School Psychology Podcast with Dr. Gaston Weisz

SPP 008: Antecedents That Change Behavior

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:36:00 +0000

In previous episodes reinforcement is discussed. This is an approach with a strong history of empirical support. However, another effective approach involves interventions before the problem even occurs, rather than after it has already happened. These are called antecedent interventions. In this episode, Dr. Weisz discusses and gives examples of antecedent interventions. This intervention works before the problem behavior occurs, by preventing or reducing the liklihood of its occurring.

SPP 007: Web Resources Republished

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:45:57 +0000

Dr. Weisz reviews several free and useful web resources for school staff and parents. A good place to start is the intervention central website by Jim Wright. This site provides programs to create behavior report cards individualized to different children and concerns. There are manuals and booklets for bully prevention, ADHD assessment, curriculum based measurements, peer tutoring, response to intervention resources, and so forth. If a school psychologist, teacher or parent can think of something that you need, check here and see if it’s already on his site.

SPP 006: Reinforcement Part 2 Republished

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Reinforcement procedures with children are reviewed. In this episode, I review how reinforcement works, when it fizzles and when it backfires, and why. Reinforcement is a powerful methodology for parents and teachers. Ignorance or misunderstandings of the procedures can lead to negative outcomes. Learning about it can lead to more effective behavior management.

SPP 043: Progress Monitoring

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:40:00 +0000

This episode introduces progress monitoring, the hows and the whys with some background. How to devise effective goals to improve educational and behavioral progress is also explored.

SPP 005 Republished: Does Reinforcement Work

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:17:00 +0000

Does reinforcement work? If it works, is it easy enough for teachers and parents to apply while also facing challenging behavior? These questions and more are answered and the empirical findings on reinforcement are discussed.

SPP 004 Republished: Does Psychotherapy Work?

Fri, 22 May 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Weeding through the hype, confusion and misinformation, we examine what the research says about whether or not psychotherapy really works.

SPP 003 Republished: Replacing Problem Behaviors with Appropriate Behaviors.

Sun, 10 May 2009 16:10:00 +0000

In this episode, the spotlight is on dealing with challenging behavior once again. Challenging behavior can be managed better when we recognize that behavior serves a purpose to the person and offering a replacement behavior that serves a similar purpose but is more acceptable can be a powerful approach to managing challenging behavior.

SPP 042: Why Are Special Education Laws Needed?

Sun, 03 May 2009 20:16:00 +0000

In this episode the background and reasons for the special education laws are examined. The abuses of the past were addressed through legislation leading to the present important principles that protect the educational rights of individuals with disabilities.

SPP 002 Revised: Dealing with Challenging Behavior

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:34:00 +0000

In this revised episode, dealing with challenging behavior is discussed. Facts are separated from fallacies and effective methods to manage difficult behavior in children are explored.

SPP 001: Revised and republished premier episode

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:49:00 +0000

This is a revised premiere episode of the School Psychology Podcast, with a new intro and outro. The technical glitch on the website that hosts the SPP episodes has resulted in loss of those archived episodes. This is a re-issue of one of these lost episodes.

SPP 041: Special Education and Labels

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:43:00 +0000

This is the third episode in a series on what is special about special education. The controversies, pros and cons of classification labels for children with special needs are examined.

SPP 040: Special Education Continued

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:32:00 +0000

In this episode, special education is further explored and discussed. The appropriate use and potential misuse of special education laws and practices are examined.

SPP 039 Corrected: What's So Special About Special Education

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 12:25:00 +0000

Special education disabilities, laws, the concept of exceptional children, and the use of individualized education and practices are examined. Facts and controversies are explored.

SPP 038: 2008 School Psychology Podcast Wrap-Up

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Dr. Weisz wraps up the first year of podcasting and blogging in this episode, discussing the focus of the episodes, the variety of topics and plans for future episodes.

SPP 037: Positive Psychology in Positive Schools

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:50:00 +0000

The positive psychology movement is a promising approach that is consistent with school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports programs. These two approaches emphasize the need to make schools more positive, proactive and effective.

SPP 036: Saluting the real advocates for children with special needs

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:22:00 +0000

In this episode I focus on the parents who have advocated and reshaped special education for children with special needs and investigate Sarah Palin's claim to be a friend to children with special needs if elected. Special education laws are reviewed.

SPP 035: News and Views on Autism medication and School Retention Practices

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:30:00 +0000

In this podcast episode, segments cover research about how medication can improve cognitive functioning in children with autism and how many schools practice retention policies that fly in the face of research and best practices.

SPP 034: Starting The School Year Off Positively With PBIS

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:59:00 +0000

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports provides strategies to start the year off positively, effectively and efficiently. PBIS is a popular school program that incorporates best practices in training, prevention, and applications of educational and behavioral research. Find out more about PBIS by visiting pbis.org.

SPP 033: Climate Control in the Classroom Continued

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:56:00 +0000

Climate control in the classroom returns as a regular segment on the school psychology podcast. In this installment, the correct balance of attention and praise to optimize the classroom climate is discussed.

SPP 032: Teacher Web Tools

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:42:00 +0000

Various websites offer resources for teachers. The internet is a great tool for researching, organizing and sharing of resources. I will focus on those resources that might be useful for teachers. In this podcast we scratch the surface and explore a few promising and helpful resources for educators.

SPP 031: ADHD Resources: CHADD

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:55:00 +0000

The organization CHADD is highlighted in this episode. This excellent resource for people with ADHD, parents, teachers and professionals provides education, research, advocacy, diagnostic and treatment information, and guidance as to which treatments are proven to be effective and which are not.

SPP030: Dyslexic Brains

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:53:00 +0000

New research indicates that there are parts of the brain of people with dyslexia that can change in response to intensive remediation. This episode reviews what we know about dyslexia, dispells some misconceptions and reviews scientific findings.

SPP 029:Schizophrenia and Nature Versus Nurture

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:06:00 +0000

Dr. Weisz discusses Schizophrenia, research regarding its biology and genetics, and addresses some issues about the nature versus nurture debates regarding mental and behavioral disorders.

SPP 028: Climate Control in the Classroom

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:39:00 +0000

The benefits of positive climate in the classroom are contrasted with the problems of a negative climate. Ideas from Dr. Lori Newcomer's presentation and article on Positive Behavior Support in the Classroom are featured in this episode.

SPP 027: Psychiatry Denial, Autism Bashing, Misinformed Radio Show Jocks and Other Pet Peeves

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:20:00 +0000

In this episode, psychiatry denial is explored with a discussion of Michael Savage's comments about autistic children and Dr. Thomas Szasz's criticisms of psychiatry. Dr. Weisz points out the fallacies in these criticisms of psychiatric diagnoses.

SPP 026: Preventing Teacher Burn-Out

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:34:00 +0000

What is teacher burn-out? How can we recognize it? How can we prevent it? This episode focuses on helping teachers to maintain the balance between being challenged and being burned out.

SPP 025: Discovering the Autism Genes

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:09:00 +0000

New research about the role of specific genes in autism spectrum disorders is reviewed. This line of research is promising in understanding and intervening with this devestating disorder. Other features include the quote of the week, listener feedback and a public service announcement to prevent health problems that strike people who sit for long periods of time, such as might be the case with listeners of podcasts and users of computers.

SPP 024: Classroom Management Approaches that Work

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:33:00 +0000

Citing research about classroom management approaches that work from Robert J. Marzano's book, Classroom management that works: research based strategies for every teacher, this podcast episode focuses on practical information that has been empirically found to work in effective classroom management.

SPP 023: Education and Technology, A Guide for the Perplexed

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:11:00 +0000

Many educators have trouble getting comfortable with technology and internet resources. In this episode, problems and solutions with using the tools of the 21st century are explored. Exciting resources for education are highlighted, as well as resources for finding out more. Are you uncomfortable with children knowing more than you do (about computers and the internet), with traditions and time-honored methods being pushed aside to make room for smartboards, clickers, videoconferencing and blogging? See how you feel after listening to this podcast.

SPP 022 Communication Disorders

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:06:00 +0000

In this podcast I talk about about communication disorders: 1. Speech and Language Impairment 2. Hearing Impairment 3. Deaf 4. Deaf and Blind Causes, interventions and related topics for the communication disorders are discussed.