First day of practicum

I visited my practicum site for the first time last Friday!  I met my supervisor in her office (bright and early at 7:45) at the middle school and we formulated a game plan for the day.  She had previously scheduled a private school evaluation until the afternoon, so we needed to coordinate our schedules.  She walked me over to the high school (next door), introduced me to the secretaries and principals, and introduced me to the guidance counselor who filled me in about the tenth-grade student referred for my consultation case.  My supervisor informed me that in the high school, teachers do not typically have time to consult about students with behavioral or academic concerns.  Luckily, the student’s chemistry teacher had a free period and was open to the consultation process.  After our productive meeting, we identified a math concern that was affecting the student’s performance in chemistry class.  I reviewed the student’s math grades and noticed that since Algebra I class in 7^th grade, her performance began to drop and she was currently earning grades around 65%.  Naturally, that would lead me to consult with the math teacher so hopefully this Friday we can figure out why the student is struggling and how best to support her in her current math class.  After consulting with the math teacher, the next step is to decide how to assess baseline performance and take data, and then to monitor progress after implementing an academic intervention.  I also informally observed the referred student in chemistry class after speaking with her teacher to add some more information to the case.  This Friday, I also hope to interview the student to get her perspective on school and her math performance.

After I completed my tasks at the high school, I walked back to the middle school to observe a comprehensive evaluation of a 7^th grade student.  I will eventually conduct five comprehensive evaluations this year (including cognitive, academic, behavioral, and social/emotional aspects of functioning), so it was great to observe my supervisor in action.  I took some mental notes (praise effort, not correct answers, allow silence for student to process questions during an interview, etc…) that I hopefully remember when administering the WISC!

Book recommendation: So, You Are a School Psychologist

Okay, I couldn't wait to read this book even though I'm only halfway through my education, but it’s a great book!  In "So, You Are a School Psychologist: A Guide for Interns and First Year Psychologists", Dr. Jerry L. Turner provides information on what to expect during your initial years as a school psychologist as well as practical advice and relevant forms.  The topics covered range from office requirements, to case management tips, to communication with staff and parents, to being professional.  At the end of every chapter, Dr. Turner includes a review of the most important points.  Chapter resources include interview and observation forms, sample reports, sample meeting agendas, and email templates.

kay, I couldn’t wait to read this book even though I’m a year away from internship and only halfway through my education.

As a student not having fully immersed myself in the career yet, some of this information is probably lost on me because I don’t quite understand all of the complex roles that school psychologists fill every day.  But after reading this book, I know more about what to expect and I feel more confident that I can one day, in the words of NASP’s vision statement, help “all children and youth thrive in school, at home, and throughout life”.  I find myself looking forward to utilizing the "delay-sending" option in email, perfecting my listening skills, and wowing people with my ability to manage my time and my knowledge of behavior interventions.

You can buy Dr. Turner’s book in paperback and kindle versions on www.amazon.com and paperback on www.barnesandnoble.com.   You can also find out more information about the author on www.DrJerryTurner.com.

Practicum update: I haven’t visited my practicum site, but I will be sure to update when I do!  My first task (other than establishing excellent rapport with any and all teachers, students, and staff and navigating my way through the school) is to identify a student for a consultation case who presents with an academic concern in the classroom.  The goal?  Consult with the teacher, identify and define the behavior of concern, observe the student, choose an intervention, and monitor progress after the intervention has been implemented.  I am looking forward to getting started!