Special Education
Social Emotional Assessments in Schools: How to Determine the Best Assessment Tool
Evaluations for special education are oftentimes a large portion of a school social worker’s role. Determining the best social emotional assessment tools to use can be confusing- here we aim to untangle the process and outline a few of the key determining factors to pick the right assessment tool. Presenting Problem The IEP process starts…
Read MoreDetermining Eligibility for Autism in Girls
Autism diagnoses are becoming more prevalent in recent years. However, much of the research about what Autism “looks” like stems from young Caucasian males. In this post, we will discuss how Autism is currently evaluated (specifically in schools), and the differences between Autism in girls and boys. Autism Spectrum Disorder in Girls People traditionally think…
Read MoreTips for Writing Social Emotional IEP Goals & 10 Example Goals
Probably one of the most daunting parts of being a new school social worker is writing IEP evaluations and goals. While some school districts have templates available, most do not. Here are 10 of the most common social emotional goals for an IEP and how to write your own goals. Tip #1: Be SMART One…
Read MoreSocial Emotional Goal: Targeting Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is a disorder that affects an individual’s ability to communicate verbally and consistently across all settings. Targeting selective mutism in schools is a complicated task, but here are some tips for interventions and goals to help students with selective mutism lead healthy and happy lives. What is Selective Mutism? Selective mutism is an…
Read MoreHow to Determine the Best Social Emotional Curriculum
Selecting a social emotional curriculum can be overwhelming and feel like you’re getting sold. In this post, we’ll discuss some key elements for selecting an appropriate social emotional curriculum. CASEL Certified Social Emotional Curriculum The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the agency that reviews social emotional curriculum to ensure it is…
Read MoreThe Fundamentals of Social Emotional Skill Development
Understanding the key concepts of social emotional functioning for students is critical for anyone starting out in the field of school social work. What does it mean to have social emotional skills in social awareness, relationship management, decision-making skills, self-management and self awareness? How can social workers help develop these skills? The CASEL Model The…
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