What Do School Psychologists
Do?
School psychologists tailor
their services to the particular needs of each child and each situation. School
psychologists use many different approaches, but most provide these core services:
Consultation
- give healthy and effective
alternatives to teachers, parents, and administrators about problems in learning
and behavior
- help others understand
child development and how it affects learning and behavior
- strengthen working relationships
between educators, parents, and community services
Assessment
- Use a wide variety of
techniques at an individual, group, and systems level to evaluate:
- academic skills
- learning aptitudes
- personality and emotional
development
- social skills
- learning environments
and school climate
- eligibility for special
services
Intervention
- work face-to-face with
children and families
- help solve conflicts
and problems in learning and adjustment
- provide psychological
counseling for children and families
- provide social skills
training, behavior management, and other strategies
- help families and schools
deal with crises, such as separation and loss
Prevention
- identify potential learning
difficulties
- design programs for children
at risk of failure
- provide parents and teachers
with the skills to cope with disruptive behavior
- help foster tolerance,
understanding, and appreciation of diversity in the school community
- Develop school-wide initiatives
to make schools safer and more effective
Education
- develop programs on topics
such as:
- teaching and learning
strategies
- classroom management
techniques
- working with students
who have disabilities or unusual talents
- substance abuse
- crisis management
Research and Planning
- evaluate the effectiveness
of academic programs, behavior management systems, and other services
- generate new knowledge
about learning and behavior
- contribute to planning
and evaluating school-wide reform and restructuring
Health Care Provision
- collaborate with school
and community-based personnel to provide a comprehensive model of school-linked
health services
- work with children and
families to provide integrated community services focusing on psychosocial
wellness and health-related issues
- developing partnerships
with parents and teachers to create healthy school environments
To return to the material
on school psychology click here for the Ed.S. and here
for the doctorate level.
Adapted from: National
Association for School Psychologists. (2000). What is a School Psychologist.
[Brochure]. Bethesda, MD: Author. http://www.naspweb.org/
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Created:
10/4/00; Last modified: 11/02/00
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