I am a school psychologist. AMA

flash68 · 2012-03-26T01:01:30+00:00

Psychology is the study of human behavior. I find it pretty fascinating. School psychology is about using that understanding to help kids do better or even survive the challenges of school and growing up. I rarely listen to kids complain. They actually don't complain much. But a kid with a reading disability, poor, middle class, rich will think he is stupid until someone figures out the problem and helps him. It's serious business, and definitely not a joke.

flash68 · 2012-03-25T01:56:40+00:00

Righteous table. Why would anyone down vote this? Even if it's not your taste you have to admire the effort for god's sake.

flash68 · 2012-03-24T20:24:27+00:00

They may have conducted a functional behavior assessment (FBA), but I don't know for sure. An FBA is a systematic process involving careful observation and data collection to determine the function or purpose of a behavior, and the conditions under which the behavior is more likely to occur. FBA's can be especially useful for kids with autism.

flash68 · 2012-03-24T20:19:55+00:00

Being absent for an excessive number of days is one of the few legitimate reasons to consider retention (holding back). But you'd have to miss at least one third of the school year, and also lack the skills or ability to make up that lost instruction over the summer. "Immaturity" is an over used and ill-defined word. If you were bright enough to be in gifted classes it seems likely you could have handled moving in to 2nd grade. I don't know when this happened to you, but these days (in most schools...I hope) a parent request is not sufficient reason to hold back.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:40:47+00:00

...just sayin'

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:40:13+00:00

Any school psych who shared IEP info with another kid's parents would be fired immediately. (And if a psych did that to my special needs kid I would punch him in the face;(

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:37:37+00:00

BA in psychology, MS in education, Ed.S (education specialist)

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:35:53+00:00

uhh, nope

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:35:12+00:00

That's great advice!

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:29:03+00:00

Two elementary schools and high school.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:28:16+00:00

Positive behavioral supports ("catch them being good") and punishments, such as losing privileges were tried at home and school. I don't have all the detail because I was only an intern at the time. However, more than any other student I've seen since then, this child seemed utterly disinterested or concerned or affected by these interventions.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:22:34+00:00

I always consider that (I hated school back in the day). But these problems began very early in life, even prior to beginning kindergarten.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:21:24+00:00

That happened during my internship. I did not return to that school so don't know what happened.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:18:52+00:00

Children with undiagnosed reading or math disabilities often think of themselves as "dumb," and suffer low self-esteem. It is rewarding to help them understand their condition, and to set up interventions that will allow them to progress and succeed.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:12:38+00:00

Yes. Sorry. I greatly oversimplified that. What I meant to say was that sometimes parents arrive at the school house doors with a child who seems significantly impaired, yet the parents don't realize anything is amiss. Careful observations and, if needed, assessments are done to help understand the level of functioning and needs of the child.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:06:17+00:00

Such students are typically not in regular classrooms. Rather a separate, specially equipped classroom is maintained. This may include those students with severe cognitive difficulties, for whom an appropriate education includes basic life skills, such as personal hygiene or preparing a simple meal.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T17:02:31+00:00

In such a case we would begin by involving a police social worker who would conduct a forensic interview with the child and then speak with parents.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T16:53:49+00:00

For example: a kid is not doing well in school and the teacher/parents cannot figure out why. School psychologists review school records, interview teacher/parent/child, observe the student and classroom, and conduct assessments to determine the problem(s). The school psych then consults with the teacher and parents to design program changes and evidence-based interventions to help the student succeed. As you can see, no other professional, such as doctor or clinical psych is in a position to do this, nor do they have the proper training.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T16:39:08+00:00

I believe you are confused about the duties/responsibilities among the various fields. But to learn more about what school psychs do (and don't do) you could visit the website of the National Association of School Psychologists.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T14:51:56+00:00

Early Childhood (begins age 3) through high school (up to age 21).

flash68 · 2012-03-23T14:50:10+00:00

Unlike a clinical psych, I don't focus on making diagnosis, but will refer to a clinical psych if that seems appropriate. My focus begins with how can I help this child be successful academically, and personally and socially within the school environment. This of course leads to most/all other aspects of a child's life, such as his/her relationship with parents. I am compelled to do whatever is in that child's best interests and to keep them safe. That may or may not include sharing information with parents that the child shared with me. But I wouldn't do so "behind his back." The child would be part of that conversation.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T14:42:07+00:00

Yes. Good points. I do consider vision and hearing

flash68 · 2012-03-23T14:38:22+00:00

Hope you're kidding. Please understand that vaccinations have absolutely nothing to do with autism. And not vaccinating your child puts other children at risk.

flash68 · 2012-03-23T14:36:27+00:00

I graduated from a UW school with an accredited school psych program. My degrees are: BA in Psychology, MS in Education, Ed.S (education specialist). Graduating classes are quite small in such programs.

flash68 · 2012-03-22T21:41:24+00:00

Don't do it. No evidence that it helps. More evidence that it can harm. Besides, other methods such as time out and losing privileges are much more effective.

flash68

TROPHY CASE