Welcome Spring 2024! As a school psychologist, this time of the year can always seem the most hectic and crazy — let the assessments come rolling in. Forget about the warm weather, instead we scramble to meet deadlines, fiend for caffeine, and forget self-care. While this will likely never change, as it is the most popular time of the year for special education referrals, developing a system will help you keep track and organized.
A system that has worked for me to keep track of the upcoming madness and is smooth sailing for me is:
- Create a cover sheet for you assessment folder
- On the same day the cover sheet is created, I send out all forms that need to be completed (developmental history, rating scales, interviews, etc). I write these all down on my form and dates that this was sent out, and adding a date for return on the forms is great too!
- Pro tip: On each envelope addressed to individuals, include a "to" and "from" label on the outside, along with a return date at the bottom for a gentle reminder.
- That same day, I also prepare for testing. I get protocols and I put them inside that folder that I made for myself to keep track of everything. This saves from scrambling at the last minute and even having the protocol on hand.
- Now once things start to come in, or I complete them, I write those dates down on the cover letter. Cross off what you have completed — it feels so much better!
- Once we reach this point, it is now time to start testing and once I complete some testing and score it, I will input it right into the report. The same goes for interviews, rating scales, etc.
- At this point you will look at your report and be so thankful that you have completed so many things and have just a few items left to finish!
Now go grab a cup of caffeine and get started! Make sure to be ahead of these referrals and not in the dust working on your weekend!
Good luck!
Author: Elizabeth Vosseler, School Psychologist, M.A., PPS, Mental Health Certificate
