Hello, everyone!
It's Jenny Ponzuric here, and I'm delighted to have you listening in. Today, I'm thrilled to continue our discussion on effectively communicating evaluation results, a topic we began exploring a couple of weeks ago.
For those who may be new to my work, I'm Jenny Ponzuric, and I've been supporting students and schools in the field of school psychology for over two decades. Alongside my work in the field, I conduct various training sessions and am the proud founder of two online platforms, the Prepared School Psych Community and PSW Monthly, aimed at bolstering support for school psychologists like you.
One aspect I'm particularly passionate about is improving how we convey evaluation results. While some of us excel in this area, many of us could benefit from enhancing our skills. I'm constantly striving to ensure that my verbal explanations are as helpful as possible to families. A key part of achieving this is by minimizing the use of jargon.
In the realm of special education, we often find ourselves inundated with jargon, especially when discussing evaluation results. Terms like "fluid reasoning" or "conceptualization" can easily overwhelm families. While it's common to rely on jargon when we're unsure of how to explain concepts differently or fear being questioned, it's essential to recognize that excessive jargon can hinder understanding for families and students alike.
Fortunately, we have a plethora of resources at our disposal to assist in clarifying our terminology. Essential books offer various definitions and practical explanations tailored to the classroom setting, making them invaluable assets in our pursuit of clearer communication.
In today's digital age, many educators are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for assistance. While I'm not suggesting that AI should replace our expertise, it can certainly serve as a helpful tool when we find ourselves stuck on articulating certain ideas or providing parent-friendly explanations.
When it comes to explaining results, I advocate for striking a balance between using technical terms and offering simplified explanations. For example, when discussing a learning disability, incorporating the technical term alongside a simplified explanation can prove beneficial. Similarly, I appreciate it when medical professionals use layman's terms while also providing the corresponding medical terminology during my visits.
Due to the overwhelming interest in this topic, I'm excited to announce that I'll be expanding on it during my upcoming training session on Monday. This comprehensive training will delve into techniques for succinctly explaining results, including the use of pre-recorded examples to aid in comprehension. Registration is open on my website, and recordings will be made available for those unable to attend live.
This training isn't just for school psychologists—it's beneficial for all members of the assessment team. So, if you know someone who might benefit, feel free to extend the invitation.
As March approaches, a busy time for special education professionals, mastering concise result explanations becomes even more crucial. If you're interested or have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to my team or visit my website for more information. I hope to see you on Monday, but if not, I wish you a fantastic day and look forward to connecting with you another time. Goodbye for now, everyone!
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