General Reference Resources

Transcription

1 Mental Health Book Resources for Elementary Schools (JK- 6; JK- 8) All of the following books are available in your school s library. Some books are located in Teacher Reference section while others are availble for students. These book resources were selected to provide information on a variety of mental health and learning disorders as well as to provide practical strategies to help teachers provide support to students struggling with mental health and/or learning concerns. General Reference Resources Challenging Kids, Challenged Teachers This book is designed to provide teachers with information about a variety of disorders including Tourette s Syndrome, OCD, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and other neurologically based disorders. A wealth of information is covered including impact of a variety of disorders on academics, behaviour and social relationships, strategies for teachers and students, use of assistive technology, homework issues, etc. Teaching Kids with Mental Health and Learning Disorders in the Regular Classroom: How to Recognize, Understand, and Help Challenged (and Challenging) Students Succeed This book is written with the regular classroom teacher in mind. It contains a general section that includes good strategies for developing effective classroom policies and procedures, teaching strategies for diverse student needs, and establishing a safe and caring classroom, topics important to providing a supportive environment for students with mental health and learning needs. A comprehensive list of mental health and learning disorders is covered including all the anxiety and mood disorders, tic disorders, learning disorders, communication disorders, and disruptive behaviour disorders. For each disorder, the following topics are discussed: a short easy to understand explanation of the disorder, behaviours and symptoms to look for, classroom strategies and interventions, professional treatments available, and illustrative student vignettes. An excellent reference book for teachers, early childhood educators, child and youth workers, and educational assistants. Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medications for Kids An experienced child psychiatrist provides information to help parents decide whether to give their child psychoactive medications, e.g., how safe is a medication, how long will it be needed, and the risks and benefits of medications. Teachers and other school personnel can refer to this book for general and medication specific information. Topics include how medications work, and how they affect a child s emotions, personality, academic performance and health.

2 Anxiety Disorders What To Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety For ages This book is designed for parents and caregivers to use with their children, but it can also provide teachers and school personnel with an excellent model of how to talk to children about worries using engaging metaphors and illustrations that make concepts and strategies easy to understand. Strategies are concrete and creative. For example, children learn to use a worry box and worry time to reduce the amount of time they spend worrying. They learn to talk back to the worry bully that sits on their shoulder. This is an interactive self- help book that could be adapted by teachers and child and youth workers to address school- based worries. What To Do When You re Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids For ages A book written for children. Part of the book deals with normal anxiety and provides 10 copying strategies for addressing everyday worries and anxiety. A second part of the book provides expert information about anxiety disorders in language that children can understand. Each anxiety disorder is explained with illustrative examples and many strategies to use to help overcome and cope with anxiety. Tools and strategies are thoroughly described so that students can easily put the strategies into practice. Helping Your Child With Selective Mutism This book is written for parents and caregivers to use in collaboration with teachers and school psychologists to reduce the fear of speaking at school, e.g., fear of speaking to an adult, to peers, in front of class, etc. It is an excellent, comprehensive handbook that can be used to identify a student s feared situations and responses, and to develop tasks that adults can use to help a student reduce his/her fear of speaking. The concept of a ladder is used to order situations from least to most feared; students practice each step of the ladder until they successfully speak in that situation. This systematic approach can be quite successful in reducing or eliminating a student s fear of speaking. Breaking Free of OCD For ages This is a self- help book written for young people. It can be used as a resource for students, teachers and other school personnel. It provides a structured plan of interventions for OCD based on cognitive- behavioural therapy that students can read with their caregiver, teacher or child and youth worker. Worksheets are included. When My Worries Get Too Big: A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety For primary grades. A great workbook to help students reduce and recover from melt downs. Teachers, child and youth workers, and educational assistants can use this book to help a student explore their feelings using a 5- point scale and to apply simple relaxation strategies to reduce emotional distress and anxiety. Originally designed to address the anxiety of children with an autism spectrum disorder, the book can be

3 useful for any student who has difficulty regulating their emotions. When Lizzy was Afraid of Trying New Things For ages 3 7. Lizzy has many fears. She learns to face her shyness and worries and to develop self- confidence in her abilities. A book that could be used as a general education tool as well as with students who are shy and fearful of new situations. Mood Disorders My Feeling Better Workbook: Help For Kids Who Are Sad and Depressed For junior to senior elementary grades. Although this is designed as a workbook for parents to use with their children, teachers and/or child and youth workers can apply many of the activities to students who are sad or have low self- esteem. Forty simple activities are described that can help students cope with sad feelings, reach out to others, and develop a positive self- image. Hot Stuff To Help Kids Cheer Up: The Depression and Self- Esteem Workbook For senior elementary grades. A good resource book for teachers and other school personnel about the causes and symptoms of depression and low self- esteem as well as some strategies to help improve mood and self- esteem. The book can give teachers and other school personnel ideas about how to understand students who are depressed. The book takes a clinical approach to understanding and addressing depression so it should not be used without the involvement of your school s psychological services consultant. Sometimes I Get Sad (But Now I Know What Makes Me Happy) For junior grades. This book tells the story of Sara and how she works with a counsellor and peer group to develop the skills she needs to manage her emotions as well as strategies to make herself feel better. Use this book sensitively and within the context of a strong, positive relationship with a student. Stress and Anger Fighting Invisible Tigers: Stress Management for Teens For senior elementary grades. This book offers strategies and techniques that teens can use to deal with stressful situations in school, at home, and among friends. Positive ways to handle stress are discussed including assertiveness, positive self- talk, time management, and relaxation exercises. Teachers and child and youth workers could use this informative, engaging book with individuals or groups of students to educate young people about stress and help them develop effective stress management strategies.

4 The ABC s of Anger For Kindergarten to Grade 3. Teachers, early childhood educators, and child and youth workers can use this book with individuals, s mall groups or whole class learning. This is an excellent character education resource providing engaging teaching points and accompanying activities. Each letter of the alphabet corresponds to a story that illustrates an aspect of anger as well activities to h elp s tudents d evelop knowledge and strategies for coping with their own anger or the a nger of others. How To Take the Grrrr Out of Anger For junior and s enior elementary grades. This book is written d irectly to students. It explains the positive and negative ways in which anger can b e expressed. Readers learn how to recognize anger in themselves and others, how to handle situations and emotions that lead to or mask anger, and how to d eal with the anger they feel. Teachers and child and youth workers can use this book with individuals or s mall groups. When Sophie Gets Angry Really, Really Angry For ages 2-7. Young children will relate to Sophie s anger at having to give up a toy to her s ister. Sophie s anger and eventual calming down is vividly illustrated. Learning and Behaviour Disorders The Behavior Survival Guide for K ids: How to Make Good Choices and Stay Out of Trouble For Grades 4 7. Text boxes, cartoons a nd a variety of scenarios are used to h elp explain what b ehaviour d isorders are, how to d eal with feelings, ways to get a long with others, and skills for d ealing with difficult p eople. A good book for child and youth workers to use with individuals or small groups of s tudents. Survival Guide for Kids with ADD or ADHD For Grades 3 5. A book written for kids, it explains what ADHD using d irect, simple language and illustrated with examples, text boxes and cartoons. Chapters cover the pros and cons of medication, getting a long at home, making friends, and succeeding at school. This is an excellent resource for an adult to use with a student. I Don t Like To Read For primary grades. This is the story of Henry, a first grader, who can t read. When h e receives extra help, h e b egins to feel more confident. Many children are fearful and ashamed of reading difficulties and this p icture book can help them s ee that they are not alone. Mental H ealth Resources in Elementary School Libraries Virginia Nusca, Ph.D.,C.Psych. Chief Psychologist

5 Helping Students Understand Differences Can I Tell You About Asperger Syndrome? For ages This book explains Asperger Syndrome to both children with AS and their classmates through the story of Adam. Adam shares what it feels like to have AS as well as how others can help children with AS by understanding their differences and appreciating their talents. This book could provide a good starting point for classroom discussions on individual differences in general, or with regard to a classmate with AS. Before using this book to help a class understand a classmate with AS, parent permission to disclose personal information is required; in addition, consultation with the school s psychological services consultant is recommended. Why Do You Do That? A Book About Tourette Syndrome for Children and Young People This book is written to help siblings, friends, and classmates understand a child with Tourette Syndrome. Tics are clearly described, a simple explanation of biological causes is provided, as well as practical tips for dealing with such issues as bullying. This book could provide a starting point for classroom discussions on individual differences. Before using this book to help a class understand a particular classmate with TS, parent permission to disclose personal information is required; in addition, consultation with the school s psychological services consultant is recommended.