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LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE. Educational Roadshow. March 16 th , 2009 James J. Mazza, Ph.D. Professor University of Washington. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE. Needing to reframe the mindset Traditional and/or Current formulas. 1. Education = Success.

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LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

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  1. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE Educational Roadshow March 16th, 2009 James J. Mazza, Ph.D. Professor University of Washington

  2. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Needing to reframe the mindset • Traditional and/or Current formulas 1. Education = Success 2. Academics = Education 3. Thus, Academics = Success • New Formula 1. Education = Academics + Coping Strategies (Decision-Making Skills)

  3. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Current Educational Model: Academics 1st = + Coping Strategies Academics Education School Structures: Assessment of Cognitive & Academic Abilities Learning Disabilities Special Education WASL

  4. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Current Educational Model: Coping Strategies 1st = + Coping Strategies Academics Education School Structures: ??? *Healthy Youth Survey Emotional Behavioral Disabilities Internalizing Behaviors Externalizing Behaviors More frequent in Males More frequent in Females

  5. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Prevalence of Childhood Difficulties • Learning Disorders (2-8%) • ADHD (4-6%) • Boys (6-9%) • Girls (2-4%) • Conduct/Oppositional Defiant Disorder • *Boys (6-16%) • *Girls (2-9%) * Prevalence includes children and adolescents

  6. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Prevalence of Childhood Difficulties (cont) • Depression • Children (5%) • Adolescents (10-20%) • Anxiety • Separation Anxiety Disorder • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder • Social Phobia • PTSD (4-7%) • Impact of exposure to violence

  7. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Prevalence of Childhood Difficulties (cont) • Suicidal Behavior in WA State • Suicide in Children and Adolescents • 10-14 – 4th leading cause of death • 15-19 – 2nd leading cause of death • Suicide attempts – 10th graders • 1 in 10 (10%) in the past 12 months • Suicidal ideation – 10th graders • 1 in 5 (20%) in the past 12 months (Healthy Youth Survey, 2009)

  8. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • When do we need to be worried about this? • Short answer: • The sooner, the better • Times of change & transition are hard on our kids • Academic Transitions • Elementary to Middle School • Middle School to High School (Gruman, 2008)

  9. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSITION • Transitions from elementary to middle school are challenging (Alspaugh, 1998) • Student level • lower grades (math, reading, science, & social studies) • lower self-esteem • increase in depression • increase in social comparisons • decrease level in support from school personnel

  10. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSITION • Student level (cont) • less positive about their own potential & abilities • development of middle school self-selected subgroups • students put forth less effort and give up more easily

  11. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION • Student level (cont) • A drop in academic achievement • Increased exposure to alcohol, drugs and sex • stronger reliance on decision-making strategies & coping skills • increased desire to fit in • issues of school dropout

  12. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Long-term impact of childhood mental health: • Longitudinal study - starting in 1st & 2nd grade (Mazza et al., in press) 1st & 2nd Grade Risk Factors: 1. depression 2. anxiety 3. antisocial behavior 7 years 8th & 9th Grade Depression

  13. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE • Long-term impact of childhood mental health • Longitudinal study (cont) • Results from 938 students in WA 2nd Grade Risk Factors: 1. depression 2. anxiety 3. antisocial behavior 8th & 9th Grade Depression Only for Girls (Mazza et al., in press)

  14. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR CHILDREN? • 3 Steps to helping your child (Eastgard, 2007) • Show you care • I’m concerned about how things are going for you lately • Ask the question • Academics aside, help me understand how you are feeling? • Listen & be nonjudgmental • Get help – Access Resources • Not important for you to have all the answers, in fact, it may be helpful if you don’t. I know where WE can get help • Important to do follow through

  15. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE DO PARENTS STILL MATTER DURING ADOLESCENCE? • YES, Parents still matter • Longitudinal study in emerging adulthood (Mazza et al., 2009) Adolescent Depression + Emerging Adulthood Suicidal Ideation + Adolescent Suicide Attempt

  16. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE DO PARENTS STILL MATTER DURING ADOLESCENCE? • YES, Parents still matter • Longitudinal study in emerging adulthood (Mazza et al., 2009) Peer Support _ + + Emerging Adulthood Suicidal Ideation Adolescent Depression Family Support

  17. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE DO PARENTS STILL MATTER DURING ADOLESCENCE? • YES, Parents still matter • Longitudinal study in emerging adulthood (Mazza et al., 2009) Peer Support _ Adolescent Suicide Attempts + + Emerging Adulthood Suicidal Ideation Family Support

  18. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE Summary 1. Education = Success *Education = Academics + Coping Strategies 2. Children do experience mental health difficulties a. stress & pressure usually makes things worse 3. Coping strategies/Decision-Making skills are not mutually exclusive to academics • 4. Remember the 3 Steps • be nonjudgmental

  19. LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE Business Card James J. Mazza, Ph.D. Miller Hall, Box 353600 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195-3600 (206) 616-6373 mazza@u.washington.edu

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