NORMAN, Okla. –
Students across the state will soon return to the classroom, and a new year, a new grade or a new school can cause new challenges emotionally or mentally.
One Oklahoma school psychologist says there are steps parents can take in helping prepare students headed back to school.
Kelli Hopper is one of 17 psychologists working for Norman Public Schools.
The job of a psychologist, she said, is to help parents, children and youth have success in education and in life.
“A school psychologist also has training in mental health,” she said. “We have training in academic and behavioral assessments, and it varies state by state. What school psychologists do here in Oklahoma, typically we help do the assessments to evaluate for special education.”
Those assessments may also evaluate behavioral challenges or identify students that may need extra help.
She also said parents can provide extra help for all students making the back-to-school transition.
How to prepare students:
- Start conversations early and continue them often: What can we do to make this a positive transition? What are you excited/nervous about?
- Be specific in post school day debriefs: What was your favorite/least favorite thing that happened today? Did anything worry you? What was the coolest thing you learned?
- Practice labeled praise: Call out examples of students doing the right thing or behaving responsibly
- Set a consistent routine
Signs of student student struggle:
- decreased smiling or talking
- lack of engagement
- abnormal behavior
