Many of the students the authors have worked with see recess as a refuge from the multiple demands of school. Yet, how many school psychologists truly understand the multidimensional benefit of physical activity in schools? Increased physical activity has been associated with better physical health, improved mental health, and higher academic…

Disproportionality is considered to be an issue of equity and access in general and special education and refers to "the extent to which membership in a given group affects the probability of being placed in a specific disability category." For instance, overrepresented groups are disproportionately affected by negative consequences associated…

This article presents a summary of recent crisis management publications. The first research report summarized, "Predictors of PTSD," was a study of predictor variables for responses to the World Trade Center attack. The second paper, "Effective Mental Health Response to Catastrophic Events," looked at effective responses following Hurricane…

School psychologists can help build resilience in youth in many ways. This article offers a list of some easy techniques to use when working with individuals or groups, most based on basic cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) techniques. They include: (1) Emotional awareness; (2) Emotional Regulation; (3) Cognitive Flexibility; (4) Self-efficacy; and…

A great many interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults have been described in the literature. These include, but are not limited to, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, psychopharmacology, exposure therapy, anxiety management training, stress management techniques, eye movement desensitization and…

This article reports on the National Association of School Psychologists's (NASP) recently concluded elections in which Philip Lazarus from Florida and Ronald Benner from Connecticut will now be part of the NASP Executive Council in July 2010 as president-elect and treasurer, respectively. NASP members voted at the highest levels in 6 years and…

School psychologists encounter children regularly who have been affected by abuse and neglect. Maltreatment adversely affects the mental health status and academic achievement of youth, thereby making the topic an area of concern for school psychologists. More recently, child protection laws have been expanded to include mandatory child abuse…

When people think about building cultural competence, one of the key steps is building awareness of others. In the absence of a relationship or unique experiences, many of them never develop a true understanding of other cultures without exerting significant effort. This article presents three unique cultures and provides an opportunity for…

The Thompson School District recognized after the Columbine incident in the spring of 1999 that it was lacking an adequate plan for crisis response. Colorado legislation led to a mandate for having a crisis response plan so the district purchased a "canned" crisis response plan that served the needs of response in a very immediate but impersonal…

Dictionary definitions of optimism encompass two related concepts. The first of these is a hopeful disposition or a conviction that good will ultimately prevail. The second, broader conception of optimism refers to the belief, or the inclination to believe, that the world is the best of all possible worlds. In psychological research, optimism has…

A major goal of specialist and doctoral programs in school psychology is to prepare trainees to understand and appreciate diversity and demonstrate sensitivity when working with diverse students and their families in a school setting. It is important to train students to have knowledge of individual differences and to be able to apply this…

Adequate and appropriate supervision of interns is frequently identified as a significant problem by training programs while, on their part, field placement sites often indicate that training programs generate expectations for interns that are not always "in synch" with district expectations of school psychologists. As a result of an increasing…

When asked about the current state of early mathematics, most educators and school psychologists will readily admit that much more is known about reading. This is especially true when considering instruction for children who struggle to learn. Progress in reading assessment and intervention was advanced by the report of the National Reading Panel…

The field of positive psychology has been interested in gratitude and documenting its benefits on well-being. Research has shown that people who experience gratitude have a variety of positive outcomes including more positive emotions such as joy, love, and happiness; fewer negative emotions such as bitterness, envy, and resentment; increased…

Across America, school psychologists are reporting that as the economy has floundered, they have felt uncertain about their job security, and in some places school psychologists have reported that they are even being laid off. Commonly in these districts, the school psychologists also report that they have not had an active advocacy campaign for…