Mr. Luras School Psychologist

This is a great podcast on what smartphones are doing to our children’s brains and practical strategies for parents to implement.

‎Honestly with Bari Weiss: Smartphones Rewired Childhood. Here's How to Fix It. on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Honestly with Bari Weiss, Ep Smartphones Rewired Childhood. Here's How to Fix It. - Mar 25, 2024

American Falls schoold district makes the news for our pre-school initiative. What a great thing for our kiddos.

Idaho left early education up to families. One town set out to get universal preschool anyway A one-stoplight farming community in conservative Idaho has embraced a goal that backers describe as progressive: universal preschool.

Sep 21, in American Falls High School auditorium. 6pm. Hope to see you there.

Our Year Outdoors

We are looking for a Special Education Teacher for next school year. See below for information.

American Falls School District #381 Our Kids, Our Future

I was sitting in class and the School psychologist showed up in the door frame. He pointed at me and I looked at the teacher and she nodded her head saying it was ok.

I stood up and left class. I was kind of happy I was able to leave class because I remember just staring at the teacher trying so hard to understand what was going on. I had these mixed feelings when I left. It was like a relief but I was also nervous.

We got to his office and he said Jordan you just have to do a test with me there are no right or wrong answers just do the best you can. I said OK. He would ask me to start sounding out words and as I would pronounce the words I would look at his facial expressions to see if I was getting them right. His face remain the same the whole time I couldn’t tell.

Then he asked me this word problems….. I was never good at word problems because I could never understand what they were actually asking me. Especially the long ones! I remember sitting there feeling like I got zero right. Again his face remained the same every time I answered.

At one point I said how am I doing he said great remember no right or wrong answer. I kept going I didn’t feel too confident felt like I was getting judged. I felt like someone just figured out all my weaknesses and put them in front of me.

Few days went by and my mom came up to me with eyes full of water and a face I can never forget…. just worry written all over it. She said Jordan please tell me you didn’t try… I know you don’t like test I know you don’t like sitting still please tell me you rushed.

In my head I said to myself I really did try that was a hard test. But I saw how worried my mom was so I just said yeah mom I didn’t try.

It was an IQ test and they told my mom that my IQ was very very low and they were very worried about me and my future.  They we’re worried about how I would function in the world. 

As I look back now at 33 years old I realize something and I want you to understand this.
There is no Test On this earth that predict your future, there is no test on this earth that can decide how you’re going to function in this world. There is no test that can test your come back.

That test didn’t know my work ethic, it didn’t test for that. That test didn’t know my drive my will to prove to myself that I can do this.

That test didn’t know that I had a mom that never gave up.

That test didn’t take a look at my heart and my ability to never give up. That test knew nothing about me. That test didn’t know my personality. 

All that test did was remind me of my struggles and it opened up all the doors for all my strengths!

So if you’re worried about your IQ test or if you just took one just remember that test has nothing to do with your success in the future because that Test knows nothing about you. it doesn’t test your willpower, your determination, your personality, your mindset.

That test doesn’t know that you never give up! 

The only thing that test does it shows you where you struggle but that’s ok because your struggle is your strength never forget that! 

Jordan
Book me at www.JordanToma.com
Order my Book here https://www.amazon.com/Just-Kid-IEP-Jordan-Toma/dp/1667839977
#1 Youth Motivational speaker in the country.

I need to start doing this with my boys ❤️❤️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Even a little time missed makes a big difference in the long run.

This is truth! 💯

Our district community center is aimed at easing the family stress so our students can come to school with more room in their cups.

Trauma that students experience outside of school can GREATLY impact their behavior and experience at school.

We often see "behavior issues" as defiance or disrespect. Sometimes they are, but sometimes its just that the student's capacity for stress is already so full from what is going on outside of school that they aren't able to handle even minor disappointments, disagreements or difficulties without being sent over the edge.

Let's keep this in mind as we work with students who come in with full cups.

Thank you educators! 🧡

AFHS English teacher teaching, learning more than just English For some students at American Falls High School learning, a new language can prove to be challenging...

https://morningchalkup.com/2022/03/27/teenager-with-developmental-delays-dyslexia-adhd-takes-matters-into-his-own-hands-to-pay-for-crossfit-fees/?nl=1

Teenager with Developmental Delays, Dyslexia, ADHD Takes Matters into his own Hands to Pay for CrossFit Fees Kim Mixon was gutted to see how upset her 15-year-old son was when his first CrossFit coach left Gun Barrel CrossFit in Gun Barrel City, TX to start her own gym. “He was very upset because he really…

https://www.crossfit.com/health/healthy-habit-formation-in-youth

Healthy Habit Formation in Youth: Building Health and Resilience Through Fitness “Children who aren’t exposed to healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables may never actually learn to like the flavors of these foods, so it’s important that they’re introduced to healthy foods when they’re young,” Kristi Storoschuk, CF-L1, said during a presentation at the 2022 CrossF...

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/briefing/mask-mandates-covid-new-jersey.html

The Mask Debate More Democratic governors are saying that masks can come off in schools.

A great read even if you don’t have a teenager right now.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/when-kids-call-the-shots/201801/7-things-teenagers-desperately-need-adults-understand?fbclid=IwAR25sFEgUVuAUH8GUrZOv_9m9AsTU0N97W0iE9cVXHM0Oki9W_f3eq7tZZM

7 Things Teenagers Desperately Need Adults to Understand 7 ways to quiet your teen's negative self-talk.

Happy school psychologist week to me and all of those out there who support our students.

We Need to Make Schools Human Again. That Means Treating Teachers With Respect. - EdSurge News The first thing I noticed when we returned to school after remote learning was that my conversations with teachers got real deep real fast.As an ...

Retention still happens in schools. Be aware of the research behind retention before recommending this for your student who may be struggling.
https://www.nwarctic.org/cms/lib/AK01001584/Centricity/Domain/40/Retention-Visible%20Learning%20by%20John%20Hattie.pdf

www.nwarctic.org

This is what testing should be about. Not about scores...