On the Lighter Side: From the Desk of the School Psychologist

We saw this meme on Pinterest and thought our School Psychologist friends might enjoy it for their offices/desks.   Enjoy "Everyone Asks, "What Does the Fox Say?"....

Music Therapy in the News:  Music Therapy Improves Coping Skills in Young Cancer Patients  

[Source: Medical News Today] 

A new study has found that a form of music therapy, which involves writing song lyrics and producing videos, is beneficial in helping young cancer patients develop coping skills.

Movement for Learning in the News:  Using Whole Body Movement to Help with Knowledge Retention 

[Source:  Your Therapy Source]

At the University of Arizona there is the Embodied Games for Learning Lab.  The lab is creating games for K-12 classrooms that include movement with learning.  The researchers have found that students retain information better when they use their whole body to learn the information.

One of the lead researchers, Mina Johnson-Glenberg, states that

Comparative Neurobiology in the News:  Surprising Research Results Reveal Brain Regions Thought to be Uniquely Human Share Many Similarities with Monkeys 

New research suggests a surprising degree of similarity in the organization of regions of the brain that control language and complex thought processes in humans and monkeys. The study, published online January 28 in the Cell Press journal Neuron, also revealed some key differences. The findings may provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes that established our ties to other primates but also made us distinctly human.

The research concerns the ventrolateral frontal cortex, a region of the brain known for more than 150 years to be important for cognitive processes including language, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making. "It has been argued that to develop these abilities, humans had to evolve a completely new neural apparatus; however others have suggested precursors to these specialized brain systems might have existed in other primates," explains lead author Dr. Franz-Xaver Neubert of the University of Oxford, in the UK.

Rett Syndrome in the News:  Rett Syndrome, Permanent Changes in Brain Genes May Not Be so Permanent After All  

[Source: Medical News Today]

In normal development, all cells turn off genes they don't need, often by attaching a chemical methyl group to the DNA, a process called methylation. Historically, scientists believed methyl groups could only stick to a particular DNA sequence: a cytosine followed by a guanine, called CpG. But in recent years, they have been found on other sequences, and so-called non-CpG methylation has been found in stem cells, and in neurons in the brain.

Now, a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins has discovered that non-CpG methylation occurs later and more dynamically in neurons than previously appreciated, and that it acts as a system of gene regulation, which can be independent of traditional CpG methylation.

Upcoming Events:  It's TSHA Time!

It's that time of year!  TSHA (the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association) Convention and Exhibition is just around the corner - February 27 - March 1, 2014 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

I remember a few years ago the Texas Tourism Bureau had a marketing campaign - "Texas, its Like a Whole 'Nother Country."  It's so true.   We love going to TSHA, because it's so big it might as well be a national show!  They are expecting over 5000 attendees.   This year, the theme is, "Preserving the Past and Embracing the Future"

Featured Job of the Week:  School Psychologist - Columbia River Gorge  

PediaStaff is searching for a contract School Psychologist to work full time starting ASAP through June 2014.  Location is on the Columbia River east of Portland.  You'll work in schools, K-12.  Excellent hourly rates from $36/hr and higher based on experience.  This is a beautiful area - if you're into outdoor adventures this is a dream location.  More details available to qualified and interested candidates.

Qualifications - Must hold at least a Master's or Specialty Degree in School Psychology, Oregon license or eligible.

Book Review:  Learn to Have Fun with Your Senses: The Sensory Avoider's Survival Guide  

This is a wonderful book for children with sensory avoiding issues. Not only is this book applicable to children, it is also helpful for parents and practitioners working with children who struggle with sensory processing disorder.

The book simplifies sensory problems in a way that gives children a way to understand what is happening in their brains and bodies.

Most children are unaware that their brain is not processing senses the way it needs to, but instead just feel different. This book provides a simplified explanation children can understand and helps them realize there are many people who feel the way they do.

Fine Motor Ideas of the Week:  Button Fine Motor Projects/Activities  

Resource of the Week:  The 200 Best Educational Websites