Aloha Notes: My career as a School Psychologist in Hawaii

It's not my first time out of the country but last month I was lucky enough to visit Japan. I was so excited as it's always been on my bucket list but communication was difficult to say the least. "Speak English?"  I'd smile and ask the (taxi driver, clerk, hotel employee....) Sometimes they spoke some basic words but many times they just shrugged or just "No English."...to which I'd comment foolishly to myself something like:  "Oh. Never mind. No biggie. Thank you though. I'll figure it out. " ((sigh)) I talked to myself a lot in Japan. I was that crazy American tourist--walking into men's restrooms (yes. really), smiling to the air or pantomiming to small children, or buying sour cream when I thought it was yogurt. Oops.  When I was looking for laundry detergent, I stared at rows of identical looking soaps. I couldn't read the labels and I worried that I'd pick one with bleach in it or get the fabric s...

An  Initial Line of Inquiry (ILI)  is used to collect information for a  Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)   I've had many parents request an online or electronic version of the questionnaire that I send home for a behavior assessment. Here you go ! Every behavior has a purpose or function for it, usually to either get something or avoid something.  Examples: You begin to talk on the phone and your child starts calling you over and over.  The function of this behavior would be to get your attention.  Or a student repeatedly disrupts the class when the teacher asks them to take out their math books.  He is then reprimanded and sent out of the room.  The function of this behavior could be to avoid the classwork. So, a functional behavior assessment or FBA is a series of structured questions designed to discover the reasons behind certain target behaviors (usually undesirable ones) and develop a behavior pl...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2013!  I dont know about you, but Im ready to start a new year! This past year came with many lessons--some good, some difficult.  This year taught me about the unspoken politics and gossip that can tear through campuses. I connected with many amazing families and gained a new understanding of their triumphs and trials I was quickly reminded what i say doesnt always matter....even if I consult on a case, leave detailed notes on what is or is not appropriate to request for testing, and even emphasize best practices through training. Unless I'm at the meeting--it's not up to me. I've learned to let go of the things that aren't done by the book (or are legally defensible) when they are ultimately not my responsibility. On a personal note, I was able to FINALLY understand and acknowledge that when I'm upset in a meeting (related or unrelated to what's actually being discussed)...it's obvious. What universe have I been living in before...