Psyched About School

As part of our continuing coverage of Autism Awareness Month, we wanted to pass along this guidance  from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).  It's certainly understandable that any parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) would want to do everything possible to ensure that the child leads a happy and successful life.  In fact, it's probably safe to assume that all parents want this for their children.  However, as the FDA points out, there is no "cure" for Autism Spectrum Disorders.  As we have seen an increase in the number of children identified with ASD over recent years, we have also seen an increase in the number of treatments or "cures" being marketed by companies.  Some of these not only fail to improve characteristics or symptoms of ASD, but may actually cause harm.  The FDA offers the following helpful advice: "if it’s an unproven or little known treatment, talk to your health care professional before buying or using thes

The idea of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) isn't new, but it has gained traction and attention in recent years, as more research has validated the benefits of incorporating SEL into our classrooms and schools. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)  defines SEL as a "process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."  While some of that may seem like common sense, having an established framework with an emphasis on SEL ensures that all of students have the opportunity to acquire and practice these skills.  CASEL has produced this graphic to explain their concept of SEL: In  this article  from The Atlantic , the author shares observations from her visit to Austin High School, where SEL ha

We've been hearing more and more about the importance of understanding the psychological effects of trauma and what a student with a high number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may look like in the classroom setting.  Children who are affected by trauma often react in unexpected ways, as research has shown that they undergo neurological changes, as compared to children who have not been exposed to trauma. The article  The Trauma Behind Students' Actions  opens with this statement: "Sometimes, children just need somebody willing to listen."  I think most of us would probably agree with that statement.  Six schools in Central Illinois are part of a pilot project in trauma-informed schools, helping not only teachers and administrators, but all adults who work with kids, to see through a “trauma-informed lens,” as it's known. One of the strategies used by teacher Kristin Portis is pictured below.  Each cup represents a different mood, and each child has

On the last early release day, the Psychological Services Department had the opportunity to visit the Hospice & Palliative CareCenter in Forsyth County.  We learned about opportunities for students and families in our area who may need additional support during difficult times.  Katie Cyre, MS, MT-BC, Complementary Therapies Program Manager & Music Therapist facilitated this visit for us and was kind enough to write the following guest blog for us: If you and your family have experienced the death of a loved one, you know how important it is to have ongoing support. The losses of those closest to us impact us in profound ways, both individually and within our family systems. We know, too, that losses are revisited as children move through new developmental stages, and even into adulthood as life’s big events unfold. The original loss is re-worked over many years through the new lens of experience and the changes that growing-up brings about. It is important that people

April is Autism Awareness Month and, to continue our coverage of this important topic, we wanted to share this helpful resource from the Child Mind Institute: Sharing an Autism Diagnosis With Family & Friends Parenting a child with characteristics of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not easy.  One of the challenges faced by many parents is how and when to communicate to others that their child is on the Autism Spectrum.  There are some great tips in this article, including differentiating between "behaviors" and "symptoms."  For example, a child with ASD who has difficulty with eye contact may be inaccurately perceived as "rude."  Another great tip is to explain that ASD covers an extremely broad range of skill levels, so it's important to remember that one person with an ASD may function in a completely different manner from another person with an ASD.  In the world of school psychology, we've all heard the saying, "If you'

To continue our coverage of Autism Awareness Month throughout April, we wanted to pass along some information on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in girls.  You may already be aware that the ration of boys to girls diagnosed with ASD is more than  4 to 1.  There has never been a specific reason for this gender difference, although questions have been raised about genetic differences.  However, as this article points out, "clinicians and researchers have also come to realize that many 'higher functioning' autistic girls are simply missed."  When girls with ASD are overlooked, misdiagnosed or diagnosed later, it may be because they don't fit the traditional "profile."  The author also notes that girls actually "may be better at hiding the signs, at least when they’re young."  You can learn more about the differences between boys and girls with characteristics of ASD here:  Why Many Autistic Girls are Overlooked

We've blogged before about mindfulness and the positive effects it can have on both teachers and students.  "Mindfulness" can be misunderstood by some as having a religious or spiritual context.  In fact, mindfulness is simply about awareness.  When we practice mindfulness, we have an "in the moment" awareness of our thoughts, our feelings, how our body feels, and our surrounding environment.  As we tune in to this awareness, we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, without judging them, or believing that there's a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. In this incredibly busy world, where technology seems to inundate us with a never-ending barrage of information, it can be easy to slip into "autopilot" mode.  For example, have you ever driven somewhere without really thinking about what you were doing until you arrived?  That was autopilot.  Another example I've been hearing a lot lately is "mindless eating,&qu

The month of April is World Autism Month! The Autism Speaks "Light It Up Blue" campaign was initiated in  2010 to commemorate the UN-Sanctioned World Autism  Awareness Day on April 2nd. What started as a day for famous  landmarks to light up blue for autism has evolved into an annual  blue movement that continues throughout the entire month of April  around the world. You can see some of the fantastic participants on Twitter using the hashtag #LightItUpBlue.   Kazakhstan went blue for Autism... and so did Italy.... and Washington, D.C.! Our friend Selene Johnson, the Executive Director at ABC of NC recently shared information about Autism Awareness Month in this video clip from  WXII .  We recently blogged about our visit to ABC of NC, where we learned a lot about this fantastic resource - and you can, too!  Just click here:  ABC of NC. To learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and how you can be involved in Autism Awareness Month act

The theme for the 2017 Brain Injury Association of America national campaign is “NOT ALONE.” The goal is to let people know of the research, treatment and support that is available for the more than 2.5 million children and adults who sustain traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year. With the support of the Brain Injury Association of NC (BIAofNC), people with brain injuries are not alone on their journey. To raise awareness about brain injuries, we're sharing these facts from the CDC and the BIAofNC: TBI contributes to over 50,000 deaths in the US each year. Annually, 280,000 people are hospitalized with a TBI diagnosis in the US. The annual estimated cost of emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths as a result of a TBI in the US exceeds $82 billion. Over 33,500 North Carolinians are injured each year, not including veterans (who are counted through other surveillance data mechanisms). Over 200,000 North Carolinians are living in the community dis

If you've ever visited a K-12 classroom, you know that teaching is not an easy job.  We've shared information in the past on mindfulness, but many of the studies I've read focus on using mindfulness techniques with students to help decrease anxiety, increase self-regulation or improve overall behavioral functioning. This research takes a different approach, by investigating the effects of a mindfulness training program with teachers .  Using "Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education" (CARE) for Teachers, a mindfulness-based professional-development program designed to help teachers reduce stress and burnout, the researchers examined effects on teacher stress and student achievement for participating teachers. What they found is probably not surprising.  We know that adult behavior can impact student behavior; if teachers are stressed and frustrated, students may pick up on that.  We also know that student stress can negatively impact learning and that