Floral Kindness

As the academic year draws to an end, the IEP meetings are increasingly heated. I try to bolster myself the best I can, reminding myself I have tried to be the best practitioner I can every day.


After my second meeting involving lawyers on both sides on a Monday, a teacher pulled me aside in the hall. Usually this means I have more work coming or a child hiding in a bathroom, but this was not the case! She wanted to tell me I exuded such a calm energy, and was just so positive, she had watched me the entire meeting. She said I reminded her of a Gerber daisy. That kindness made my day.



Photo Credit: hyperboreanchaerie.wordpress.com

Vindication

As a new practitioner to school psychology (first year getting paid!), I of course have some trepidations about my skills as anyone working without a net should. A new decision from the Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education from the department of special education made it possible for school psychologists to find children with attention issues eligible for services without a doctor's diagnosis. This has led to a massive influx of attention assessments for me, resulting in a need to be extremely well versed in all the facets of attention and cognitive processes.

I had a student in first grade referred to me for an attention assessment. I sent home the appropriate protocols to the parents and teacher, and did a classroom observation. Looking at the student, it did not look purely attentional. I took my notes, mulled it over in my head and waited for the protocols to come in. I got both in just before vacation, and lo, they were inconclusive. I had just purchased the BRIEF, as I had been seeing an increasing number of students looking more executive functioning than attention impaired. Surprise! The student came up with issues in memory and executive functioning, not attention!

I would not have diagnosed that particular student as having an attention disability, because the evidence was so inconclusive. It was a wonderful feeling, scoring the BRIEF, to find yes, my instincts were on point.

Today I am thankful for..

• February vacation
• Sleeping in
• Beautiful, luxurious soaps
• A new job for a dear friend
• No class this week
• Good television marathons to watch on DVD while slowing producing reports
• Optimism, resiliency, hope
• Access to quality health care
• The possibility that maybe, someday soon, I'll have the answers I'm looking for
• Coffee.
  

286. Sweet Students

As some may know, I am completing my training as a school psychologist this year with an internship. After completing a student's assessment he asked if he could draw again. This very accurate card resulted, and now is on my door when I leave every morning to remind me why I do this work.

272. Hidden Granite

From above a door at the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown.

270. Supporting Diversity

These signs welcome families to the Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown.

266. School Mascot

This little statue is located at the Warrent/Prescott K-8 School in Charlestown. I believe their mascot is a turtle. A very cute turtle.

68. Reading at the beach

Another favorite summer time activity is reading at the beach. While most people do this during the day, it is also lovely in the evening. A nice cool place to push through those summer readings assignments, with a lovely view of Boston in the distance!

9. Boston

While walking around between classes at Umass Boston I realized its actually very close to what most people conventionally consider Boston. This photo was taken between the Quinn Administration building and the Clark Athletic Center. The true reason I am thankful for Boston is all the opportunities it offers, culturally, gastronomically, historically, spiritually, and for social observation. Its just big enough for me, where I can feel lost in the crowd but never lost or entirely alone (or unsafe). And good bargains can be had without sacrificing my safety(if you know where to look) ... so many adventures to be had!