Recognizing the Work of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP)
Students come to school with more than just their backpacks — they bring all their worries, fears, insecurities, and unmet health and developmental needs with them too. From April 13-17, 2015, we are celebrating the first-ever SISP Week to support Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP)! Learn more about the work of SISP at www.NASISP.org.
We know that healthy kids learn better. We also know that prevention services and early interventions work to address the myriad challenges a student may face: learning and/or behavioral disabilities; social and emotional development issues; or any number of stressors that may result from an unstable or chaotic home or community environment. We call these “barriers to teaching and learning.” NEA believes that all students deserve a Great Public School that tracks a range of school quality indicators – referred to as an “Opportunity Dashboard.” The NEA Health Information Network also believes that every student deserves access to critical services and interventions that meet their academic and health needs.
SISP work in schools to reduce academic, behavioral, and social-emotional barriers to learning in the classroom so children can focus on learning and teachers can focus on teaching. By providing services, therapies, and other individual and school-wide interventions to reduce barriers to learning and teaching, SISP promote better outcomes for students and schools.
SISP promote the health, mental health and well-being of the whole child. Their critical responsibilities include:
- Supporting effective teaching and improved student learning, including consultation with teachers and families, and ensuring that assessments are linked to instruction
- Working together with teachers and administrators to develop a positive school climate and improve school safety
- Providing behavioral interventions to reduce disciplinary infractions and improve classroom management skills
- Providing educational programs and activities that reduce barriers to teaching and learning and support improved student outcomes
- Providing services and interventions to address mental health issues and promote social and emotional development, including individual and group counseling and coordination with community mental health services and programs
- Creating a continuum of support services for all students and providing various instructional strategies to facilitate learning in all classrooms, including problem‐solving instruction, and remedial interventions
- Participating, as members of the school team, in professional development to ensure high quality learning
- Fostering collaboration between general and special education programs and staff, between the community and schools, and between schools and parents
The SISP champion, Representative Dave Loebsack (D-IA), has introduced a Congressional Resolution honoring the work of SISP and recognizing the week of April 13-17, 2015 as SISP Week!
To thank Representative Loebsack, our message on social media is: Thank you #RepLoebsack for honoring the importance of specialized instructional support personnel #SISPinSchools
Join the conversation and be part of our Twitter Storm! #SISPinSchools.
Signs of Stress in Children
When a child doesn’t feel well, you want to do everything possible to help them feel better – it’s only natural. What happens when the child is stressed? You may think stress is an adult affliction, but it also impacts children of all ages through pressure at school, in sports and extra-curricular activities, and at home.
Some stress can be a good thing, helping to motivate a child to study for a test or practice for the big game. However, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), too much stress “can create unnecessary hardship and challenge.”
Do you recognize these symptoms of stress in children from the APA?
- Negative changes in behavior – acting irritable or moody; complaining about school; crying; not eating enough or eating too much; and not participating in favorite activities can all be signs of stress. According to KidsHealth.org, bedwetting, changes in sleep patterns, becoming withdrawn, lying and bullying can also be signs of stress.
- Feeling sick – frequent stomachaches and headaches are common symptoms of stress, and may result in frequent visits to the nurse’s office.
- Unusual interactions with others – children may act one way at home and another way at school, which can sometimes be a symptom of stress.
- Expressing stress in a different way – “Because children are often not familiar with the word stress and its meaning, they may express feelings of distress through other words such as ‘worried,’ ‘confused,’ ‘annoyed’ and ‘angry,’” according to the APA.
If you notice a child is exhibiting these symptoms of stress, be sure to make note of the situation and talk with the parents or a guidance counselor. Be sure to address bullying and negative behavior, and promote a positive environment. Read this article for more information on addressing stress.
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