November is for gratitude, turkey, and National School Psychologist Week! During this week, we take time to highlight the crucial work that school psychologists do in our schools to help students thrive. To celebrate this important week and help spread the word about the fantastic work school psychologists do, we’re sharing five things school psychologists can do.
5 Things Your School Psychologist Can Do
Kids and school psychologists work together to achieve great things and successful outcomes. Here are five things (in no particular order) that your school psych can do.
1. Evaluation
- Assess cognitive, academic, behavioral, social, emotional, and adaptive skills in students to understand diverse learning needs
2. Intervention
- Provide individual or group counseling for students
- Help students, families, and the school community manage crises
- Help develop behavior plans for students
3. Prevention
- Promote an appreciation of student diversity within schools/districts
- Develop programs to foster academic and social growth in students
- Provide whole class lessons for students and teachers focused on classroom management and behaviors to promote learning
4. Consultation/collaboration
- Work with teachers, parents, and administrators to help create solutions to learning and behavior concerns
- Assist families in navigating the special education process
- Collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services for students and families
- Help families connect with outside agencies (medical or mental health)
5. Systems-level change
- Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavioral interventions
- Use evidence-based research to recommend appropriate interventions
- Work with district administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies
