School Psychologist
Welcome to Rincon Elementary School
Susan Westphal,Ed.S.
School Psychologist
Contact Information: swestphal@effingham.k12.ga.us
RES 912-826-5523
- Overview
- Homework and Interventions
- Information Links
- Social Emotional Learning
- Birth to 5 years
- Dyslexia
- Dysgraphia
- Dyscalculia
Overview
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Homework and Interventions
Homework Helps Handout for Parents
Tiers of Interventions- Helping the Struggling Student
RES- Academic Tiers Terms- Understanding the Acronyms
Brief Description of Psychological Test Scores
Information Links
Children's Emotions/ Behavior Information (Kid's Health)
This website was developed by Nemour's Children's Hospital and has information about various topics of interest in dealing with issues revolving around children.
Facts for Families (AACAP website)
This is a website which includes information on various topics involving children, adolescents and family systems. It is provided by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Information for Families (NASP)
This is another family topic resource to find out information on dealing with children's issues from the National Association of School Psychologists.
Social Emotional Learning
Pout Pout Fishby Deborah DiesenYear Published:Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading "dreary wearies" isn't really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in Deborah Diesen's fun fish story that's sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down. Will the other fish be able to cheer him up?
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Knuffle Bunnyby Mo WillemsYear Published:Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind. Using a combination of muted black and white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true to life tale about what happens when Daddy's in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.
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How the Crayons Saved the Rainbowby Monica SweeneyYear Published:How the Crayons Saved the Rainbow teaches the importance of teamwork and perseverance through seven crayons with unique personalities and their desire to see the world in color. The Sun and the Clouds are best friends. Together they keep the world warm, the gardens growing, and the sky full of beautiful rainbows. But one day they get into a fight and refuse to be in the sky together. And that means there are no longer any rainbows.
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Behind the Little Red Doorby Coy BoylesYear Published:Three friends set out to discover what’s behind the little red door. This book encourages children to use their creativity and imagination to determine what’s behind the little red door. Children will be transported through the door with whimsical text and clever illustrations.
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Owl Babiesby Martin Waddell and Patrick BensonYear Published:Three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, and they can’t help but wonder where she is. What is she doing? When will she be back? Stunning illustrations from striking perspectives capture the anxious little owls as they worry. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.
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How Does Baby Feelby Karen KatzYear Published:Baby wants milk and crackers. How does Baby feel? Hungry! There are so many feelings that Baby can have! Little ones can lift the flaps to find Baby experiencing a range of emotions. This gem from Karen Katz is sure to become a favorite among teachers, children, and families
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Gossie and Gertieby Olivier DunreaYear Published:Gossie and Gertie are best friends. They splash in the rain, play hide-and-seek, and they dive in the pond together. Everywhere Gossie goes, Gertie does too. Or does she?
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Calm Down Timeby Elizabeth VerdickYear Published:Through rhythmic text and warm illustrations, this gentle, reassuring book offers toddlers simple tools to release strong feelings, express them, and calm themselves down. Children learn to use their calm-down place—a quiet space where they can cry, ask for a hug, sing to themselves, be rocked in a grownup’s arms, talk about feelings, and breathe. After a break, toddlers will feel like new—and adults will, too.
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Right Now, I Am Kindby Daniela OwensYear Published:In the third book of her Right Now series, Dr. Daniela Owen, Ph.D. helps children learn what it means to be kind and aware of other people. This book is a guide for children to help them understand why being aware is important, and what actions they can practice to show compassion.
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Fiona Flamingoby Rachael Urrutia ChuYear Published:Fiona Flamingo is recommended by psychologists to help children understand and manage their feelings. This colorfully illustrated book teaches that it's ok if you don't understand your emotions and it's ok to be scared, angry, and sad at times. It's a great resource for helping children see that being unique should not be looked down upon.
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A Friend is Someone Who...by Marilee Joy MayfieldYear Published:This fun, rhyming book is great for children who are beginning to make friendships and understand what it means to care for someone else. Psychologists often recommend it as a resource when helping socialize children. It focuses on values such as compassion, empathy, and kindness.
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The Secret Wordsby Dominic AnglimYear Published:A huge part of helping children feel better is helping them build their self-confidence. This book is written to do exactly that! Follow Rija the lemur's adventure through the Madagascar forest and learn about the importance of self-confidence! When Rija discovers 4 "secret words," she realizes that she can do anything she puts her mind to.
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Right Now, I Am Braveby Daniela OwensYear Published:In the second book of her Right Now series, Dr. Daniela Owen, Ph.D., explains the choice that we all have when we face situations that may make us anxious or fearful. This book is perfect for the uncertain times we face today and can be very effective in teaching children how to deal with their fears.
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Zen Pig: The Art of Gratitudeby Mark BrownYear Published:Zen Pig might just be the cutest way to help your child learn how to focus their emotions when they are stressed out or anxious. Zen Pig teaches children the value of gratitude, mindfulness, and compassion in a way that's easy for them to understand. It's a perfect book for helping your little reader calm down, and children LOVE this award-winning series!
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I Can Yell Louderby Jennifer GeitherYear Published:A great resource for dealing with frustrated children, this book teaches that you don't have to yell and throw a tantrum to get what you want. This book will help your child understand how to communicate what they want in the proper way!
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Right Now, I Am Fineby Daniela OwensYear Published:This book is a mindfully written self-help guide to aid children in dealing with stress and anxiety, by uncovering their emotions and following a simple calming routine. Dr. Daniela Owen, Ph.D. is a clinical child psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She specializes in using evidence-based treatments to help with managing anxiety, worry, anger, and low mood.
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Train Your Dragon to Follow Rulesby Steve HermanYear Published:HAving a pet dragon is very fun. You can teach your dragon to sit, stand, roll over, and you can even potty train him... But what if your dragon does not like to folow rules? What if he does everything he could to get away with all the rules he hates? What do you do? You teach him that rules are good even though he hates them. So he understands the improtance of rule following.
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Teach Your Dragon to Understand Consequences:by Steve HermanYear Published:Having a pet dragon is very fun. You can teach your dragon to sit, stand, roll over, and you can even potty train him... But what if your dragon is constantly doing bad things, and he argues that "it's so small," "just a little thing, "nobody will known," etc? What do you do? You teach him about consequences. You teach him that everythign we do, no matter small or big, will come back in return, and so he should consider to do good things instead.
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Train Your Dragon to Accept NO: Teach Your Dragon to Accept 'No" For An Answerby Steve HermanYear Published:Having a pet dragon is very fun. But your dragon can get very angry and upset when you tell him "NO!" He can burn your house down to the ground and eveyrthing you own! What do you do? You need to teach your dragon how to accept "No" for an answer!
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Train Your Angry Dragonby Steve HermanYear Published:Having a pet dragon is very fun. But what do you do if he gets angry or upset? What do you do when your dragon lost his cool and wants to burn everything to the ground? |
Birth to 5 years
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia refers to a cluster of symptoms, that results in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia often experience difficulties with both oral and written other language skills, such as writing, and pronouncing words and writing. Dyslexia affects individuals throughout their lives; however, its impact can change at different stages in a person’s life. It is referred to as a learning disability because dyslexia can make it very difficult for a student to succeed without phonics-based reading instruction. In its more severe forms, a student with dyslexia may qualify for special education with specially designed instruction, and as appropriate, accommodations.
~ International Dyslexia Association
Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia is a Greek word. The base word graph refers both to the hand’s function in writing and to the letters formed by the hand. The prefix dys indicates that there is impairment. Graph refers to producing letter forms by hand. The suffix ia refers to having a condition. Thus, dysgraphia is the condition of impaired letter writing by hand, that is, disabled handwriting. Impaired handwriting can interfere with learning to spell words in writing and speed of writing text. Children with dysgraphia may have only impaired handwriting, only impaired spelling (without reading problems), or both impaired handwriting and impaired spelling.
~ International Dyslexia Association
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a math learning disorder that makes mathematical reasoning and computation difficult, in spite of adequate education, average or greater intelligence, and proper motivation.
It appears as poor memory for numbers, time, sequences, directions, layouts, and visual-spatial information, as well as a confounding inability to manage those things.
Dyscalculia is believed to affect 6% to 7% of the population, and up to 26%, when weaker forms of arithmetic difficulties are included. Care must be taken to consider the entire body of evidence when assessing for dyscalculia and other disorders. Test scores, alone, are often insufficient.
For people with dyscalculia, performing number-related tasks produces mental confusion, anxiety, and distress.
Dyscalculics often display a lack of academic progress in mathematics, accompanied by average or advanced skills in speech, reading, writing, and other areas. Often, otherwise strong students who work earnestly in Mathematics, recieve "mercy grades" which deceptively indicate content mastery. Passing grades are necessary for acadmemic advancement, but periodic standardized achievement tests reveal skill deficits. Detailed Score Reports from state and national tests can be used to identify and track deficits over time and to plan interventions.
GELDS Resource Guide
Indicators
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0-12 months |
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12-24 months |
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24-36 months |
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36-48 months |
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48-60 months |