Psyched About School

We haven't posted in a while.  Why???  School Psychologists experience stress too, especially this time of year! It seems like everyone, staff and students alike, are running around trying to get everything done before the end of school. There is the anxiety over those end of year tests.  Some students are also concerned about being promoted to the next grade.  Teachers often experience similar worries as they try to make tough decisions about students.  Most high school students feel the pressure of projects or exams while some worry about whether they will even graduate. Outside of school, the stress caused by things going on at home can generate even more anxiety for some children. As summer approaches, they might worry about where their next meal will come from or whether they will be safe at home.  For these children, schools provide the comfort, safety, and predictability they don't have during the summer months. This article from  Edutopia  provides additional reason

If you have a teenager or are around one frequently, you know they can be moody.  Especially this time of the school year, it seems like teenagers exhibit more mood swings, sadness, and anxiety.  As a parent or caregiver, how do you know when their behaviors go beyond just typical adolescent behavior?  Depression is a very real condition which affects about one in 20 (see article) teenagers.  Parents and caregivers need to know what to look for and when to seek intervention. This article from  Psychcentral  explains four important facts about teen depression and what you can do to help.

This article  from Edutopia  contains some excellent suggestions to help build focus and engagement in the classroom. While it is geared towards students who have an Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), these strategies could certainly be helpful for all learners. One of my favorite suggestions in this article is the idea of teachers using "I Noticed" sheets to reinforce the positive aspects of a student's behavior during the day.  While this isn't something you'd want to do every day for every student, there's a lot of power in occasionally letting that struggling learner know that you are paying attention to them and to the things that they are able to do well.  Even as adults, we experience what I call the "warm fuzzies" when someone takes the time to recognize our efforts and hard work.  Imagine the power that this could hold for a student with academic or behavioral challenges who may feel that he or she is unable to do anything ri

We recently came across this article on the concept of academic 'red-shirting' as it relates to Kindergarten students and, with the end of the school year fast approaching, it seemed like a good time to pass this information along to parents who may be in the process of making decisions about Kindergarten for next school year: Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? If you are not familiar with this concept, it refers to the idea of delaying Kindergarten enrollment with the idea that this improves overall student outcomes.  However, as the article notes, there isn't a clear research consensus on the pros or cons of this academic red-shirting practice.  The author offers the following advice for parents who are currently facing this decision: "Despite the weightiness of the decision, rest assured that a child is likely to be successful whichever path his parents choose."

I recently came across this "open letter"  from a parent about the experience of taking your child to the Emergency Room as the result of a mental health crisis.  The author, Julia Johnson Attaway, does a beautiful job of speaking to the fears that parents may experience when faced with this incredibly difficult decision. As a School Psychologist, we complete Suicide Assessments with our Student Services colleagues - including Social Workers and School Counselors - more often than any of us would like.  I've seen firsthand the anxiety on a parent's face when they arrive at school to pick up a child who has expressed a desire for self-harm.  It's never easy to explain the options for seeking emergency mental health assistance, but I will definitely bookmark this article to share with parents in the future, in an effort to try to make this process a little easier for them.  I truly hope that none of our readers will ever need this information, but wanted to pass

In my house, we are the proud owners of three fidgets.  We have two spinners and one cube.  If you've been under a rock and haven't heard about them, this article from Live Science  explains some of the science behind their popularity.  A few months ago, my kids started telling me they needed one in order to reduce anxiety and stay focused. Since the popularity of fidgets has exploded, I've heard mixed reviews from teachers and some schools have even banned them.  In this article from  U.S. News & World Report , two occupational therapists weigh in on the debate with different opinions. Fidgets have actually been around for years and have certainly supported the needs of some special needs children. What is your opinion?  We would love for you to weigh in on this debate!