School Psychology Awareness Week...

Well it appears that School Psychology Awareness Week (S.P.A.W.) has snuck up on me again, except this year it was as stealthy as a cow with a giant cowbell on "sneaking" up on a bale of hay. Since the first week of school, I watched this week approach slowly and inexorably, but did I plan anything? umm... No. 
Why? because I couldn't settle on a single idea. I had all these grandiose ideas in mind but with no way to actually bring them to fruition without tons of time, resources and some help - you know, things that school psychologists usually have in abundance!  

For instance, I initially planned to coordinate with my school's gym teacher and run a survivor-type game that would involve teams of all the students in school completing physical and mental feats of strength. I envisioned randomly assigned teams of students getting to know one another, figuring out what each student was got at and then together as one striving to win the ultimate prize of winning [Insert Prize here]. I was excited about this great idea and even got as far as talking to my gym teacher about it - and that's how far I got. October hit, the hashtag #Octisthenewapr was born and that great idea crashed into the dust. It's still laying there in potential lane.  I'll pick up again someday. 

However, unlike last year, I refuse to let this week pass unacknowledged. Under-the-gun and out of time, I'm using the suggestions provided by NASP to bring awareness to the great profession of School Psychology. 

1. For my students - All my counseling lessons this week will follow the "Know your own strengths" theme.  I will work with each student to determine where their strengths lie in school and at home, and determine ways they build on these strengths. I have a great group of kids that would benefit from this exercise and I am looking forward to celebrating with them. 

2. For my teachers - I am giving all my staff members a card that acknowledges the great things they do for the students of our school, for each other and for us the support personnel in the building. 

3. For my parents - I am writing a brief article in our school's newsletter telling parents about S.P.A.W. , ways we strive to build children's strengths in our school and ways they can build their children's strengths at home. 

4. For myself - I recently found a copy of my application to graduate school and the essay I wrote detailing why I want to be a school psychologist.  This week, I'm going to take an hour for myself, read the essay, and then write it again in light of what I know a school psychologist is and how much my role has changed me as a professional and a parent. 

So that's my plan in a nutshell. Simple, to the point and easily accomplished. To all my psychologists friends out there, Happy SPAW! I hope you have a great week and I look forward to hearing all about how you celebrated it!




I hope you like The Burgeoning School Psychologist Facebook page . Follow me on Twitter andPinterest too!