Psyched About School

For those of us who work in the schools or have children in school, this can be an overwhelming time of the year.  Although we have almost made it to the finish line, we aren't there yet.  There's state testing, exams, grades to enter, end of year parties, field day, graduation, and the list goes on and on....  During this whirlwind time, we often forget to take care of ourselves until it starts to feel like too much.  Here is a list of 101 self-care suggestions for when this happens.  Some of them might seem obvious but a reminder never hurts.  Visit,  http://themighty.com/2016/04/self-care-ideas-for-a-bad-day/  to find out which ones might work for you.

A new study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that parents could be taught to improve their children's social communication skills when they learned research-based interventions using online programs.  For many families, it could be quite empowering to teach their children social skills at home using proven techniques. To learn more about the study, visit Disability Scoop at  https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/05/24/online-autism-training/22353/ I recently attended a workshop conducted by staff from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute in Chapel Hill, N.C.  They shared this exciting website  http://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/social-skills-training  which provides social skills training modules based on evidence-based practices.  And that is just the beginning!  If you look around the website, you can find training modules for numerous other behavioral approaches that can be used with individuals with Autism ...

This Paisley IB Magnet student is headed to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.! To learn more about how he got there, visit http://m.journalnow.com/news/local/journal-spelling-bee-champ-ready-for-national-stage/article_ee98c958-35d9-5219-8097-f2a9a2bbd812.html?mode=jqm

Are you looking for a creative way to problem solve for your school or department?  This fun game to play as a staff incorporates "pain points" and relevant observations to help administrators and teachers find solutions and improve school climate.  The really great thing about this game is that it empowers everyone in the school to innovate. When you work together to solve problems, all of the stakeholders in the school become energized.  To lear n more, visit  http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/10/24/a-problem-solving-game-for-teachers-and-administrators/

I feel like a kid crossing off the days until summer break.  Although there is so much left to do, it is difficult to keep the momentum going at the same level I have all year.  For teachers, I imagine this is even more of an issue. They not only have to keep themselves charged, they have the added responsibility of keeping the kids motivated. This article from Edutopia gives some great ideas for how to survive those last few weeks in the classroom.  To learn more, visit  http://www.edutopia.org/motivation-final-weeks-school

As we enter the last few weeks of school, parents and teachers alike often want a conference to review progress as well as to develop a plan for how to support the child over the summer.  We have posted on this topic before http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/2015/10/having-collaborative-conversations.html  because the collaboration between home and school is critical for the success of the student. This article, written by a school psychologist for the Child Mind Institute, has practical suggestions for how to prepare and what questions to ask.  The ideas are helpful for both teachers and parents.  To read the article, visit  http://childmind.org/article/teacher-conferences-a-guide-for-parents/

During this testing season, it important to remember that the tests are really about a student and not necessarily a score.  You may have already seen this touching note that has gone viral this year.  This teacher really gets it.  If you haven't read it, please take a moment to visit  http://mashable.com/2016/03/01/standardized-test-teachers-note/#PjMNCHaDUsqE  so you can.

We mentioned in a previous blog that we would be posting strategies to help students prepare for the end of year tests.  That preparation should include not only recommendations for how to study but also ideas for how to manage the anxiety that might accompany the tests.  This page from the National Education Association includes all kinds of links to websites for test taking tips.  They have links for students, parents and educators in grades K-12.  To learn more, visit  http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/Test-Prep-Review-Strategies.html

Although our blog isn't here to promote or advertise, when I came across this new devise for maintaining attention, I was intrigued. When I learned it was invented by a former school psychologist, Rich Brancaccio, who specialized in ADHD and Autism, I definitely wanted to learn more.  The RE-vibe is designed to help individuals of all ages stay on task.  It comes with four different settings based on your level of distractability.  The RE-vibe vibrates periodically to remind you to focus and to get back on task.  To learn more about this exciting new tool, visit  http://fokuslabs.com   We would love to hear your thoughts.  Do you think something like this could work?

Are your students worried about the upcoming End of Grade tests or exams?  There are lots of great suggestions for how to prepare for them (be looking for another post about that), but here are some ideas from PBSKids for how to manage the stress once the test actually begins.  To see them all, visit  http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/school/teststress/article10.html

There seems to be much discussion about the rigors of the kindergarten curriculum.  This article from The Atlantic compares the Common Core expectations to kindergartens in Finland, where teachers basically develop individualized learning plans for each student when they enter school.  The guide for what is included in the plans is the child's own interests and readiness. To learn more about kindergarten in Finland and what some of the research on this topic says, visit  http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/10/the-joyful-illiterate-kindergartners-of-finland/408325/ To hear more about what our own Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools believes, visit  http://leaders.edweek.org/profile/steve-oates-assistant-superintendent-of-elementary-administration-early-childhood-education/?cmp=SOC-EDIT-FB

Do you ever ask about their school day and get nothing?  It is so important to keep the lines of communication open, but how do you respond when they give you such a vague response? Sometimes it is just a matter of asking the right questions.  This guide from Understood provides a list of things you should keep in mind, after-school conversation starters, and key takeaways.  I love the way the list is divided into academic and social questions to try, as well as questions to avoid.  To read the article, visit  https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/understanding-childs-challenges/talking-with-your-child/how-to-say-it-questions-to-ask-your-child-about-school

This is the time of year when it seems like behavior problems are most prevalent.  Maybe it is the stress of end of grade tests or just the pressure of finishing up the year.  It could be that teachers and other school staff are dealing with their own end of the year stressors.  Regardless of the reasons, it is helpful to understand the function of behaviors and know some tips for de-escalating them.  This article from Mind/Shift notes that a students' negative behavior is almost always a form of communication for them.  When you know what they are communicating, it is easier to figure out how to reduce the behavior.  To learn more about these 20 recommended tips, visit  http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/04/21/20-tips-to-help-de-escalate-interactions-with-anxious-or-defiant-students/