School Psychologists have knowledge of biological, cultural, and social influences on academic skills; human learning, cognitive, and developmental processes; and evidence-based strategies. learning, cognitive, and developmental processes; and evidence-based curricula and instructional strategies. School psychologists, in collaboration with others, demonstrate skills to use assessment and data collection methods to implement and evaluate services that support cognitive and academic skills. (2010 National Association of School Psychology standards )
Demonstration of Knowledge and Evidence of Professional Competency:I received training in this domain through the following courses: PSY 630 (INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING) Techniques of counseling children and adolescents in both individual and group formats and the knowledge of social influences on academic skills. PSY 632 (MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING) We develop knowledge, and skills about values, biases, preconceived notions, personal limitations and attempt to understand the worldview of culturally different clients in the process of developing and practicing culturally appropriate skills in working with culturally diverse clients. My knowledge of human learning and development comes from Biological Foundations (PSY 601) and Childhood Neuropsychology (PSY 634). Practicum (PSY 749) I worked as a team to develop data-based intervention strategies.
Demonstration & evidence of professional competency: As evidence of professional competency, I have included is a report on Intervention to Improve Academic Performance. Interventions are based on information about performance, and implementation and student progress. For any intervention to be effective or to be put in place, the program designed should be based on clearly defined objectives, and the program should be monitored and evaluated. More particularly, students‟ needs” should be analyzed.
I learned that positive interventions increase the acquisition and use of new alternative skills, decrease the problem behavior and facilitate general improvements in the quality of life of the individual and academic performance. Furthermore, working with teachers and school psychologists teaches me to provide instructional consultation for other educational personnel’s on strategies and interventions for student’s , and evidence has shown that follow-up procedures and supporting teachers enables their teaching skills to grow and, subsequently, to improve student outcomes.
Second sample, I have included an evaluation report where the student's cultural, social, and background influences play a significant role in academic difficulties. This report provides interpretation of records and assessment data in order to carry out services in school. F has significant difficulty with basic reading skills as well as critical thinking. His assessment results indicates that F be place in a 12:1 special education class, which will give him much higher level of support to build his critical thinking as well as very basic reading skills.