Starting this month, we will list a selection of some of the most widely read and topical articles and resources that have come across our clinical radar. Reading for Understanding in ASD – A question and answer session with Dr. Shari Robertson on how to facilitate reading comprehension for students with autism. (The ASHA Leader) Make the Speech Referral Process Work for You – Practical ideas for streamlining the referral process and fostering better relationships with school staff. The growing demand for early childhood education – The importance of design in early learning centers. (Building Design + Construction) Clients Describe How Occupational Therapy Changed Their Lives in Video – People of different ages and with different disabilities describe what occupational therapy has meant to them. (AOTA) Scientists to Schools: Social, Emotional Development Crucial for Learning – 28 nationally recognized researchers released a statement on the link between social and emotional development to academics and an agenda for future research. Can Preschool Really Narrow Achievement Gaps? – A new study of over 12,000 students across 11 states found quality gaps in preschools between states as well as between preschools with low-income and minority populations compared to preschools with higher income, white populations. Multitasking Harms Recall—Music, Not So Much –…
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria, emotional concerns can have a lasting impact on children and families. Here’s a sampling of resources that provide strategies for helping pre-schoolers, elementary aged children, and adolescents cope with trauma from these recent natural disasters. Tornadoes, hurricanes and children – Tips for alleviating the emotional consequences of trauma and identifying when to seek professional help. (from APA) Support in the Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey – Things school professionals should offer students to provide support and help them understand. (from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement) Helping Kids Deal With Hurricanes/Floods – Strategies for helping children deal with hurricanes, including articles, books, webinars, and websites. (from the American School Counselor Association) Helping Children After a…
We kicked off our “Blueprints for Success: Making Good Ideas Real” webinar series with Dr. Howie Knoff. During “Building Academic and S/E/B Progress for All Students,” Dr. Knoff discussed how effective classroom management and instruction in social, emotional, and behavioral self-management can encourage better student behavior. After the webinar, our co-founder and CEO Clay Whitehead moderated viewer questions for Dr. Knoff. Below is a summary of this informative Q&A. Clay: We have well over 1,500 people in the audience and many questions are coming in here. Let’s start with some basics from the audience. What is an attributional skill? When and how does it fit in? Are there programs that address this? Howie: Well, an attributional skill basically is a student’s belief system, their expectations,…
Students entering kindergarten come to school with varying levels of oral language and communication skills. By age three, which is far before kindergarten begins, children with typically developing language skills should be comfortable answering common questions verbally and should not be relying on head nods or gestures as their main form of communication. A child’s parents, family, and early educators and caregivers have an important role in modeling good oral language during these critical years. In a recent guest column for The Hechinger Report “Teacher Voice” column, Devin Walsh, a kindergarten to first-grade “looping” teacher at Oak Grove Primary School in Hattiesburg, Miss., highlighted some strategies for reinforcing good oral language habits with young students. Talk to them! Just like other skills, language is a practiced skill. Start by…
Educational neuroscience expert and adolescent behavioral consultant – and SPED Ahead webinar guest – Dr. Lori Desautels stresses the importance of teaching students about their brains to help them regulate their behavior. In the Summer ‘17 issue of SEEN Magazine, our very own Co-Founder and CEO Clay Whitehead conducted a Q&A session with Dr. Desautels to ask: How does teaching students about their own brains affect their behavior? What are some ways educators can teach students about their brains? What are the best ways for students and teachers to reduce cortisol levels to help their stress levels? What are some simple brain-aligned activities that help students succeed as learners? Read Dr. Desautels’ answers in the online issue of the publication here. For more on the…
Starting this month, we will list a selection of some of the most widely read and topical articles and resources that have come across our clinical radar. What was on your reading list this month? Please share your best below in the Comments. Intervention strategies evolve in K12: New approaches address social-emotional learning and anxiety as well as academic instruction – School districts have implemented RTI and PBIS for over a decade. Learnings over this period, combined with a better understanding of the neuroscience behind learning and new technology have led educators to further refine intervention strategies. This article outlines four new approaches to intervention. (From District Administration) Education Department Launches New IDEA Website – Based on feedback from educators, administrators, parents, service providers, and advocates, the US Department…
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is now the second leading cause of death among teenagers. A new report also shows that the suicide rate among girls is at its highest in 40 years. Many young people themselves feel they do not have access to the resources that can increase their ability to deal with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Regardless of our role in a young person’s life – friend, parent, caregiver, sister, brother, relative, teacher, therapist – we need to be aware of the signs and risk factors for suicide, and be prepared to help. The National Institute of Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention both provide resources for learning more. Familiarize yourself with the…
Dr. Lori Desautels, expert on neuroscience, trauma, and special education, and presenter on PresenceLearning’s SPED Ahead webinar forum for special education leaders and clinicians was interviewed by PresenceLearning co-founder and CEO Clay Whitehead. The two discussed neuroscience, the importance of teaching students about their brains, and stress reduction techniques.
The Born This Way Foundation was founded by Lady Gaga in 2012 to assist young people in achieving mental and emotional well-being. However, a study commissioned by the foundation found that although young people value their mental health, many feel they do not have access to the resources that can increase their ability to deal with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The study, “Kind Communities – A Bridge to Youth Mental Wellness,” analyzed the results of a survey administered to 3,015 young people between the ages of 15 and 24, as well as 1,004 parents. The survey included questions about how students view their own mental health, how peers and parents help and hinder mental health efforts, and what schools can do to…
By Dara Rogoff, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL PresenceLearning provides speech and language services via an onsite/online service service delivery model. Together, as a team, onsite speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with selected students while online SLPs work with others. Determining how to split the workload depends on a number of factors that may include caseloads, existing resources, travel time, and the need for specialists. Some districts prefer to move their older students to online services to free up time for onsite SLPs to work with early childhood students, whereas others may tap online clinicians for their elementary students. In some districts, we work with charter school students and homebound students. Other districts may need online help for bilingual students or edge cases. In all of these scenarios,…