearing, language, motor, social-emotional, self-regulation, memory and learning skills. One of those"invisible" injuries involves exposure to toxic substances, including lead.  There's no fall or bump on the head, but the impacts of of lead exposure can be very significant.  The recent media attention on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan has brought the issue of lead tox

For classroom teachers, it is tough to keep students motivated by the rewards they receive for their positive behaviors.  Even with a variety of choices, students often get tired of them.  Here is a great list of 20 unique whole class ideas from Brown bag teacher .  The best part, they don't involve food!

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is held February 26-March 4 for the purpose of bringing attention to the needs of people with eating disorders and their families. Throughout the month of February, Screening for Mental Health provides anonymous eating disorder screenings on their website at http://mybodyscreening.org/   Individuals can locate an eating disorder site or take the online screening, which consists of a series of questions designed to indicate whether symptoms of an eating disorder are present and if clinical help is needed. After completing a screening, participants receive immediate feedback and referral information for local resources that offer further evaluation and treatment.  Online screenings are an effective first step in eating disorder intervention. Similar to other illnesses, early intervention can significantly increase recovery. The infographic below provides additional information on eating disorders:

As the parent of a teenager and a preteen, I do my best to give them the life skills they need.  But sometimes it is just easier to do things myself.  Could they clean up their things in the den? Yes, but I can knock it out quickly without asking myself multiple times or yelling at anyone.  This is just one instance of how I should be encouraging independence.  In this article from Redtri.com, the author gives numerous examples of things teens should be doing for themselves.  My kids do numbers 1, 2, and 6, but I (not them) am struggling with numbers 4, 7, and 8.  This article is an important reminder of why allowing teens to do more helps them become capable and competent adults.  To read the article, visit  Redtri.com

Ever wondered what makes an introvert tick?  I love this article from Quiet Revolution because it uses illustrations as well as science to explain their behavior to extroverts who may not understand.  If you ever thought of introverts as just quiet, this article will change your mind!  To learn more, visit  Quiet Revolution

Do you have this argument with your teenager?  My son's earbuds are always in during homework time and I am constantly telling him to take them out.  I remind him that it is not possible for him to focus and do his best while listening to music, especially rap music with so many lyrics.  What is his response?  "Mom, I can't focus on my homework unless I'm listening to music!"  After going round and round on this one, I started doing some digging to see if perhaps he had a point.  Turns out, we are both right because this is an issue that is definitely not black or white.  How could be both be right?  Read this article from  Developing Minds  to learn more.  The author also gives suggestions for how to compromise with your teenager on this issue so that it is a win-win.