Who Turned Off the Heat?

by Barbara Erby

This week we have experienced lower than normal temperatures in the DC area, but I’m hoping that this doesn’t ruin our Cherry Blossom Festival. I love seeing the pale pink blooms on the trees of the Tidal Basin. It reminds me of my childhood and how truly carefree some moments of life can be.

As we move further into spring (and hopefully warmer weather), it is important to keep moving forward in your home learning programs. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that you should leave your program out in the cold. You need to keep the fire stoked and the energy going so that learning continues to happen. What are some of the things that can cause the fire to go out in your home program? Well my top two so far are boredom and lack of consistency.

Boredom can quickly overtake programs. A general rule that I have learned to follow is if the instructor is bored, then the student probably is too. Some people think that kids should learn regardless and that “fun” has no place in learning, but it’s easier (and more fun) to learn about a subject that you are interested in. If you’re not interested in the topic and it is presented in an interesting way, you will still pay attention.
The second reason, lack of consistency, can take on many forms. One hour of teaching time, one week then 8 hours the next is inconsistent. Being inconsistent with teaching skills or the behavioral rules can lead to  forgetfulness or confusion. Most people don’t remember the quadratic equation that they learned in high school Algebra because it is not something that you use on a daily basis. Remember to keep skills and rules fresh your child’s mind by integrating them into daily life.

 

Barbara Erby is an Education & Behavioral Consultant with Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bowie State University in 1999 and a Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology and an emphasis in Developmental Psychology from Capella University in 2004. Ms. Erby has worked with a variety of students in the school, home, and community environments as a Direct Care Worker, Family Trainer, and an Education & Behavioral Consultant.

Relaxation and Decompression

By Barbara Erby

“Nobody acknowledges the musical features that are inherent in the process of reasoning, in the logical progression of thought.” ~Murray Sidman

I can truly see why people turn to music as a form of therapy. I, over the years, have learned to play several different instruments and still have others that will be a future focus.

My mother often said, that you could tell my mood by the instrument that I would play. When I was angry, I would play the Piano. When sad, I would play the Saxophone. When I was happy, I would play the Clarinet. Each instrument provided a different way of soothing my nerves and calming me… a way for me to think.

Unless you already know the name, you might think that the quote listed above is from some musical composer. In this, you would be mistaken. Dr. Sidman is a prominent behavior scientist and the quote is from an article that was published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior in 2007.

While not everyone is drawn to music, there needs to be some method and form of release for both yourself and your child. It is important that you both have a way to decompress from the learning and work week. Our children spend time in school and various types of therapy on a daily basis. While we do these things in an effort to increase their independence, it is also important to find things that your child enjoys to increase their quality of life.

Barbara Erby is an Education & Behavioral Consultant with Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bowie State University in 1999 and a Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology and an emphasis in Developmental Psychology from Capella University in 2004. Ms. Erby has worked with a variety of students in the school, home, and community environments as a Direct Care Worker, Family Trainer, and an Education & Behavioral Consultant.

A Dirty 12 Letter Word?

I bet that you didn’t know that there was a dirty 12 letter word, did you? What is it? Organization! So it’s not exactly a dirty word, but most people treat it like it is. You have no clue how many times I have asked people to organize a space or materials and they looked at me like I have two heads.

 
Before beginning anything, I like to tell people to take a few moments and clean out some space. In general, people tend to be able to think more clearly in a clutter free and distraction free zone. Think of it like this, when you walk into a classroom and there are a few pictures on the wall, you may look at them, but you are able to refocus to complete the task at hand. When there are lots of posters and information to look at, you may look at them… and then you may begin to drift off into another place – exploring, in your mind, all of the different pictures, the concepts involved in them, as well as a host of other things.

 
The same principle works when you sit down at home. I know that I have often sat down in my office to begin working on something and then see the paperwork that needs to be filed and any number of other projects.
So, what do I do? I get up and start working on them, but in the process may not get the other task done.

 
The same thing may occur when you are trying to teach a skill (or have a child complete homework). In an area where there are lots of distractions, children are not always able to focus and have other things that
can hold their attention. To minimize the risk of this, you should keep learning areas organized and free from excessive clutter. This also makes it easier for person who will be working with your child(ren) – in an organized space people are quickly able to locate materials and rewards. A little organization can go a long way.

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Barbara

 

Barbara Erby is an Education & Behavioral Consultant with Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bowie State University in 1999 and a Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology and an emphasis in Developmental Psychology from Capella University in 2004. Ms. Erby has worked with a variety of students in the school, home, and community environments as a Direct Care Worker, Family Trainer, and an Education & Behavioral Consultant.

IEP Planning Month

I, for one, am glad that March is finally here. Yes, I’m glad to say goodbye to winter this month and hello to spring. I’ve been
enjoying that a bit more daylight that we’ve been having each and every day. Plus, I can see the temperatures starting to rise.

 

With the warming of spring brings along with it other things, such as updates to your child’s Individualized Education Program/Plans (IEP). So, this month at BDS, we are celebrating Music In Our Schools Month and IEP Planning Month. I published a short article in Monday’s BDS Journal about music and teams. In today’s blog posting, I wanted to focus on IEPs.

 

The purpose of the IEP is to tailor your child’s learning program to meet their unique needs. It list out services and supports that your child will be provided by the local school district as well as specific goals and objects that your school-based team will be focusing over the next year. It is at this time of year, that I like to sit down with my families and review that progress that their child has made over the past year. Based on the information that has been provided in the progress reports, we are better able to bridge the gap between the home and school environments.

 

You know although the IEP process can be daunting, at times, I have to say that I have been really blessed over my career to work with many schools and teachers that try to make the IEP process go smoothly. They accept what I have to say about a child’s home progress and we are able to work together with the future independence of the child in mind.

 

Let’s start this week with reviewing your child’s progress on their current goals.  If you are in need assistance with regard to reviewing your child’s IEP, contact Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC.

Have a great day,

Barbara

 

Barbara Erby is an Education & Behavioral Consultant with Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bowie State University in 1999 and a Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology and an emphasis in Developmental Psychology from Capella University in 2004. Ms. Erby has worked with a variety of students in the school, home, and community environments as a Direct Care Worker, Family Trainer, and an Education & Behavioral Consultant.