In honor of National Disabilities Awareness month I want to recognize all of the student services staff at Wildwood Forest elementary school (past and present) who have done amazing work to help support our students with disabilities. Student Services are comprised of the School Nurse, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, School Psychologist, Physical Therapist, Speech and Language Pathologist and School Counselor. Student Services collaborate with teachers on how to best meet the needs of students with disabilities. We work to create an accepting school climate where students of all abilities can learn and grow. Our team works with parents to meet the medical needs as well as the social-emotional and educational needs of all students. Wildwood Forest Elementary is a great place to learn and grow. Liz Norkus-School Counselor, Christine Cox-School Counselor, Allie Oberbrockling-School Social Worker, Deirdre Martyn-School Psychologist and the school psychologists adorable son :-) Sue Adams-Speech and Language Pathologist, Aneesah Thomas-School Counselor, Christine Cox-School Counselor, Deirdre Martyn-School Psychologist and Liz Norkus-School Counselor
October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Scott Kelly, a veteran NASA astronaut and future year-long resident of the International Space Station, speaks out against bullying as part of the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention campaign. Visit StopBullying.gov for more information on prevention and awareness. Worst Day Ever?
by Chanie Gorkin Today was the absolute worst day ever And don't try to convince me that There's something good in every day Because, when you take a closer look, This world is a pretty evil place. Even if Some goodness does shine through once in a while Satisfaction and happiness don't last. And it's not true that It's all in the mind and heart Because True happiness can be attained Only if one's surroundings are good It's not true that good exists I'm sure you can agree that The reality Creates My attitude It's all beyond my control And you'll never in a million years hear me say Today was a very good day Now read it from bottom to top, the other way, And see what I really feel about my day. CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR CLASSSROOM STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS TIPS FOR HELPING STUDENTS WITH ADHD IN THE CLASSROOM TIPS FOR HELPING STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS IN THE CLASSROOM Clear your own schedule. To the extent possible, postpone business trips, volunteer meetings, and extra projects. You want to be free to help your child acclimate to the school routine and overcome the confusion or anxiety that many children experience at the start of a new school year.
Make lunches the night before school. Older children should help or make their own. Give them the option to buy lunch in school if they prefer and finances permit. Set alarm clocks. Have school-age children set their own alarm clocks to get up in the morning. Praise them for prompt response to morning schedules and bus pickups. Leave plenty of extra time. Make sure your child has plenty of time to get up, eat breakfast, and get to school. For very young children taking the bus, pin to their shirt or backpack an index card with pertinent information, including their teacher’s name and bus number, as well as your daytime contact information. After school. Review with your child what to do if he or she gets home after school and you are not there. Be very specific, particularly with young children. Put a note card in their backpack with the name(s) and number(s) of a neighbor who is home during the day as well as a number where you can be reached. If you have not already done so, have your child meet neighbor contacts to reaffirm the backup support personally. Send a brief note to your child’s teacher. Let the teachers know that you are interested in getting regular feedback on how and what your child is doing in school. Be sure to attend back-to-school night and introduce yourself to the teachers. Find out how they like to communicate with parents (e.g., through notes, e-mail, or phone calls). Convey a sincere desire to be a partner with your children’s teachers to enhance their learning experience. Review your child’s schoolbooks. Talk about what your child will be learning during the year. Share your enthusiasm for the subjects and your confidence in your child’s ability to master the content. Reinforce the natural progression of the learning process that occurs over the school year. Learning skills take time and repetition. Encourage your child to be patient, attentive, and positive. Familiarize yourself with the other school professionals. Make an effort to find out who it is in the school or district who can be a resource for you and your child. Learn their roles and how best to access their help if you need them. This can include the principal and front office personnel; school psychologist, counselor, and social worker; the reading specialist, speech therapist, and school nurse; and the after-school activities coordinator. National Association of School Psychologists-www.nasponline.org The 2015-2016 school year is quickly approaching. Before your child begins the new year check out these tips to make the transition smooth for the entire family. Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence children's attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. The transition from summer break to the return of a structured school day can be difficult for both children and parents. Here are a few suggestions to help ease the transition and promote a successful school experience.a successful school experience.
Good Physical & Mental Health Be sure your child is in good physical and mental health. Schedule doctor and dental checkups early. Discuss any concerns you have over your child’s emotional or psychological development with your pediatrician. Your doctor can help determine if your concerns are normal, age-appropriate issues or require further assessment. Your child will benefit if you can identify and begin addressing a potential issue before school starts. Schools appreciate the efforts of parents to remedy problems as soon as they are recognized. Review ALL Information Sent From The School Review the material sent by the school as soon as it arrives. These packets include important information about your child’s teacher, room number, school supply requirements, sign ups for after-school sports and activities, school calendar dates, bus transportation, health and emergency forms, and volunteer opportunities. Mark Your Calendar Make a note of important dates, especially back-to-school nights. This is especially important if you have children in more than one school and need to juggle obligations. Arrange for a babysitter now, if necessary. Make Copies Make copies of all your child’s health and emergency information for reference. Health forms are typically good for more than a year and can be used again for camps, extracurricular activities, and the following school year. Buy school supplies early Try to get the supplies as early as possible and fill the backpacks a week or two before school starts. Older children can help do this, but make sure they use a checklist that you can review. Some teachers require specific supplies, so save receipts for items that you may need to return later. Re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routine Plan to re-establish the bedtime and mealtime routines (especially breakfast) at least 1 week before school starts. Prepare your child for this change by talking with your child about the benefits of school routines in terms of not becoming over tired or overwhelmed by school work and activities. Include pre-bedtime reading and household chores if these were suspended during the summer. Turn off the TV Encourage your child to play quiet games, do puzzles, flash cards, color, or read as early morning activities instead of watching television. This will help ease your child into the learning process and school routine. If possible, maintain this practice throughout the school year. Television is distracting for many children, and your child will arrive at school better prepared to learn each morning if he or she has engaged in less passive activities. Minimize clothes shopping woes Buy only the essentials. Summer clothes are usually fine during the early fall, but be sure to have at least one pair of sturdy shoes. Check with your school to confirm dress code guidelines. Common concerns include extremely short skirts and shorts, low rise pants, bare midriffs, spaghetti strap or halter tops, exposed undergarments, and clothing that have antisocial messages. Designate a space for homework Older children should have the option of studying in their room or a quiet area of the house. Younger children usually need an area set aside in the family room or kitchen to facilitate adult monitoring, supervision, and encouragement. RESOURCE: National Association of School Psychologists- www.nasponline.org Student services staff is made up of the school counselor(s), school psychologist, school social worker and the school nurse. We are here to support students, families and the WWF staff. We are looking forward to an amazing year!
Please check back regularly as this webpage will be updated throughout the year with great information on how you can better support your child at home. April is autism awareness month. Below you will find links to help raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders as well as provide information for educators and parents. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a complex group of related disabilities marked by impairments in communication and socialization, a limited range of interests, and the presence of repetitive behaviors. Although often not diagnosed until preschool age, ASDs develop early in life and are generally lifelong, with implications for education, social development, and community adjustment.
*Autism Spectrum Disorders: Intervention Options for Parents and Educators *Autism Spectrum Disorders: Identification and Diagnosis *Autism Awareness Month * Autism Spectrum Disorders: Primer for Parents and Educators |
Deirdre Martyn
School Psychologist Archives
May 2017
Categories |