Thriving School Psych Thriving Students

Five!

Today is an important day. I’m certain it is on your calendar….

It’s my FIVE YEAR BLOGIVERSARY!

What better way to celebrate than to post a picture of a meerkat wishing me a happy day? I think that’s a meerkat, anyway.

Now is the time when I reflect on my writing craft or something, right? I’ll just put it this way: I cannot believe that all y’all are still reading after five years, and that I’ve had something decent to say for half a decade. Not to be all toot! toot! (my own horn), but I’m pretty dang proud of myself. It sounds cliche, but I truly would not be still blogging if it weren’t for all my fabulous readers and “likers” on the Facebook page for the blog. You all continue to inspire me and your comments and support are like blogger crack. Can’t get enough.

I remember when I first started posting into the ether, I would be fearful of pushing the “publish” button, in case someone was going to be critical of my writing. I would write, rewrite, fact check, cite others, and rewrite again. I rarely wrote about anything controversial. I could relate to kids who didn’t want their teachers to read their writing. Writing is the personal made public. Over the years, I’ve grown to be more true to my writing and put things out there even if they aren’t safe, warm and fuzzy, or let’s face it, not even remotely poignant.*

I think of the evolution of the blog over the past 5 year as similar to the evolution of group therapy–at first, it’s about the content, and then its really more about the process. I try to balance a bit of both, giving you all some good content through research and resources while still remaining true to the hardest part of being a school psychologist–that despite having the knowledge, good intentions, and energy, there are times when the process wears you down. But like my baby-not-so-baby-anymore who is learning to walk could teach us all, when you fall flat on your face and are laying there like an injured pancake, you just gotta get back up and try again. Each fall is a learning moment. And I thank you for being with me during my career as I share with you both the successes and pancake-like falls in my journey in the profession of school psychology.

So in the spirit of keeping you all coming back for the next 5 years, I offer to you a Blogiversary gift of another give-a-way of my book, The School Psychologist’s Survival Guide! Just comment here or on Facey Face about anything on your mind–meerkats, blogiversaries, lessons from the field, how long you’ve been reading the blog, thoughts on the blog’s next five years, the writing process, or survival tips for your colleagues. It’s a free-for-all, people. I just want to hear from you. πŸ™‚ I’ll order your comments and use a random number generator to pick us another winner. Good luck!

And seriously, thanks so much for reading these past five years.

*There is still a part of me that fears my blog will jump the shark and I
will be writing to crickets. Until you all drop off the Facebook Fan Page though, I’m just gonna keep going.

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Comments on Five!

  1. Dr. Tonya says:

    I don't think you have anything to worry about. When I search on Pinterest for "school psychology" (because I'm a glutton for punishment on my free time) and pins of your book and/or blog fill my screen, I really think you'll be ok :). I can tell you that about half of the psychs in my district read your blog regularly. We are all impressed and learn lots. If I win, I'm going to give your book to an intern in our department this year that I've been working with. Need to pass on the knowledge. Please keep up the good work!

  2. LJP says:

    Let me start by saying that I've been reading your blog about 3 years. I discovered it by accident, but I went back and read the prior two years.

    I love the yoots too! If you ever decide to give up your day job, you definitely would have a great career as a stand up comic.

    You make what might otherwise be a yawn sound interesting, funny and exciting. Can't wait to see what lies ahead.

    Hope Baby B is doing well. She may skip school and go straight to Harvard at 5….and I'm not saying this just to win a free book.

  3. Jennifer says:

    Congratulations! You are an inspiration πŸ™‚

  4. Claire says:

    I love your blog! It's a great look into the "real world" of school psychology and an entertaining break from grad school. Here's to five more years!

  5. Becky says:

    I have a more random comment….It is week 5 of the start of the school year and I feel like it should be the end of May. Not only do I feel like that but so do the special education and regular education teachers. I live in MN, maybe it is the rapid change in weather?! πŸ™‚ As Dori from Nemo would say….just keep swimming, just keep swimming….. Happy belated 5 year blogiversary!

  6. Terri says:

    LOL!!! I agree with Becky… sooooo busy this year!! But, I digress… happy BLOGIVERSARY!!! I must say that I smile every time I see an email come from your blog site! You have a wonderful writing style and I truly am inspired. In fact, I often talk to grad classes about being a school psychologist and I've written up a couple of handouts that are very, well… ummmmm… "bloggy." I've gotten great feedback on the from both the students and the staff. I've got to say that your blog was an inspiration for that. No one wants to read a "journaly" account of being a school psychologist… "bloggy" is much more interesting! So, for all you do… THANK YOU!!!

  7. I've only been reading/following the blog for a while (who knows why it's only been a short time?!?!?!?!), but I just have to say how much I wish I had found this while in my internship/first years as a school psych – so many of the items you've posted on completely covers situations I've encountered from year to year…..please keep sharing! πŸ™‚

  8. Krista Lee says:

    Hmmm seems like a super busy year everywhere! Happy Blogiversary! I love your blog. I'll go back and read some of your previous entries when I've had a particularly blah day at work, and it helps me normalize (is it sad that some of these moments/days are "normal" for school psychs??) the situation and usually brings a smile to my face. Thanks!!! :o)

  9. Congratulations! You always give me a laugh. Would love to see more links to research on the blog… we all have so much time, right?

  10. funblonde says:

    congrats on your blogiversary! I love that term, will be using that now. i'm a 2nd year school psych student – and will now put off all my assignments to re-read all your posts! πŸ˜€

  11. Patti Davis says:

    I found your blog three years ago when searching for ways to help parents understand dyslexia and I've been hooked ever since.

    Based on your posts, my sweet baby girl is a few weeks older than your sweet baby, which makes reading your posts now, even better. We're both first time moms and school psychologists!

    Keep writing and posting!

  12. Nancy says:

    I am not sure but I may have been reading for all 5 years. It was so refreshing to find another school psychologist's view of every day school psychologizing….(remember that word?). Working in a school system with only one other school psychologist it is great to hear viewpoints, days in the life of, etc. from you! So just keep on blogging!

  13. Carmen says:

    Happy Blogiversary! I have been reading your blog for three years – starting in grad school and through my first two years in the field. Last year I was the ONLY school psychologist in my district, with 20 schools on my caseload, so I really appreciated your tips and suggestions for working with parents and teachers and how to explain some of the more technical terms and concepts. Also, your posts remind me that no matter now frustrating and stressful some days can be, I really love my job. πŸ™‚

  14. I've been reading along for the past year or so and I keep telling myself that one day I will have the time to go back and read all of your posts.. maybe after grad school is over πŸ˜‰ Congratulations on 5 years and, as you can see from previous comments, we all wish for at least another 5!

  15. Banksia56 says:

    Congratulations on your Blog and on your Book. I am a School Social Worker in Australia, and I just read the Kindle edition. I have worked in schools for 20 years and am reassured that the issues and challenges are just the same here. Of course I don't have to do Educational Asessments (Alleluia!), but the other work is the same because students' needs are the same everywhere. I am going to recommend your book to my Social Work colleagues and to my School Psychologist friends!

  16. Anonymous says:

    I actually stumbled upon your blog on Pinterest a couple months ago and have fell in love with it. I recently have decided to go to Grad school for School Psychology. You're blog has great posts about what to expect and especially that there will always be someone out there that is going through the same thing. Seems to be an awesome "community" of School Psychologist. Keep up the blog posts because you have a faithful follower!

  17. Morgan Myer says:

    Your blog has been getting me through grad school and genuinely makes me look forward to getting into the field. Its nice to know I can be a school psychologist and still hold onto my sense of humor in the process. Please keep blogging and I promise to keep reading!

  18. Robyn E. says:

    I love your book and blog! I wish your book would have been written in time for me to read it while I was in grad school. Thanks for the practical advice and dose of humor!

  19. Liam Manning says:

    So my friend just became one of the psychologists in Edmonton and she seems to feel the same way. I wish kids loved school again. I know I did. I still like it now that I'm older.

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