no more classes!

Today was my last class for my Specialist in School Psych Degree. In December, I got my MS, but now it really feels over! Beginning in about 3.5 weeks, I will be an intern for a district just across the river. The year of supervision is the last step (minus a few tests) that I need before being licensed as a school psychologist. I am so excited and so ready for this next chapter - I will basically be working, which means no more homework! Though I am sure I will have to bring home work from time to time, I am definitely going to be gaining a lot more free time, and I am so happy about that!

As classes have ended, I thought I would summarize what I have learned over the past 2 years. Grad school is kind of crazy in that it is intense instruction in basically one area. I left undergrad feeling like I had the same knowledge as basically everyone else, and though I am far from an expert, it is kind of cool explaining things to Dan (for instance) that he has never learned. It is strange trying to remember back what what I DIDN'T know when I started this process. Here is what I think I have learned:

-I have learned a lot about typical child development (motor, language, emotional development). Along with that, I have learned what atypical development can look like.

-I have learned about different disabilities, both DSM diagnostic criteria and special ed eligibility criteria.

-I have learned about the importance of collecting data and evaluating whether instruction techniques are effective for individual students.

-I have learned skills to use in consultation with teachers.

-I have learned about Response to Intervention, and I have learned about a lot of interventions that I can implement or help teachers implement to help reduce the need for special education services.

-I have learned how to do a full evaluation and to work with a team to determine if a student meets eligibility for special education services.

-I have learned a lot about autism.

-I have learned more about our brain and the effects our physiology can have on our functioning.

-I have learned about behavior and how reinforcement and punishment can affect what people choose to do.

Plus probably a lot more. It's hard to summarize two years of school work ;)

All I know is that I know I have gained a lot of knowledge, and I can't wait to be out in the field using that knowledge!