Hi, my name is Rachel. I am a senior at Canisius College and I am a psychology major. I am interested in school psychology as my profession because I find it a very interesting that can help the children of our future. After taking school psychology as a class I learned more about what a school psychologist does and I find it very interesting and will make a difference. My goal is to go to graduate school in the Fall of 2006 and attend a school around this area. After graduating from school with my masters in School psychology I hope to find a position as a school psychologist. After finding a job I may go back to school and get my doctorate in school psychology.
On Monday September 12, 2005 I started my practicum at Lancaster High School
working with the School Psychologist, Dr. Topper. She had a CSC meeting so I
went and observed special learning rooms. There I watched the teachers basically
help the students with their homework and making sure that they had their assignments
written down as well as making sure that they were organized. After I went to an regular
classroom where I observed the teacher helping the special needs students and
assisting the regular teacher. I learned alot about the different types of special needs,
such as resource room, inclusion, and intensive inclusion, but I just observed the
resource room students. Hours: 8-1:30 (5.5 hours total)
On Wednesday September 14, 2005, I went back to Lancaster High School where I met
with inclusion room teachers and watched two classes. The first class was learning about
how to get a job and keep a job, and the second class was learning how to do their laundry.
These teenagers who are in these classes have severe learning disabilities and will only
graduate with their IEP, not a regents or local diploma, so their goals are simple everyday
life tasks that can help them when they get out of high school. In the first class I observed
there was a boy who had; had some learning disabilities but over the summer of 2004 had been
hit by a car and now has severe mental disabilities and has problems functioning. Another boy
has Aspberger's but had very good speech and was very articulate, his vocabulary is above a
college student and can read and very high levels, but he can't hold the information in, he can
only repeat what has been read word for word, not in his own. After observing I read some
psych evaluations, IEP's and 504's. At about 1:30 Dr. Topper took me over to Lancaster Middle School
where I'll be working on Wednesday's with Mrs. Burke, she took me around the middle school and
introduced me to the other couselor's and some of the faculty, this Wednesday I will be reading
some more evaluations and doing more obersvations. Hours: 8:15-2:30 ( 6 hours and 15 minutes )
On Monday September 19, 2005, I was at the Lancaster High School where I started my day by reading
some IEP's and psychologicals on new referrals. A little later in the morning there was an emergency that
required Dr. Topper to see a girl immediately so I went with her. When we got there a girl had cut her wrists
and was in need of help. I sat there and watched Dr. Topper and a police officer talk to the girl about why
she had done what she did. Dr. Topper had already visited with the girl on Friday when it had been discovered
that she went to the hospital Thursday night at ECMC for help. The girl talked about her problems and why she
decided to cut herself, and then the girl was taken away to ECMC once again for therapy and to make sure she didn't
hurt herself again. After the meeting with the girl I went back and go to do an observation on a girl who is a possible new
refferal and may have ADHD. I went to one of the classes the girl was in and sat in the back room observing her. I brought
along with me a sheet of paper that had time intervals for every fifteen seconds for the whole class. Not only was I to observe
the new referal girl but also another girl in the class that wasn't anywhere near the girl I was observing to see how well the other girl compared to the girl I was observing with staying on task. That was a nice experience and then i calculated the amount of time on task for that particular period. After, I read some more information about IEP's. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 hours)
On Wednesday, September 21, 2005, I was at the Lancaster Middle school where I worked with Mrs. Burke the
school psychologist there. I read some IEP's there then went to several different classrooms of learning disabled children.
The first room I observed was a inclusion room, where there is a teacher who goes with half the students one day to their classes while the aid takes the other half to their classes on the opposite day, with a regular review class for everyone everyday.
That was an interesting class to be in, the teacher basically helped them with getting them organized and making sure that
they were staying on task and doing their work. The next classroom that I went to was a resource room where there were
about five or six children and a teacher is in the room helping the children if they need it and making sure that they have
their assignments written down and that they are organized. The third class I observed was an self contained classroom,
where there were children with severe learning disabilities and most were mentally retarded. On this particular day they
didn't have a structured class becasue half to the class was missing due to a diversity day for the seventh graders, so I
got to know the kids that were there and played UNO with them and looked at pictures. The kids were all so fun and nice.
The final room I attended was also a self contained room but these kids were able to function, in there they were reviewing
for a science test so they were playing jeapordy they whole time, which was cute to watch and see them learn also.
After going to the classrooms I went back and read a report on a girl that I would be observing each month and
making sure that her IEP is going well and that there are no problems with the IEP, herself or any complaints from
the teachers, and I will be observing her next wednesday which I am really looking forward to.
Hours: 8:15- 1:15 ( 5 Hours)
On Wednesday, September 28, 2005, I was at Lancaster Middle School, my day started off, entering a meeting between
the school counselors and psychologist and the teachers of a floor in the school. At the meeting they discussed certain students
that may need extra help or are classified as learning disabled and whether the teachers are having problems with the students
and what can be done if the students were having problems to help them. After the meeting I went to a spanish class to
observe a boy who will be tested for ADHD. After I observed the boy I went to a resource room and observed another boy who
may also have ADHD. After my observations I went back to Mrs. Burke's office where I helped her with filling out the
academic and psychological testing scores and educational histories for students who are on triannual review for another psychological. After I did some on my own, Mrs. Burke had to leave to go to another school to attend a meeting with a boy
his teachers and parents, so I got out a little early today. Hours: 8:15-12:30 ( 4 hours 15 minutes)
On Monday, October 3, 2005, I was at Lancaster HIgh School, where I started by readin information of the thirteen different
classifications of disabilities. After, Dr. Topper had an appointment with a boy who was constantly repeating things over and over
again in his head, or reliving events over and over. He expressed these things with his teacher who then contacted Dr. Topper
about meeting with the boy. I read his psychological who had expressed the very same thing that he was in to see her for,
that he would talk to himself alot or even to objects, such as his sandwhich. He is also a loner and has very few friends and is classified as mildy mentally retarded. You could see when you would talk to him that he was very flat and emotionless but was a very polite young boy. After we met with him we went to his teacher who recommended the boy and asked her if he had any friends and what exactly he was doing in her class. She said the same things that we read in the psychological and infered from talking to the boy. Then I read some IEP's and psychologicals on referrals and did some fileing for her and wrote a summary up on the referral for the conference the next day. Hours 8:15-1:15 ( 5 hours)
On Wednesday, October 5, 2005, I was at the middle school, where I got to sit in on a parent, teacher conference,
that consistedof a mother and father, discussing their son, only this conference wasn't
due to bad behavior or because lack of work but rather
to make sure that he was adjusting properly to the new setting because he moved here from South Carolina over the summer.
The boy also has ADHD, and is a minority in the school district, so she wanted to make sure he was making friends and that his grades weren't slipping. After the conference, Mrs. Burke was writing a IEP on the computer on a little girl who moved here from Florida with her foster family. The foster parents also have three other children one who still lives in Florida becasue she is finsihing up school, a boy who is in a home becasue he is autistic and schizophrenic and a little girl who is 9 who is fine and this particular girl who is in seventh grade. She was born from a mother who was a prostitute, that did drugs and dranks alcohol while pregnant with the girl and the mother also had HIV, but the little girl doesn't. After watching Mrs. Burke write the report and explaining to me what goes into an IEP I went to observe the girl in a classroom. She is a very cute girl, and I suprised to see how well she behaved in class. She was very attentive, took her notes and paid attention. However, at home is another story, she tried to drown her little sister, started fires, and abuses her little sister also. Yet, this girl is so small and innocent looking. After, I read some information on cutters and some signs and causes of cutting. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Monday, October, 10, 2005 was Colombus Day so there were no classes.
On Wednesday, October 12, 2005, I was at the middle school and there I read some IEP's and wrote some testing scores out
for triannuals. After I met with the little girl I am supposed to be observing and helping throughout the year. She came down to
Mrs. Burke's office and I talked to her and told her that if she needed anything during the year or just to talk to someone that
I would be here for her. After we played some UNO and she beat me everytime we played. She's a really nice girl and I look
forward to talking to her and playing UNO again. Then Mrs. Burke had to do testing on a boy that I observed earlier in the year, she did the WISC III on him so i sat and watched her do the testing which takes quite a bit of time to administer. She then showed me how to grade it and score it and what the scores meant on the test. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 hours)
Monday, October 17, 2005, I was at the High School and there I observed some students and read IEP's. Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours)
Wednesday, October 19, 2005, I was at the middle school we had a meeting with a parent to see
how a boy was adjusting to the new school environment because he had just moved here from North Carolina.
The meeting went well the boy is doing fine in all of his classes and he is even participating in extra curricular activities.
After we had a team meeting where we met with the Green Team ( which is a floor in the school) where the c
ounselors talked about any problems they were having with students and grades. Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours).
Monday, October 31, 2005, the high school had it's CSE meeting, so i sat in the whole time and observed them.
They're not very interesting, the special education committe comes in along with the school psychologist and
the counselor that the student they are discussing has, A parent is also invited to come to the meeting on their
child and put their input in on how they feel their child is doing in the classes. The committe then discussing
one child at a time calling down the teachers that the child has to ask them how they feel the student is
progressing and whether or not the IEP needs to be changed. Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours)
Wednesday, November 2, 2005, at the middle school, I observed a couple of students. After i observed Mrs. Burke
doing testing on a child throughout a couple periods in the day, it was interesting to watch and learn how to
ive the test, it was easier then i thought because everything you need to do and say is outlined for you in the manual.
Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Monday, November 7, 2005, at the high school, I observed a student who is a real problem child, however, the day
i observed him he was like the perfect student, i was like it figures. You would never assume that this boy is as
aggressive and crazy as he is becasue he is so small and non agressive looking. The school is trying to get him
placed in a day school where he was can away from hurting students at Lancaster anymore. After observing
for a while I looked over some reports. After we had a parent and his son come in and talk with Dr. Topper about
getting the boy some help because of depression, so she called some facilities that could help they boy and
possibly give him medication to help. Hours 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours)
Wednesday, November 9, 2005, I was ta the middle school, where i again observed some students. The later
in the day a parent came in to meet with Mrs. Burke about placing her son into special education classes.
He can't concentrate and do his work and it appears as if he is paying attention when he really is just
spacing out. So Mrs. Burke did the testing on his the week previously and showed high levels of attention
deficit problems, and others, also, his two older brother have ADHD, so i was difficult for the mom to face
the fact that another on eof her sons has the same problem. But she did give her consent to having her
son placed in special education classes. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Monday, Novemeber 14, 2005, at the high school Dr. Topper has a ton of triannuals to do so i told her that
i would help her out and work on them for her, so i will be doing those for awhile. What i have to do for
each is pull the IEP, and the regular file for each child, then lok at the schedules and write out how many
credits they have how many they will have, whether they are in harkness or not, their classification, and
what special needs they have and what type of special education program they are in, as i learned this
process takes a loooong time I only got through about 7 and i have 86 to do! Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Wednesday, Novemeber 16, 2005, i did the usual, oberved some potential special education students and
also obseved some that were still in but just seeing how they were and whether anyone was having
problems with them. After Mrs. Burke and I sat and talked with a special education teacher about the
tirannuals and wheteher each student is doing well with their IEP or whether they need some additional
assisstance. After i observed her doing some testing on the BASC and then i scored it.
Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours)
Monday, Novemeber 21, 2005, I was still working on my triannuals all day long, but at least i got alot
done! Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 hours)
Wednesday, November 23, 2005, I oberved Mrs. Burke doing testing on a student, and then i observed
another student, After observing her Mrs. Burke called her down and we met with her and talked about
how her classes we and how she was doing and that Mrs. Burke was going to be doing some testing on
her but nothing that she needed to prepare for. After, i watche as Mrs. Burke scored the Woodcock
Johnson and went over the scores analysis. Hours: 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours)
Monday, November 29, 2005, still working on my triannuals, but also a student who dropped out of school
when he was 16 wanted to come back and go to school, however, he is now 18 years old and would have
no chance of actually recieving his diploma, but he can recieve his IEP diploma, and take classes at
Lancaster that can help him prepare for his GED. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Wednesday, November 30, 2005, at the middle school it was their CSE meeting, which was just like the
CSE at the high school except with middle school studnets and the problems werent as severe. The day
seemed as if it dragged by, but overall it wasn't too bad. Hours: 8:15-1:15 ( 5 Hours)
Monday, December 5, 2005, at the high school Dr, Topper was at Hope Veil for the say so i was working
on my triannuals all morning then after Dr. Topper told me to come out to Hope Veil to see the day school
for trobled students that can't stay in the regular schools. So i drove out to Hope Veil and observed,
its so different from the environments that i am used to. It was a very very small school and it was
supposed to be predominately femlaes but i saw a good mix and the person who was looking at the school
from lancaster was also a boy. The kids were in the halls swearing to teachers it was just so different
from what i am used to seeing, but it was a good experience seeing that. There was also a metal
detector when you walked in and that is another thing i am definitely not used to seeing, so it was
definitely an interesting experience. 8:15-2:20 (Hours 6)
Wednesday, December 7, 2005, I came in and then I observed three studnets throughout the day.
I also, watched Mrs. Burke finish giving a test and also helped her grade it. We also met with a boy
whose mother was sick and talked to him to see if he was alright with is mom not being well, and he
was okay with it because once she recieved medication she would be alright. I also met with my
student and talked with ehr about how everything was going and making sure her classes were ok
and then we played some UNO Hours: 8:15-1:15 (Hours 5)
Monday, December 12, 2005, i had an exam so i could not go.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 All the school psychologists in Lancaster went to a conference in
Toronto so i had no practicum, but i will be there next monday adn wednesday to finish my hours.
Monday, December 19, 2005. I worked on triennuals. Also a parent/teacher conference to discuss the potential of a student not graduating due to lack of credits and effots towards school work and school in general. After we met with a group of teachers to discuss a student and his placement in special services. Hours:
WEdnesday, December 21, 2005. I observed a student in class. After we met with the students' aide to discuss the students progress. After we met with a teacher to go over treatment reviews for the students in her class. AFter that we pulled s student to continue the testing that Mrs. Burke had already begun. Then i met with my counseling case and talked with her about any problems that she was having, and to try to help resolve some issues.
Winter recess
Monday, January 9, 2006. I was finishing up triennuals for Dr. Topper so she could meet with the teachers next week to go over them with the students progress. There was also a paretn teacher conference about a student who was in danger of failing out of school because he was not attending classes. Hours 8:15-1:15 (5 hours)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006. I observed a student, then had a meeting with parents, teachers and counselors to discuss the child's behaviors in class. AFter that meeting there was another parent/teacher conference to discuss a students absesnces, but the parent never showed up so it ended up getting cancelled and moved to another day. Hours 8:15-1:15 (5 Hours).
Monday, January 16, 2006. Martin Luther King Jr. Day no school!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006.In the morning I went to St. Mary's elementary school in Lancaster to observe a student. After observing we met with a student who Mrs. Burke was testing. I received a new studnet for counseling, so I talked with her for a little bit, discussing any problems that she had and ways to work with those problems such as her anger management issues. AFter talking we played a game of UNO.Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, January 23, 2006. At the high school I went to observe several students in the morning/early afternoon because Dr. Topper was not there. After observing I scored some Vineland tests on student on the students in the self contained class. Hours 8:15-1:15 (Hours 5).
Wednesday, January 25, 2006. I watched as Mrs. Burke gave the WISC IV to a student. After there was a team meeting with the teachers and counselors to discuss the students on the team that are having problems and how to help the student better succeed. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, January 30, 2006. CSE was all day. At CSE we went over the students who were put on the agenda for review. CSE is a very long process. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, February 1, 2006. I went to observe students in different classes. After there was a meeting with parents to go over the testing reults and to give the best suggestion as far as what class to put their son in, and it was decided that Resource Room would be the best. Hours 8:15-1:15. (hours 5).
Monday, February 6, 2006. I was sick
Wednesday, February 8, 2006. We went to Ben Frankilin Middle school to observe a student who is a Lancaster student but needs to go into their 12:1:1 class. She as such a cute girl, but severly mentally retarded. I observed her for awhile. AFter we went to observe another boy who is mentally retarded also but is also has severe eplilepsy. He was a cute boy too, he needed a special devise in order for him to communicate. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, February 13, 2006. I observed a couple students for Dr. Topper, then we went to talk to some teachers about certain student's progress in their classes and whether or not they needed to go onto the agenda for CSE. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, February 15, 2006. I observed Mrs. Burke giving the Woodcock Johnson to a student. After i went to observe a student in his class. When i came back i was looking through some files on students that she was going to start working with. Later there was a parent conference with a parent who was worried about her sons academics. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, February 20 and Wednesday February 22. No school President's Day/winter recess.
Monday, Febraru 27, 2006. CSE all day at the High School. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, March 1, 2006. I was sick.
Monday March 6, 2006. I went to observe some students, and the one I was supposed to follow to two classes but I goofed up and asked the teacher where this boy was and he ended up standing right behind me, so needless to say he figured me out and then the rest of the class was a disaster. The boys kept talking to me and then they got the teacher involved and it was out of control. The teacher let the kids walk all over him. After we had a meeting with a parent/student and couselor to discuss why a studnet is doing so poorly in school. His mom worked three jobs so she was never home so there was no supervision and also the friends this boy is hanging out ith are into drugs and drinking so to talk about the dangers of getting involved with that. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesay, March 8, 2006. I went to observe a student. Then after we had a student come down to finish the Woodcock Johnson test so i got to give certain parts of that exam to him. I was kind of nervous but it wnt well. After we went to observe a student at Autistic services. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, March 13, 2006. There was a sub committee on CSE so I sat in on that all day. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, March 15, 2006. There was a sub committe on CSE at tthe midde school so I sat in on that all day. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday March 20, 2006. There was a boy who died in Lancaster through the strangulation game. t's unsure if it was a suicide or just an accident. But we went to William Street school to see if any students needed counseling there because the student was in 5th grade. It was so sad because he was so young to have died at such a young age. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, March 22, 2006. We went to Autistic services again to observe a preschool student. After we came back and there was a parent conference going over the results of the testing that was conducted and the services that will be given to the student next year. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, March 27, 2006. I went to observe a student in class. After Dr. Topper needed to meet with some teachers about forming a new program for students who are in self contained and what should be done was far as vocaltion services for them and also integrating them with noraml peers so thy get to know other students rather then just he other special ed kids. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, March 29, 2006. There was a subcommitte in the high school and Dr. Topper was sick so Mrs. Burke filled in for her. So i sat in on that all day. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, April 3, 2006. Mrs. Daley was out at William Street school so Dr. Topper filled in on their CSE meeting. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, April 5, 2006. I went to observe some students then after i watched as she dictated reports. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, April 10, 2006. She helped me score some tests that has been done and then i observed some students. After we met with a student who was having some problems in school and talked to him for awhile trying to help him. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Wednesday, April 12, 2006. I was sick.
Monday April 17-Wednesay April 19, 2006. Spring Recess.
Monday, April 24, 2006. I was sick.
Wednesay, April 26, 2006. I observed a student. After we went to Edukids to observe a preschool student. We then met with another school counslor to fill out an FBA on a stundetn who never comes to school. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5).
Monday, May 1, 2006. Dr. Topper had to go to the middle school to meet with a student adn test him so i went with her. After talking with the student for awhile I then got to give him the Woodcock Johnson all on my own. Hours: 8:15-1:15. (hours 5).
Wednesday May 3, 2006. This is my last day at the middle school. So i went to observe a student. AFter i Met with my two conseling cases to talk with them once more before I left. Hours 8:15-1:15. (Hours 5). On monday will be my last day observing at Lancaster.
Monday, May 8, 2006.
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