School Psychologists and Services

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What Do School Psychologists Do?

Here in Chelsea, the primary role of the School Psychologist is to use a wide variety of techniques to assess students for special education eligibility. We tailor our assessments to the particular needs of each child and each situation and may assess a number of different aspects of the child such as academic skills, learning aptitudes, personality and emotional development, social skills, learning environments and school climate, and eligibility for special education.

In addition to assessment, we also consult with staff and parents to give healthy and effective suggestions about problems in learning and behavior. We help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior and work to strengthen working relationships between educators, parents and community services.

We have developed this web area to serve as a guide and resource tool for staff, parents, and students. Below are resource links about many topics. We have reviewed them and feel they are informative and helpful.

PLEASE NOTE: Internet resources are great reference tools but should not be used for "Self Diagnosis." Please use these links as a starting point. If you require further assistance, please contact us in the Special Education Department . We will do our best to help and if necessary, guide families to medical/mental health professionals when appropriate.

Disclaimer: External sites are offered in the hope that they may be useful, but we do not necessarily endorse any content to be found on external sites.

Here you will find resources in English, and some of them in Spanish. Please use the links below if they are helpful.

RESOURCES IN ENGLISH

1. Development
   • Developmental Milestones
2. Language Development
   • Merriam-Webster Dictionary. You can also hear how the word is pronounced. It includes English-Spanish translation.
   • Google Translate.
   • Learning two languages.
   • Activities to encourage speech and language development.
3. Disabilities
   • Disability definitions from the Department of Education in Massachusetts and related links.
   • Resources with information on different types of disabilities.
   • National Institute of Mental Health.
   • Learning Disabilities. Here you will find strategies to support your child if he/she has difficulties with reading, writing or math.
   • National Center for Learning Disabilities. Here you will find information about how you can help your child in a number of areas: language development, transition to college, emotional development, bullying...
   • National Research Center on Learning Disabilities. Information on Response to Intervention, which is a method of academic intervention.
   • Information and strategies for schools and parents to support students who show behaviors consistent with a number of mental health categories: Massachusetts General Hospital.
   • CEDAR Clinic: The CEDAR clinic is for young people (ages 14-30) who are experiencing new or worsening symptoms that may be warning signs for psychosis.
4. Resources for Parents
   • Tips to Developing Healthy Self-Esteem in your Child.
   • Color in Colorado: A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners Un sitio bilingüe para familias y maestros para ayudar a los niños a leer (in English and Spanish)
   • Books online to read with your children.
   • School Dropout Prevention: Information and Strategies for Parents
   • Website created by a parent that offers information on disability camps, workshops and events in Greater Massachusetts.
   • Information on how to create social stories. It may be particularly useful for children with disabilities on the autism spectrum.
   • Toilet training information for children on the autism spectrum.
   • Resources related to domestic violence.
   • Guidance for Special Education Parent Advisory Counsel (PAC) Normas de Orientacion para los Consejos Asesores de Padres de Estudiantes en Educacion Especial - English with links to Spanish, Haitian and Portuguese versions
5. Resources for Students
   • Stress management/relaxation techniques.
   • Positive Thinking.
   • Study Skills.
6. Community Resources
   • Community Resources in Chelsea (Roca, NorthSuffolk...).
   • East Boston YMCA.
   • Chelsea Library.
   • Big Brother Big Sister.
   • North Suffolk Mental Health Association.
7. Educational Games, Videos, and Activities for Kids
   • PBS Kids
   • Cool educational Videos
   • History.com.
   • Watch, Know, Learn.
   • Resources organized by grade for English and Mathematics. Printables for Pre-Kindergarten to work on pre-writing skills.
8. Other Organizations related to disabilities
   • Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change.
   • Toward Independent Living and Learning, Inc.
   • Resources for families to deal with addictions.
   • Advocates for Autism in Massachusetts.
   • Asperger’s Association of New England.
   • Autism Alliance of New England.
   • Autism Speaks.
9. Interesting articles
   • The Autism Advantage.
   • Young Latinos Don't See Themselves in Books.
   • Invitation to a Dialogue: How to Treat ADHD.
10. Interesting books
    • Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues, 2nd Edition by Maria Wheeler

RESOURCES IN SPANISH

1. Etapas del desarrollo de un niño.
2. ¿Qué pasa cuando los niños hablan dos idiomas?.
3. Discapacidades.
4. Recursos para padres
   • Un sitio bilingüe para familias y maestros para ayudar a los niños a leer.
   • Libros virtuales que usted puede leer con sus hijos. Usted puede ir mirando el libro y escuchando la historia. Cada palabra que es leída es subrayada.
   • Diccionario Merriam-Webster. Aqui puede encontrar definiciones de palabras y escuchar como se pronuncia. Tambien hay un diccionario inglés-español
5. Recursos para padres. Sólo en español:
   • Consejos para ayudar a los niños a aprender a leer.
   • Usted y su niño en edad preescolar.
   • Usted y su hijo en edad de escuela primaria.
   • Una estimulante educación secundaria para todos.
   • Etapas del desarrollo y discapacidades.
   • Desarrollo de 2 a 5 años.
   • Transtorno de Estrés Post-Traumático