School Psychology Podcast with Dr. Gaston Weisz

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.

SPP 021 Private Schools Vs. Public Schools - Do You Get What You Pay For?

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:11:00 +0000

In this podcast, I explore the supposedly surprising finding about public schools being as good or better than private schools. In a large scale study financed by the government, students were found to perform better in math on standardized tests in public schools versus private schools. Social and economic factors were controlled for in this evaluation. If children do better because of their social or economic group membership, then the difference between the schools being investigated is confounded.

SPP 020 Barriers Challenging People with Disabilities: Are They All in Our Heads?

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:06:00 +0000

What are the barriers to people with disabilities? Some are physical (mobility access in bathrooms, telephones that are inaccessible to people with hearing impairments) and some are "in our heads". That is, beliefs, misinterpretations and ineffective responses can hinder people with disabilities. In this podcast, a number of these obstacles are discussed. Sometimes due to fear or disbelief in disabilities that are not visible people will resist getting help for a child who would benefit from it. Additional misconceptions include expecting too little, unrealistically expecting too much, or "treating a person with a disability the same as a non-disabled person" either out of a belief that it is fair or that it will make the person behave as if they do not have their disability. Also, treating everyone with a disability as if they are the same is another misconceived approach. Unsupported claims and hype are attractive to people who are looking for miraculous answers, "natural remedies" or are just not able to distinguish what is evidence-based and what is not.

SPP 019 ADHD: Facts, fallacies and should we just say no to medication or not?

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:07:00 +0000

In this episode, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the Special Education Classification of Other Health Impairment (OHI) are discussed. Based on research, medication is one of the most effective methods of managing ADHD symptoms. While many people are reluctant to consider medication, there are many “side effects” to under-treatment of this disorder. Behavioral and educational approaches are also discussed in this podcast. Research, facts and fallacies as well as controversies are reviewed. For more information visit Dr. Weisz’ website http://weiszdoc.com which links to his discussion board, psychology wiki, and school psychology blog http://drweisz.blogspot.com. You can download this podcast on from itunes.

SPP 018 Learning Disabilities: What Teachers Need to Know so They Don't Feel Teaching Disabled

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:34:00 +0000

This week’s episode of the School Psychology Podcast with Dr. Gaston Weisz focuses on Learning Disabilities. This neurological processing disorder forces us to understand better how our brains work or don’t work effectively. This is one of the 13 special education disability categories. The special education laws that protect students with disabilities are reviewed along with controversies about how the LD category is operationalized in school systems. Finally, examples of effective teaching methods are clarified so that while a student may in fact have a Learning Disability, this episode helps give teachers insight and skills so they aren’t forced to feel like they're teaching disabled.

SPP 017 Back to School for Parents Part Two

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:27:00 +0000

How do we get the most out of home school collaboration? Once again, in this podcast, using audio from Kimberli Breen’s presentation at the NYS Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Conference 2008 in Syracuse, this podcast features guidelines for positively engaging parents.

SPP 016 Back to School for Parents: The Importance of Home School Collaboration

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:24:00 +0000

This episode focuses on Kimberli Breen's presentation about home school collaboration at the NYS PBIS Coach's Forum in Syracuse NY.

Episode 015: PBIS School Improvement Has a Certain Sustainability

Sat, 03 May 2008 18:02:00 +0000

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports are a sustainable, evidence-based, practical and efficient method of improving school systems. This episode reviews the basic ideas and approaches of PBIS.

Episode 014: Surviving a Special Education Meeting

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:44:00 +0000

In this episode, we focus on the background of the special education laws, information and strategies that will guide you in understanding and dealing with the special education process. In addition to reducing fear and anxiety, you can develop as an advocate and collaborative participant in future team meetings and educational processes.

Episode 013: A Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Nightmare

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:55:00 +0000

PBIS is the body of research and practice getting attention from many communities that want more positive schools, teachers that want more effective tools for improving student behavior and legislators that want schools to adhere to scientifically validated procedures. Legislation has begun to emphasize the need for positive behavior supports and evidence-based practices. A NY Times April 4th article featured a school district. The article stated that the school district was using PBIS, but the approaches described contradicted everything about PBIS, as these approaches were reactive, negative and not evidence-based. Dr. Weisz' letter to the editor is featured in this podcast unedited.

Episode 012: Autism, When We Should Know Better

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:20:00 +0000

This third episode on autism deals with the subject of quackery, pseudoscience and bogus science related to autism claims. Unsupported claims of the nature of the disorder and of treatments are a great problem. The problem leads to lost time, money and other resources that could be used to get children early effective support. Behavioral methods, special education and parenting support are discussed.

Episode 011, Autism What We Don't Know - Part 2

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:17:00 +0000

Separating fact from fiction is explored with respect to austism in this podcast. Dr. Weisz continues in the second installment of three episodes about autism. Information is provided to educate and support parents and professionals in understanding what we know and what we don't know about this spectrum of disorders.

Episode 010: Autism - What we know, what we don't know and when we should know better - Part 1

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 19:40:00 +0000

There is information and misinformation about autism, its causes and treatments. In this first part, Dr. Gaston Weisz speaks about what is known about Autism, causes and treatments. References and information is provided for evidence-based interventions and sources of information as well as ways to avoid pseudoscience and unverified claims.

Episode 009: Teaching Social Emotional Competence

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:15:00 +0000

In this episode, I discuss the value of teaching and promoting social emotional competence in school. Are teaching these kinds of skills appropriate for teachers? Do they have time considering the academic demands placed on them? Is social emotional competence just some fluff that has no proven value? Should values be left to home and church? In this podcast, citing research I respond to these questions.

Episode 008 Manipulating antecedents to change behavior: putting the horse before the cart

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:56:00 +0000

In contrast to reinforcement approahces, antecedent approaches focus on the setting events, triggers and other environmental variables that affect behavior. By manipulating these factors, behaviors can be effectively improved. Examples are given that illustrate several methods of manipulating antecedents.

Episode 007 - Resources on the web for school psychologists, teachers and parents

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:01:00 +0000

The web is full of helpful resources, technical assistance, education and practical forms for educational and parenting practices. In this episode, Dr. Weisz lists some useful sites to help develop a knowledge base and to easily access forms and tools as part of becoming more positive, proactive and evidence-based.