My Friend Maria

11/05/2021

Executive Function

So one thing I have noticed is that many kids are struggling with their executive function skills. I’m working on some counseling sessions with students that struggle with executive function. We did some classroom observations to see where exactly the student was struggling. We used an informal assessment in Smart but Scattered (by Dawson & Guare) to see strengths and weaknesses in EF. We assessed the students space and advocated for some accommodations to support the student (with the students we are working with now, we were able to get a standing desk and are providing some sensory supports and visual checklists).

Then I developed 10 sessions to work on EF skills with quick 5-10 min check ins in the classroom.

Each session includes session agreements, use of a timer, a 10 minute EF skill building activity, a brain gym activity and a fun activity of choice.

I based the sessions on the EF developmental progression in Smart but Scattered also providing some validation about how hard somethings are for the student and some psychoeducation about the brain.

I hope to scale it up to be able to use it with many students. Let’s see how it goes.

10/26/2021

Working with a student that was traumatized, The student I spoke too said, “ I remember the day after it happened, the teacher asked me for my homework. I just sat there. I couldn’t even say what had happened, so I just sat there while she yelled at me about my homework.”

Trauma informed classrooms support everyone.

10/26/2021

$50 Internet Credit

There is a $50 a month grant for wifi for NYC public school students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. In Chalkbeat it said all student qualify because in NYC all NYC public school students get free lunch, but i saw that the income cealingnis $198k for parents filing jointly.

To apply, go to https://www.checklifeline.org/lifeline/?id=nv_flow&ebbp=true

You have to create an account. Put it in the name of the person who has the wifi internet service in their name.

Choose Emergency Broadband Benfit.

Once the account is created you need to add the demographics of the person whose name is on the account and a child in the NYC public school system. They ask for the last 4 digits of the SSN for both, but its not a requirement.

Then look for NYC Chancellor as the Region or área.

Then pick your school. My school was named strangely, it was PS without the periods, so I had to search for it a bit. There are two sections for PS and the P.S.

Once you apply it Tells you right away If you were eligible.

Then you click to find your internet provider. For spectrum it to complete a form. For others it seems you call to notify them of the benefit so it can be added to your account. You get a $50 credit per month towards internet.

Pass it on to parents at your school.

10/17/2021

How to te-integrate a student after a death or trauma.

1. Keep in contact with the parent about when the student is ready to come back. Acknowledge that it is normal to vacillate between wanting to go back to school and wanting to stay with the parent.

2. Invite the student to come earlier than arrival or after arrival. This way the student comes at a time that is less stimulating. SW meets with the parent and the student to discuss how they feel and the plan for reintegration.

3. Meet with the teacher, make sure there is a quiet corner, a soft pillow or stuffed animal for comfort and some drawing materials for the student, if needed. The teacher is made aware of the key people and the crisis protocol, if needed. The student should be invited to follow their schedule as much as possible, with the understanding that it may take some time to once again get back to normal.

4. The social worker schedules time to meet with the teacher and the administrations to go over the plan, ensures that the materials needed are available.

6. Discuss with the family and student what to say if students ask why they were out.

5. Send out a reminder to the team about the Plan.

10/14/2021

When a family member of a student dies ….

Loss is a natural part of life. Working in a school it is invariable that students will have losses. When we are aware of a students loss, I reach out the family and express my condolences and see if there is anything that they may need.

I create a bereavement gift for the student. It’s tailored based on age. It usually includes something soft, like a teddy, a grief book, like the Invisible string, a drawing pad and crayons or colored pencils, something fun, like a fidget or toy and some snacks.

During the last 18 months we have provided this to every student that we became aware had a loss in their family.

How did we pay for it? I raised money through donations and called businesses in the community and asked if people wanted to support.

10/08/2021

Advocates hope replacing SESIS will have tangible benefits for the city’s more than 200,000 students with disabilities.

10/08/2021

How do you do a social history update?

To open a social history update, you do it after the psychologist has opened the 3YR or the re-eval. You have consent or you have passive consent.

You open a generic document and name it the same as it’s named on assessment planning. You do the interview. Now during the pandemic aside from the regular questions, updating family demographics, functioning in the home, medical
History update, I also do a section on how Covid has affected the student and family. Then I also include if the family had issues with Connection,
Wifi, attendance, Ect… then I make sure to do an update on school now and then hobbies, and recreational interests.

Hope this helps …

09/28/2021

So, I got a question today about how to do an observation in the classroom.

Tips:

1. Schedule a time with the teacher to come in. They feel respected and know what’s going on.

2. Put in a description of the setting (GE, 12, ect … ) and approximately how many students were present. How long was the observation. Describe the affect of the student.

3. Describe what is happening, don’t analyze just describe. The student was sitting, attending, was able to follow one step, two step instructions. The student raised his hand, didn’t participate, ect ….

4. Look for ability to follow instructions, ability to transition, asking for help, ability to complete tasks, ect …

5. I always touch base with the teacher, even for a minute. Was this a typical observation? If not, what does the teacher report is typical behavior. Also a small summary of what I saw the student was able to do. Focus on positive and then put areas that need support.

09/28/2021

I usually do grief counseling at my elementary school. The sessions are usually scheduled as follows: a mindfulness or relaxation activity, 2-3 minutes, then we work for 15-20 minutes, including the activity/worksheet, then we do 5 minutes of play, wrap up, 2-3 minutes.

This is my usual outline:

1. What is grief, introduction, this is a safe space and getting to know each other.
2. Reading a book - https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B082M17P2N&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BCTNMGX01JVW88HBFD97, go through the book and discuss
3. Feelings identification and feelings thermometer
4. Thoughts-feelings- behavior
5. Helpful and unhelpful thoughts, how to turn thoughts around
6. Dealing with Memories
7. Creating a memory book
8. How to deal with feelings and memories in the future. (coping strategies)

These sometimes are longer or shorter depending on the student. I would love it if someone found a good grief book that features black or brown boys. If not, maybe we should write one. Occasionally I use a different grief book or introduce other books such as the invisible string or What happens when dinosaurs die. Sometimes making the memory book takes more time, but we usually create something during each session that can be put in the book. I also request pictures from the parent that can be included in the book.

If that death is traumatic and the student has trauma around the death I use trauma counseling techniques also.

Feel free to share if you find it helpful ....

Shared via Kindle. Description: When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. I Miss You helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss ...

09/27/2021

One of my current, favorite books is Starting over in Sunset Park by Jose Pelaez and Lynn McGee. A beautiful story about moving away from your home country and restarting your life, from a child’s perspective.

09/27/2021

Hey My friends, So i have been receiving a lot of requests for resources, information and general questions abut NYC school social work. It has been a bit taxing to try to answer all the questions, and email everyone the resources they requested so I am going to try to streamline my info.

1. Most principals do not know what social workers do. NYC has given principals money for social workers but have given little guidance about what the social worker should do.

2. Social workers are used to working with other social workers, to have a supervisor, to utilize supervision to gain guidance and clarity about very complex situations that we deal with. The NYC school system is built for teachers and teaching, they have not built a system where social workers are understood or supported, despite being the largest employer of social workers in NYC.

SO .... What do we do ....

1. Relationships are everything! As a social worker your power will come from the relationships you develop, with parents, children and staff.

2. Get to know teacher speak. Now you work in an educational environment and people will not understand social speak. You need to learn teacher speak. Learn about the curriculum, learn about what teachers care about so that you can communicate with them in a way that makes sense to administration and teachers.

3. Observe and learn the culture of your school. Every school has a flavor and a culture. You need to learn yours.

4. Find your allies and supports. You need to create this because there is no system for this in the public school system for social workers to have community.