Psyched About School

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...

I am constantly in awe of the advances that I read about with technology and medicine and how it can connect to the world of School Psychology.  When I see exciting new research, it reminds me of how fortunate we are to have STEM programs in our district, helping to develop the next generation of leaders in this field. In this article, scientists used blood sample data to help predict Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in children.  They were 97.6% accurate in identifying the 83 students with ASD and 96.1% accurate in identifying the 76 neurotypical children.  This was a small study, but the implications for future research and the potential benefits of an earlier, accurate diagnosis of ASD are impressive, You can read more about this research here: Science Daily Article