The issues near and dear to my heart..... My Major Course Project

The topic that intrigues me for my challenge topic is children exposed to risk, stress, or trauma.   My subtopic will be focused on toxic stress.  I chose this topic because I have been teaching and coaching teachers in an economically disadvantaged area for almost nine years.  The majority of the students that I serve have a high level of emotional and social incompetence.  I have a passion for researching proven interventions that will promote social change in the community I serve.  I believe that this topic will allow me to continue to teach and empower educators and stakeholders in my school community to reach our children not just academically, but socially and emotionally.

My questions for those who will read my post are:

• Is there always a greater number of children that are exposed to risks, stress, and trauma in high impoverished areas?  If so, why do we think the research leans to this conclusion?
• What are some interventions that have been implemented if there are any bloggers that have worked with with children that have been exposed to risk, trauma, and stress?

Is Mental Health a Priority in our Schools?

I don't think that I really considered the importance of mental health as much now as I have in recent years.  With all of the school and community tragedies that are taking the lives of our young children, I have been overwhelmed with reflecting as an educator about what steps are we taking to understand the mental health of the children that walk in our classrooms every day.  According to recent research, one out of every 5 children around the world have a mental health issue.  From that number, one a third of the children that have a mental health issue are receiving the support or treatment needed.

A positive self-image and a healthy well being are proven to aid children in academic success and overall positive social development.  After conducting pieces of my literature review on mental health support for young children, I found that many schools have no support for children that have been identified as having mental health issues. In many schools, adequate training or certified personnel is not a priority to support children with mental health issues or identify the signs of children that may have mental health issues.  These issues can be prevalent in children as young as 3 years old.  The School Health Mental Services, A Legislator Brief notes that sound mental health leads to academic success in school and is essential to overall health, yet Minorities have less access to mental health services and are less likely to receive needed care. Hispanic children are least likely to receive specialty care from trained professionals, even though evidence indicates that they and African-American children have the greatest need for care ( RAND, 2007).

How can we address this issue in our schools of the lack of services for our children that are struggling with mental health issues?

How can we make sure that every state has embedded policies to ensure all children receive equal services so that their mental health issues do not impede their social, emotional, physical, and academic development?



RAND Health. “Research Highlights: Mental Health Care for Youth.” 2001. Accessed from http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB4541 May, 29 2007.

Introducing...........................................ME!! Kimberly Jones!!!

I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher.  Always.  There was never any doubt.  I still remember sitting in my first grade classroom.  My teacher was Mrs. Gray.  It was the first day of school and we were drawing pictures about our summer vacation.  Well on my paper, I had a drawing of myself with a yardstick in my hand in front of teddy bears.  Yes, you guessed it.  My summer was spent teaching my teddy bears in my garage that had been transformed into my classroom.  There was chart paper, a desk ( of course all teachers need a desk) and a line of teddy bears that each had names on my roll. I stayed in this garage for hours. This is one of my fondest memories. 

I am a passionate educator that has been in the classroom for the past 13 years.  Over the course of these years I have led many initiatives and conducted professional development for my school and the district.  When I was obtaining my Masters degree in reading curriculum and instruction, my fire was ignited for an old dream that I once pursued.  I have always dreamed of opening my very own learning academy that focuses on quality instruction for every child, teaching the whole child, and integrating the arts in the daily curriculum.  I feel stronger than ever now that that dream will become a reality!  I love a challenge and the idea of working with other teachers that love being apart of this movement of quality education for each child by reaching children from the inside out!