The Shame Spiral – How Executive Functioning Struggles Impact Self-Worth
Executive functioning challenges don’t just affect our productivity; they can quietly erode our self-esteem. Adults who’ve spent years struggling with things like organization, time management, or task completion often internalize labels like lazy, forgetful, or...
How to Conduct a Neurodiversity-Affirming Multiple Disabilities Assessment
We’ve all seen checklists, rubrics, and eligibility forms—but what does it look like to bring a neurodiversity-affirming lens to your multiple disabilities assessment? In this new blog post, I walk you through key considerations, questions to ask, and how to ensure...
3 Things to Leave Behind This Summer And 3 Things to Take With You
The end of the school year can feel like a mix of exhaustion, relief, and reflection. For educators, it’s not just the paperwork and final meetings that wear you down. It’s the emotional labor, the constant pivoting, and the invisible weight of holding space for so...
Is Your Brain on Overload? Strengthening Working Memory for Adults
Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you went there? Or open your laptop to check an email, only to find yourself deep in a different task ten minutes later, completely forgetting the original goal? This isn’t simply distraction. It can be a sign that your...
Common Mistakes School Psychologists Make with the PSW Model (and How to Avoid Them)
The Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) model can be a powerful tool for understanding students and identifying learning disabilities. However, many school psychologists feel unsure about how to use the model, especially when trying to balance best practices...
Supporting Students with School Attendance Challenges: A Collaborative and Proactive Approach for Educators
School attendance is a foundational component of student success, yet some students face significant barriers that interfere with consistent attendance at school. Whether due to anxiety, family dynamics, or other factors, chronic absenteeism can have long-term...
Impostor Syndrome in Education: How to Recognize It, Navigate It, and Move Forward with Confidence
Even the most passionate, driven educators can find themselves questioning whether they’re good at what they do. Whether you’re just starting out in your career, stepping into a new role, or facing fresh challenges after years in the field, impostor syndrome can creep...
Writing Parent-Friendly Reports with AI: 3 Key Takeaways for Educators
Clear communication is one of the most powerful tools we have as educators. Whether you’re writing evaluation summaries, support plans, or academic reports, making your language accessible and parent-friendly helps build trust and encourages meaningful collaboration...
Essential Knowledge for School Psychologists: Understanding the PSW Model
As school psychologists, we're often tasked with making sense of complex data in order to support students in the most meaningful ways. One area that continues to generate discussion, questions, and—let’s be honest—confusion, is the Patterns of Strengths and...
Insights from Speech and Language Pathologists on Collaboration and Speech and Language Impairment Evaluations
At a recent panel discussion with a group of dedicated speech-language pathologists (SLPs), we explored the nuances of working within the SLI (Speech or Language Impairment) eligibility category, why SLPs choose public schools, and how collaboration between SLPs and...
Updated (2025): The Executive Functioning Skill of Goal-Directed Persistence
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Goal-Directed Persistence Have you ever worked with a student who struggles to follow through on assignments, projects, or responsibilities? Perhaps they get...
Updated (2025) Supporting Students’ Metacognition Skills
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Metacognition Skills What is Metacognition? Have you ever noticed a student who struggles to monitor their own progress on assignments? Perhaps they dive into...
Updated (2025) The Art of Planning: How Educators Can Support Students with Executive Functioning Challenges
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Planning Have you ever worked with a student who struggles to decide which part of a task to focus on and what can be set aside? Or one who seems lost when trying...
Updated (2025) The Executive Functioning Skill of Time Management
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Time Management Have you worked with students who struggle to manage their time effectively? They may have difficulty estimating how long tasks will take,...
Updated (2025) Understanding and Supporting Sustained Attention in Students
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Sustained Attention Sustained attention is the ability to maintain focus on relevant stimuli over an extended period, even with repeated exposure. This skill is...
Updated (2025) Supporting Students in Building Stress Tolerance
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Stress Tolerance In today’s fast-paced and demanding learning environments, students are constantly faced with academic challenges, social pressures, and...
Updated (2025) Helping Students Develop Cognitive Flexibility
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Download Our Flexibility Document Cognitive flexibility is the ability to shift between tasks, adapt to new situations, and adjust responses based on changes in...
Updated (2025) What is Working Memory and How Does it Impact Student Success?
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Working Memory Document Working memory is a vital cognitive skill that enables individuals to hold and manipulate information in their minds while engaging in...
Updated (2025) What Is Emotional Control and Why Does It Matter in the Classroom?
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Emotional Control What is Emotional Control? Emotional control is a crucial executive functioning skill that refers to the ability to manage emotions in a way...
Celebrating One Year of Podcasting: Reflections and Lessons from My Journey as a School Psychologist
This week marks a significant milestone—one year since I launched my podcast! When I began, I had no idea what to expect. Would anyone listen? Would the content resonate with the audience? I’ve been blown away by the response, with more listeners tuning in each week....
Updated (2025): Supporting Students with Task Initiation: Strategies for Educators
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Task Initiation Do you work with students who struggle to start tasks independently? Task initiation, a critical executive functioning skill, involves the ability...
Updated (2025) Spotlight: Understanding Response Inhibition
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Response Inhibition What is Response Inhibition? Response inhibition is a foundational executive function, enabling individuals to pause and think before acting....
The Key to Supporting Complex Cases in Special Education
When navigating the complexities of special education, especially in smaller districts or with unique cases, collaboration and a fresh perspective can make all the difference. As special educators, we often encounter situations that challenge our traditional...
Four Tips for Navigating Difficult Conversations
Educators are skilled at supporting students, but navigating interactions with adults—teachers, administrators, and parents—can present challenges. From emotionally charged IEP meetings to tough conversations, managing these situations with confidence and empathy is...
The Power of Creating Agreements
As school psychologists, we navigate a demanding landscape of report writing, assessments, and collaboration with team members. While the work is fulfilling, the constant juggling of responsibilities can feel overwhelming. One simple yet transformative strategy to...
Beyond the Clipboard: A School Psychologist’s Guide to Meaningful Classroom Observations
As school psychologists, we're constantly juggling multiple assessments, from eligibility evaluations to behavior consultations. At the heart of many of these assessments lies one crucial skill: conducting meaningful classroom observations. Whether you're completing...
Facing Difficult Conversations: Strategies for School Psychologists
As school psychologists, we inevitably face challenging conversations. Whether responding to a teacher’s impromptu hallway question, addressing an administrator’s concerns about a behavioral issue, or returning an emotional call from a parent, these moments require...
Are You Overtesting? Key Practices for Effective Assessments in School Psychology
As school psychologists, balancing thorough assessments with efficient practices is vital, especially when managing heavy caseloads. Over-assessing can lead to unnecessary stress and misdirected resources, while under-assessing risks overlooking critical student...
3 Key Takeaways from a Trauma-Informed Approach for School Psychologists
A recent event organized by the California School-Based Health Alliance gathered professionals from across California to explore trauma-informed practices and their impact on student behavior and learning. Dr. Martha Merchant, a leading expert from UCSF’s HEARTS...
Effective Strategies for Data Collection and Progress Monitoring with Behavioral Interventions
Effective data collection is essential in determining whether a behavior intervention plan is working and guiding us toward necessary adjustments. Here are three key takeaways to streamline and enhance your approach to behavior data collection and progress monitoring....
3 Takeaways from Our AI Roundtable Discussion for School Psychologists
In our recent discussion about AI in school psychology, we revisited the pressing questions around integrating artificial intelligence into our practice. School psychologists today face the dual challenge of utilizing AI effectively while ensuring ethical standards....
3 Key Tips for Using a Neurodiversity-Affirming Lens in School Psychology Assessments
As school psychologists, we have a unique opportunity to shape how we assess and support neurodiverse students. By using a neurodiversity-affirming lens, we can approach each evaluation in a way that acknowledges the value of every individual's unique brain wiring. In...
Understanding Nonverbal Assessments in School Psychology
Using nonverbal assessments can be an essential tool in the practice of school psychology, especially when working with diverse student populations. Let’s discuss three main takeaways from a recent discussion on nonverbal tests, focusing on their application, best...
3 De-Escalation Strategies to Use When Challenging Student Behaviors Arise
De-escalation techniques are essential for school psychologists, educators, and support staff working with students facing challenging behavior. I want to share three key takeaways that can make a difference when calming a distressed student. Understanding and...
Using AI to Make Psych Reports More Parent-Friendly
If you are interested in learning more about how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Bard can assist school psychologists in creating more parent-friendly reports, then this is the blog for you. Keep reading for several strategies for making complex assessment results...
What’s the Difference Between an IEP and a 504 Plan?
School psychologists often find themselves navigating the world of special education, particularly when understanding the difference between an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a 504 Plan. Both plans support students with disabilities but are governed by...
Low-Incidence Disabilities: IEEs, Specialized Assessments, and Eligibility Classification
School psychologists and IEP teams frequently navigate intricate evaluations in the complex world of special education. The following blog will share three important takeaways from my insightful discussion on navigating IEEs, specialized assessments, and the multiple...
Trusting Your Expertise When Assessing Low-Incidence Disabilities
As a school psychologist, the challenges of managing complex cases, including low-incidence disabilities, can seem overwhelming, but you're more equipped than you realize. The following blog will share three important takeaways from an insightful discussion I...
Writing Parent-Friendly Reports with AI: 3 Key Takeaways for School Psychologists
As school psychologists, we know how crucial it is to present information in our reports that parents can easily understand. During a previous office hours, I discussed how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini can assist in making our reports more parent-friendly....
Understanding the Complexities of Preschool Evaluations
When it comes to assessing preschool-aged children for learning disabilities, the complexity of determining specific eligibility is often compounded by the child's developmental stage.. The stories and observations shared in this blog post highlight the nuanced and...
Conquering Impostor Syndrome: Insights for School Psychologists Part 2
School psychologists often face unexpected questions and high-pressure situations that test our knowledge and composure. In a recent podcast episode, Imposter Syndrome: The Uninvited Guest in Every School Psychologist's Office, I shared some valuable insights that can...
Conquering Impostor Syndrome: Insights for School Psychologists Part 1
Impostor syndrome is a pervasive issue that can affect school psychologists at every stage of their careers. Whether you're just starting out or have been in the field for decades, feelings of self-doubt can emerge and impact your confidence and effectiveness. In a...
Navigating Divergent Scores in Psych Assessments
As school psychologists, we often encounter divergent scores within a single processing area, leaving us with the question: What do we do next? Whether we have access to a variety of tools or are limited to just a few tests, our role remains crucial in uncovering the...
Counseling Goals Beyond Coping Strategies?
Did you know that you can strengthen the goals you write with action verbs? Precise language matters. By using action verbs like "explain," "describe," or "demonstrate" in your goals, you ensure everyone involved (teachers, parents, future providers) can understand...
Understanding the Meaning Behind “Requiring Special Education
You know that feeling at the end of the school year? Exhausted, overloaded, and maybe a little unsure about the next year? As the school year wraps up, many of us reflect on our practices, particularly those crucial IEP meetings. A key area is...
Sharing Cognitive Results When They Are Below Average
When we are sharing the results of our cognitive processing evaluations in many IEPs, the team cannot wait to hear what we found. But, when we are completing a re-evaluation for a student with cognitive impairments, some school psychs wonder what they should focus...
How Parent-Friendly Are Your Present Levels?
Crafting effective Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that genuinely benefit our students can be challenging. Whether you're wrapping up your IEPs for the year or gearing up for the next school year, check out the tip below for improving your present levels...
Level Up Your Communication Skills: 2 Practical Tips for Sharing Scores Succinctly
Today, I'm excited to offer some tips on effectively communicating evaluation results to parents. Whether you have remaining meetings this school year or are planning ahead for the next, these strategies can help streamline your approach. Streamlining Verbal...
Executive Functioning Takeaways for School Psychs
Executive functioning is a topic close to my heart, and I’m excited to share insights gleaned from fellow school psychologists in the field. If you didn’t get to see my recent chat with Dr. Amy Merenda on the socials, check out some takeaways below. If you want to...
Teamwork Tips Every School Psych Needs
Today, I'm excited to discuss an important topic for school psychologists: teamwork. Join me as I share valuable insights to enhance your team dynamics. Let's get started! Self-Reflect on Team Dynamics As school psychologists, understanding the dynamics of our teams...
Summer Boot Camp 2024 Registration is Now Open!
Today is the day! Registration for Summer Boot Camp 2024 is now open. Click the button at the bottom of this blog post to register today. Dive into Essential Topics Are you curious to learn more about Summer Boot Camp? If you click the button below, you can have...
Summer Boot Camp 2024 Sneak Peak
I'm thrilled to unveil an announcement many of you have eagerly awaited: the dates for Summer Boot Camp 2024! Get ready for an immersive two weeks of professional development designed to equip you for the challenges ahead. Comprehensive Professional Development Summer...
Understanding Cognitive Score Decline: Key Considerations and Solutions
Today, I'm delving into a common concern many of school psychs encounter: cognitive score declines during student reevaluations. It's a topic close to my heart because, like many of you, I've faced this challenge firsthand. When confronted with declining scores, it's...
Mastering Executive Functioning: Insights for School Psychologists
In our ongoing quest to support our students' development, one area that warrants our attention is executive functioning skills. These skills, often the unsung heroes of academic success, play a pivotal role in helping students plan, organize, and navigate their...
Understanding Tier 1 Intervention Strategies and Behavior Support
As school psychologists, we play a pivotal role in supporting students and teachers in creating positive learning environments. Classroom management is a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning, and understanding how to navigate it is essential for school...
Understanding Executive Functioning: Key Moments for Evaluation
As school psychologists, we are always seeking to identify and address challenges that may impact student academic success and social-emotional well-being. One area that warrants our attention is executive functioning skills – the cognitive processes that help...
Supporting Students with School Attendance Issues
School psychologists play an important role in supporting students with school attendance issues, and it's essential to be proactive and strategic in our approach. In this blog post, let’s explore three key takeaways to guide your efforts in coordinating support for...
The Art of Explaining Results Succinctly
As school psychologists, one of our greatest responsibilities is communicating evaluation results effectively to families, students, and colleagues. It's a form of communication that requires empathy and a clear use of language. In this blog post, I'll share three key...
Embracing Neurodiversity: Transforming Report Writing Practice
As school psychologists, our role extends beyond assessment; we are entrusted with the responsibility of understanding and advocating for the diverse needs of every student. One area where our impact is deeply felt is in the realm of report writing. Today, I am...
Explaining Results Succinctly: Part 1
For school psychologists, data is the bedrock of our practice. We gather information from a myriad of sources, from standardized tests to classroom observations, to paint a holistic picture of each student. But here's the thing: data alone doesn't tell the whole...
Interviewing Tips: Part 2
School psychologists play a vital role in supporting student well-being and academic success. If you're looking to land a great school psych position, standing out from the crowd is a must! By using these three key strategies, you can make a good impression on the...
Interviewing Tips: Part 1
Your interview is your chance to shine and show districts the knowledge and skills you have. But with so much to prepare, where do you even begin? Don't worry; we've got you covered. Here are 3 key strategies that will boost your interview confidence! Become a...
Why I Started The Prepared School Psych Podcast: Building Community, One Episode at a Time
I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you! I've started something new —a podcast named "The Prepared School Psych Podcast," and it officially dropped this week! Like many of you, I love the field of school psychology because I love the impact on...
The Vital Role of Community in School Psychology
School psychologists: you know the feeling. You navigate the complex ocean of social-emotional learning, academic struggles, and family dynamics, all while feeling strangely alone on your island. Sure, you have colleagues, but let’s face it, you are probably the only...
Preschool Assessments: Strategies, Tools, and Rating Scales
Building Preschool Assessment Skills Navigating the realm of preschool assessments can feel overwhelming for newer school psychs or even seasoned psychologists with little preschool experience. What are some strategies school psychs can use to enhance their skills?...
Understanding The Three Prongs of Eligibility
Understanding the intricacies of eligibility criteria is important for school psychs. In a recent live episode, I discussed the three prongs of eligibility, emphasizing the need for a student to have a disability adversely impacting their education and requiring...
The Three Prongs of Special Education Eligibility: A Guide to Navigating the Assessment Process
Understanding the Three Prongs The foundation of special education eligibility rests on three prongs: the presence of a disability, an adverse impact on educational performance, and the requirement for special education and related services. Collectively, these prongs...
Navigating the AI Landscape in School Psychology
In the rapidly evolving landscape in the school psych field, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities and challenges for school psychologists. As we eagerly await official guidelines from professional organizations, it's crucial for...
Dysgraphia: Tips for Comprehensive Evaluation and Collaboration
Dysgraphia is a term that often sparks questions and concerns among parents, teachers, and school psychs. Let's unravel the intricacies of dysgraphia and explore two essential tips for navigating dysgraphia evaluations. If you want to watch the recording where I...
Mastering Progress Monitoring in School Psychology
Welcome to our exploration of progress monitoring in school psychology! Let’s delve into the important aspects of understanding, implementing, and refining progress monitoring techniques. Join us as we uncover the why, how, and what of progress monitoring, emphasizing...
Navigating Dyscalculia Evaluations: Insights for School Psychologists
When parents or teachers mention the word Dyscalculia, it's essential to grasp their specific concerns. Unlike Dyslexia, which has well-defined guidelines in many states, Dyscalculia's definition varies. School psychologists must first clarify what the term means to...
Embracing and Celebrating Neurodiversity
This school year, we started something new! All Prepared School Psychologist members have access to our exclusive mini-courses, where members can earn CEUs or a certificate of completion for learning about specific topics related to the field of school psychology!...
Writing Parent-Friendly Psych Reports: Part 2
In the field of school psychology, effective communication is paramount. That's where parent-friendly reports come into play. In this blog, we are going to explore the art of crafting reports that bridge the gap between complex assessments and how parents, teachers,...
Writing Parent-Friendly Psych Reports: Part 1
One of the most important ways school psychs can help students succeed is by writing and communicating assessment results to families in a parent-friendly manner. However, many psych reports are written with confusing jargon and acronyms that can be difficult for...
Navigating Emotional Control in Children: Insights From a Behavior Psychologist
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Emotional Control Let’s talk about the executive skill known as emotional control! In the realm of elementary and middle school campuses, the term "emotional control"...
Quality Preschools and Nurturing Complex Play
This school year, we started something new! All Prepared School Psychologist members have access to our mini-courses where members can earn CEUs or certificates of completion for learning about specific topics. All of our courses are two hours or less (hence the...
What is the Reason for Referral?
Welcome to our latest blog post, where we dive into the important topic of the "Reason for Referral" in special education evaluations. Today, let’s explore why understanding the exact reason for referral is essential and how it directly influences the assessment...
Staying Ahead: How to Keep Up to Date with New Content
The school psych world is forever evolving; staying updated with the latest content is crucial. Whether it’s new regulations, emerging trends, or groundbreaking resources, staying in the loop is essential. Let’s discuss three practical strategies to help you stay...
Summer Boot Camp 2023 Reflection
Today, I want to share some insights and reflections from our recent Summer Boot Camp, an event we’ve hosted for the past four years. Summer Boot Camp spanned two weeks in July 2023 and offered daily training sessions for school psychologists. We had a great turnout,...
Best Practices for an Effective English Language Learner Evaluation
Summer Boot Camp has since passed, but today, we will take some time to reflect on one of the topics presented: Best Practices for Evaluating English Learners! Let’s take a look at 3 key takeaways from the perspectives of a bilingual and monolingual school psych on...
3 Tips to Kick Off Your School Year
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! Today, we're diving into my top three tips to kick off your school year and make it your best one yet. Whether you're already back in the swing of things or still enjoying those last moments of summer break, these strategies will...
3 Takeaways from Summer Boot Camp – Explaining Results Succinctly Session
During Summer Boot Camp 2023, we had sessions ranging from FBAs to Manifestation Determinations and more. One of the sessions that I was able to provide during this two-week period was a session focused on explaining evaluation results succinctly. My intent for this...
3 Takeaways from Summer Boot Camp – Q&A Session
It’s hard to believe Summer Boot Camp 2023 has come and gone! It was two weeks filled with lots of learning and sharing of ideas. For those that were not with us, we kicked things off with an open Q&A session in which participants had the opportunity to ask any...
How Many Manifestation Determinations Did You Have This Year?
At the end of each school year, I love reflecting on how things went. What areas were challenging for me? I don’t know about you, but manifestation determinations are one of those processes I sometimes find challenging. How confident are you with the process? Are...
Am I Doing This Right?
Whether you are an intern or a seasoned psychologist, we have all asked ourselves, “Am I doing this right?” Whether you’re conducting an FBA, completing a bilingual evaluation, or explaining results in a way that benefits all members of the IEP team, all school...
Organizing Tips for Fall 2023
I get a lot of questions about organization from interns, students, and seasoned psychologists alike. Now I know some of you are winding down your school year or already relaxing on the beach, but I want to share three of my favorite organization tips with you today!...
Oral Expression Tools and Interpretive Support
What is Oral Expression? Students with a disability in oral expression have difficulty putting their thoughts into speech. Astudent may also have difficulty remembering a word when needed, or being able to recall theformal names of objects. These students tend to...
Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia
Over the last couple of years, terms like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia have been used more frequently within our school settings. How comfortable are you discussing these terms with families and staff members? Let’s discuss my go-to tips that I have found...
Comprehensive and Succinct Evaluation Results Explanation
School psychs know a lot of special education jargon and are required to explain these terms to parents. What’s the best way to synthesize our evaluation results and present our findings to families in a meaningful and helpful way? Let’s explore some ways we can...
Summer Preparation for Fall 2023
My motto for every school year is “harmony.” Every year I work on organizing myself and determining my non-negotiables. Let’s walk into next school year knowing that your boundaries will give you peace of mind in the chaos of a school psych’s life! If you want to...
Frustrated About Exclusionary Factors?
Have you ever found yourself feeling frustrated about exclusionary factors? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Let’s discuss some tips about exclusionary factors related to specific learning disabilities and ease some of your frustrations! If you want to watch a replay...
When Do I Call This an Attention Problem
Many teachers and parents seem to be concerned with student attention problems. Do these concerns warrant an evaluation? If this is an attentional problem, what is the underlying cause? Let’s chat about this topic together! If you want to watch a replay of the live...
What to Ask Your Supervisor Before the End of the Year
Congratulations! You are almost there! The end of your internship or practicum hours is fast approaching, and the relationship with your supervisor may soon be ending. What final questions can you ask your supervisor to help you feel more prepared as you begin the...
What is Summer Boot Camp 2023?
What is Summer Boot Camp 2023? Our 4th annual Summer Boot Camp is fast approaching, and you don’t want to miss this year’s hot topics! Whether you are an intern, first-year psych, or a seasoned psychologist, we have a variety of sessions to help you prepare for the...
3 Tips for Evaluating Low Incidence Disabilities
Low-incidence disabilities typically refer to students who are deaf and hard of hearing, have visual impairments and orthopedic impairments. When assessing low-incidence disabilities, the process can often differ from what school psychologists are used to. Let’s...
Supporting Students’ Metacognition Skills
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Metacognition Skills What is Metacognition? Have you noticed a student who struggles with monitoring their progress when completing tasks? You may see these...
3 Tips for Efficient Report Writing
Are you feeling the extra pressure of meeting deadlines and completing reports before spring break? Let’s discuss easy-to-implement tips guaranteed to make your report writing more efficient. Tip #1: The Art of Batching Tasks We all have our go-to rating scale,...
Spotlight: Supporting Students with Goal-Directed Persistence
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Goal-Directed Persistence The Executive Functioning Skill of Goal-Directed Persistence Have you consulted with a teacher about a student who struggles to meet...
Tips When Evaluating Traumatic Brain Injury
Tip #1: Consult With The Experts Assessing a student who has suffered a traumatic brain injury can be a unique and complex process, especially since many of these students have never received special education. How can school psychs be more prepared to complete a...
Helping Students Develop Time Management Skills
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Time Management The Executive Functioning Skill of Time Management Have you worked with students who need help planning and organizing their time effectively?...
The Executive Functioning Skill of Planning
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Planning The Executive Functioning Skill of Planning Have you ever worked with a student who struggles to make decisions about what part of a task is important to...
The Executive Functioning Skill of Task Initiation
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Task Initiation The Executive Functioning Skill of Task Initiation Do you find yourself consulting with teachers frequently about students who struggle to start tasks...
My Key Learnings From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Our book club inside the Prepared School Psychologist membership community is reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey). Today, I want to share my takeaways from the first three habits and how they can be applied to your personal life and as a school...
Synthesizing Results Across Assessors
Your Assessment Tool Measures What? As school psychs, we often collaborate with special education assessors such as speech and language pathologists on a regular basis. Now imagine you receive an SLP’s report and as you glance it over, you realize you have little to...
Explaining Eligibility at an IEP Meeting
Explaining the Classification of Intellectual Disabilities = Overwhelm School psychologists play an integral role in explaining eligibility to parents. The weight of this responsibility can feel heavy on a school psych's shoulders, especially when discussing an...
3 Tips When Evaluating Intellectual Disabilities
Tip #1: Understanding Regulation Language Assessing a student who may have an intellectual disability can be a complicated process. Did you know that states have different languages as it pertains to intellectual disabilities, particularly adaptive functioning? Some...
Explaining Social-Emotional Results Succinctly
So Many Rating Scales… So Much Data… Have you ever sat down to write a psychoeducational report only to find yourself staring at your computer screen for what seems like an eternity? Do you find it difficult to start your report? Do you struggle with how to discuss...
3 Student Behavior Tips
Tip #1: Behavior Expectation Reminders Have you noticed that students struggle with behavior expectations once they return to school from winter break? Our students seem to forget classroom rules they once followed with ease! Let’s face it, our teachers are making...
What Has Been Working For You?
Ringing in the New Year with Self-Reflection It’s hard to believe 2023 is right around the corner! There is no better time like the new year to engage in self-reflection and get honest with yourself about what’s been working well in your school psych practice and what...
The Cognitive Capacity of Sustained Attention
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Sustained Attention Sustained attention refers to the ability to maintain attentional focus on relevant stimuli with repeated presentation over extended periods...
My Results From Applying the Feedback Fix
The Feedback Fix Book I don't know about you, but I have a stack of unread books on my shelf. If you’re anything like me, you may have at least read the first chapter but then get distracted because let’s face it, school psychs are extremely busy! A couple of years...
Evaluating Students for Dyslexia
Evaluating Dyslexia Many times throughout the school year, school psychologists find themselves evaluating for reading disabilities and maybe even for dyslexia specifically. There seem to be many questions about the term dyslexia and whether it’s appropriate for a...
To Report Write or Not Over the Holidays?
Should We Work Over Holiday Breaks? This topic can bring up a lot of questions about our own balance and harmony, or whether using holiday breaks is a good time to accomplish important tasks such as report writing. Just like everything in our field, there is never a...
5 Tips for Private School Evaluations
Private School Evaluations School psychologists are asked to evaluate students for special education who attend private schools, and this situation can require different approaches than the typical evaluations we conduct through the public school system. Since we are...
School Psych Week Giveaway
National School Psychology Week During the week of November 7th -11th 2022, school psychologists throughout the United States celebrated National School Psychology Week to highlight the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive. As we reflect...
Do You Need Better Boundaries?
Working Outside Your Regular Hours Setting boundaries can be difficult to follow as a school psych, especially when our workloads are high and we want to help children. Are you one of the many psychs that take work home with them? Are you spending evenings and...
3 Tips When Evaluating Emotional Disturbance
Tip #1: Understanding Internalizing Behaviors It’s a fact that school psychologists are seeing a steady climb in the number of students with anxiety and depression. Have you ever found yourself having a conversation with a teacher about a student and when the topic of...
5 Tips When Evaluating Non-Traditional Students
Assessing Nontraditional Students Who are nontraditional students? Nontraditional students might include those who are attending an at-home school program, an independent study program, or something similar. Since these students are not attending an actual school site...
3 Tips When Evaluating Autism
Tip #1: Understand Your State’s Critera for Autism When school psychs are evaluating students and Autism is being considered, one tip to keep in mind is understanding your state’s eligibility criteria, regulations, or any additional requirements your state has....
Explaining Evaluation Results Succinctly
Psych Jargon As school psychs, we learn a lot of high-level vocabulary such as fluid reasoning, atypicality, crystallized intelligence, and psychosomatic; let’s face it, the list goes on and on! Have you ever been in an IEP meeting, and the parent asks you to explain...
Does This Student Require Special Education?
Benefiting From Special Education vs. Requiring Special Education You have just finished assessing a student and have found that he or she meets the eligibility criteria! Great news, right? Regardless of which eligibility category the IEP team is considering, one...
Dyslexia in the School Setting
Dyslexia or Lack of Appropriate Instruction? Working as a school psychologist in the middle of a pandemic created many challenges in our practice. For instance, when concerns about a student’s ability to read are brought to our attention, nowadays we begin to question...
My Top Takeaways for Summer Bootcamp
Data-Driven Decisions or Data-Informed Decisions? We recently finished our 3rd annual summer boot camp which was a two-week program, custom-designed to provide resources, learning opportunities, and professional development for school psychologists. One takeaway from...
Am I Doing This Right? And Other Questions We Ask Ourselves
Shouldn’t I Know All the Answers? After all, I am the School Psychologist! A frequent thought that enters every school psychologist’s mind may sound like this, “I should have a correct answer to every question asked of me, right?” Sound familiar? The field of school...
Providing Feedback to a Colleague When You’re Not the Boss
School psychologists wear many hats throughout their careers: assessor, counselor, consultant, mediator, and much more! We enjoy working with others and thrive on being part of a successful team! But what happens when we recognize compliance issues in a colleague's...
What to Expect During Your Internship Year
Your internship is here! What should you expect? Congratulations! You made it this far and you are officially a school psych intern! This is an exciting time in your journey to becoming a school psychologist. But with all the excitement comes many questions and maybe...
More Tips to Kick Start Your School Year
For many of you, the 2022-2023 school year has already begun! Let’s talk about three additional tips to help kick start your school year and help you become a more prepared school psychologist. We will take a closer look at how school psychs can combat challenging...
What to Expect in Your First Year
Congrats on Graduating, School Psych... Now What? Congratulations, you made it! Give yourself a round of applause! Now that you are a full-fledged school psychologist, questions may start to swirl in your mind, “what should I expect during my first year?” Keep reading...
2 Tips to Kick Off the School Year
Summer break is quickly coming to a close, and another school year is about to begin! Let's discuss two tips to help you become a more prepared school psychologist. I get a lot of questions when I talk to interns, psychs starting their first or second year, or even...
Report Writing Tips for Documenting Listening Comprehension Difficulties
Listening is the interpretation of spoken language and includes three skills:1) the recognition of discourses of sounds,2) the understanding of the meaning of individual words, and3) the understanding of the syntax of sentences This complex skill requires a...
Sample Goals for Students that Struggle with Flexibility
Flexibility is generally considered to be the behavior of switching between tasks and demands in response to changes in the environment. In essence, it's one’s ability to change one’s behavior to different contexts or stimuli in the world. Students who experience...
Supporting Students with Written Expression Difficulties
One of the most complex academic skills is writing. Written expression and expressing thoughts and ideas through writing is a highly complex, cognitive, and self-directed process. Planning, drafting, reviewing, and revising are all components that make up diverse...
![Discovering a Niche in Your Education Job: Four Perspectives for Creatives in Education [Guest Post]](https://jennyponzuric.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Discover-a-Niche-in-Your-Education-Job-400x250.jpg)
Discovering a Niche in Your Education Job: Four Perspectives for Creatives in Education [Guest Post]
GUEST POST BY RYAN ESTRELLADO I used to worry about how all my hobbies and interests would advance my education career. They eventually did, but only after I let go of my expectations and started doing them for the right reasons. I’m not the only one who scrolls...
What is the Executive Functioning Skill of Working Memory?
Working Memory describes the ability to hold information in mind while performing complex tasks that involve remembering, processing, or acting on that stored information. It also incorporates the ability to draw on past learning or experiences, to apply to a present...
Math Problem Solving Strategies To Support Students
Problem solving is a mathematical process. It includes logic, reasoning, and communication skills. Mathematical problem solving is a critical skill for students because it helps students develop a generic ability to solve real-life problems and apply...
Organization Strategies To Support Students and School Teams
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Organization Information / Guide Organization describes the ability to design and maintain systems for keeping track of information or materials. Essentially it...
Supporting Reading Comprehension Deficiencies & Strengthening Students’ Skills
Reading comprehension describes a student’s ability to process text, understand its meaning, and to integrate or synthesize that information with what the reader already knows. Reading comprehension is a complex skill that draws on a variety of essential skills....
Math Calculations
Math calculations describe one’s ability to count, group objects, and compute a wide range of mathematical facts and operations. Understanding numbers, basic facts, and operations is a skill that begins to develop in children as young as 1 year old. As children...
Supporting Students with Emotional Control Difficulties
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Emotional Control What is emotional control? The executive functioning skill of emotional control refers to the ability to effectively manage emotions, so that...
Supporting Reading Fluency & Recognizing Difficulties
Reading fluency describes a student’s ability to read with speed, accuracy, and the correct use of expression. It is an essential skill required to be able to make sense of what they read, whether they are reading silently to themselves or aloud. A child who has...
Spotlight: What is Response Inhibition?
Check out the downloadable resource for this area of executive functioning to support your learning! Response Inhibition What is response inhibition? This crucial executive function is the ability to think before taking action. Young children can be impulsive and rely...
Reading Decoding
Reading decoding is the key to recognizing known words, then using that knowledge of familiar letters and sounds to quickly determine what new words say, when seeing them for the first time. It is an important indicator for diagnosing dyslexia, as people with dyslexia...
Testing Tips for Effective (and Efficient) Use of the WJ IV™ ACH
How many of these statements resonate with you? I am concerned about an increase in the number of referrals for special education assessments. Our school / district still has a backlog of assessments from the 2020-2021 school year. There are a lot of...
Beyond the Basic Battery: Increasing your Comfort Level with the WJ IV
There are many tools that school psychologists can use to help determine eligibility for special education as well as gather information on the whole child to support parents, teachers, and other caregivers in a child’s learning...
When (and How) Should I Dig Deeper with the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities?
Beyond the Basic Battery: Digging Deeper with the Woodcock-Johnson® IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities Many school psychologists have their favorite assessment battery. If they are assessing a student with a suspected learning disability in reading, they likely have...
Jenny Ponzuric’s Interview on Let’s Be Honest Before We Start Pretending! The Podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Today we are going to be talking with Jenny Ponzuric who is going to assist us with utilizing our time efficiently through planning and organization, and I know personally when implementing the strategies we talk about today, you...
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