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Tag: behavior modification

  • Educators get new guidance for age of AI

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    STATE HOUSE, BOSTON — Artificial intelligence in classrooms is no longer a distant prospect, and Massachusetts education officials on Monday released statewide guidance urging schools to use the technology thoughtfully, with an emphasis on equity, transparency, academic integrity and human oversight.

    “AI already surrounds young people. It is baked into the devices and apps they use, and is increasingly used in nearly every system they will encounter in their lives, from health care to banking,” the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s new AI Literacy Module for Educators says.


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    By Sam Drysdale | State House News Service

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  • Pica in Cats: Why It Matters | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Pica describes the behavior where cats intentionally ingest non-food items. This troubling habit poses significant health risks. While some cats might accidentally swallow strange objects during play, persistent eating of inedible materials is alarming. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. These symptoms often indicate gastrointestinal irritation or even blockage, requiring urgent attention.

    The Genetic Link

    Certain cat breeds, especially Oriental varieties like Siamese and Burmese, are more prone to pica. Genetics may heighten their urge to chew on fabric and other non-food items. Recognizing this predisposition is crucial for early intervention. Regular observations can help identify abnormal chewing habits early, ensuring timely veterinary evaluations.

    Medical and Behavioral Factors

    Pica often stems from medical issues or behavioral disorders such as anxiety. A thorough veterinary examination helps rule out underlying health problems. If anxiety drives the behavior, consider implementing stress-reduction strategies. Identifying triggers and addressing them proactively can significantly improve overall well-being.

    Holistic Preventive Measures

    Engaging food toys and a high-fiber diet can divert attention from harmful items. Offering safe snacks, like cat grass, encourages proper eating habits. Ensure the diet meets AAFCO nutritional standards for optimal health. Enriching the environment helps stimulate the mind and reduces boredom, which can lead to unwanted behaviors.

    Environmental Management Techniques

    Managing the environment is vital in preventing pica. Remove accessible non-food items that your cat might chew on. Ensure clothing and fabrics remain stored securely. Use closed drawers or boxes to keep small objects out of reach. Educate everyone in the household about the importance of preventing access to harmful items.

    Sharing experiences with other cat enthusiasts fosters a supportive network. Discussing challenges related to pica and exchanging tips can enhance understanding and management strategies. Engaging in community forums or social media groups provides valuable insights from fellow caregivers.

    Understanding and addressing pica can lead to a healthier, happier life for your feline companion. Implementing proactive measures and maintaining open communication enables caregivers to ensure their cats thrive. Prioritize health and happiness; every cat deserves a safe environment.

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    Animal Wellness

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  • Veterinary behaviorists – How can they help your dog? | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Veterinary behaviorists – How can they help your dog? | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    You’ve probably heard about veterinary behaviorists, but may not be sure what they do. Learn more about these professionals and how they can help dogs with behavior problems. 

     

    If your dog is having behavioral problems, your first port of call for answers and assistance might be your veterinarian or a dog trainer. But there’s another category of veterinary professionals who can lend a hand – the veterinary behaviorist. These individuals help you better understand animal behavior, thereby enhancing your ability to communicate with your dog, and strengthening the relationship you share with him. Read on to find out what veterinary behaviorists do and how they can help when your dog is “acting out”. 

     

    What veterinary behaviorists do

    Board-certified veterinary behaviorists are veterinarians who have graduated from a recognized college of veterinary medicine and completed at least one year of internship or primary care practice. They have also done additional behavior-specific training, and are held accountable to local and state veterinary practice laws.   

    The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) is the American Veterinary Medical Association-recognized specialist organization for veterinary behaviorist certification. Training for a vet behavior specialty requires three to five years, and residents must treat hundreds of cases under veterinary supervision before striking out on their own. Accredited board-certified veterinary behaviorists mentor the residents, who must pass a 16-hour exam to achieve certification. All veterinary behaviorists are diplomates and will have the initials “DACVB” in their title (DACVB stands for Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists).

    “People bring their pets to me when they have serious behavior problems such as aggression, separation-related disorders, noise and storm phobia, debilitating fears, and compulsive behaviors,” says Dr. Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB. “I understand that going to a veterinary behaviorist may seem weird to some. Many people don’t even know that veterinarians like me exist!”

    Pointer: A board-certified veterinary behaviorist is basically a veterinary psychologist. 

     

    How a veterinary behaviorist works with you and your dog 

    A veterinary behaviorist can help if your dog is exhibiting behavioral problems such as aggression, anxiety, cognitive decline, destruction, house soiling, or other issues. They will evaluate your dog, diagnose the underlying cause (which can sometimes be a physical health problem), and recommend treatment. 

    Pointer: The veterinary behaviorist will also help you learn how to speak “dog”. When you better understand your dog, you can prevent problems and more easily follow management techniques for specific behavioral issues. 

    Following are some ways a veterinary behaviorist can help you and your dog:

    • Provide positive training solutions: They will help identify the cause of your dog’s problem behavior, create a customized plan using positive training methods, and teach you how to carry it out successfully.
    • Diagnose medical and environmental causes: Veterinary behaviorists work to uncover any medical issues, or stressors in the environment, that could be contributing to behavioral problems.
    • Prescribe treatment plans: For a dog struggling with anxiety, fear, or aggression, a veterinary behaviorist may recommend medication and/or holistic calming remedies, structured desensitization, or other clinical interventions. Treatment plans can address issues such as: 
      1. Separation anxiety
      2. Destructive chewing
      3. Lunging at other dogs on the leash
      4. Destructive digging 
      5. Fears and phobias – e.g. fears of storms and loud noises, or of strangers or people in general. 
    • Educating you for the long run: An essential part of any behavioral treatment plan is to give you guidance for building on your training progress and maintaining a healthy bond with your dog.
    • Collaborate with other veterinary experts: By collaborating with veterinarians, trainers, and animal shelter staff, veterinary behaviorists work to resolve canine behavior issues through a multidisciplinary approach. 

     

    When to know if your dog might benefit from a consult

    A fearful dog may become aggressive, anxious, or withdrawn, so recognizing fear in your dog is the first step. Any dog that displays behaviors such as the aforesaid fear and anxiety, as well as aggression towards people, separation anxiety, noise and thunderstorm phobias, and a fear of anything new or strange, may benefit from an initial consultation.

    Pointer: A board-certified individual is the best choice for addressing your dog’s behavioral issues. 

    “Unfortunately and sadly, we are often the last resort for many pets,” says Dr. Radosta. “I saw two animals this week alone where the clients reported they had considered euthanasia. This isn’t uncommon at all. I want people to know that this type of care is available and that we can help. There is almost always something we can do to help our patients.”

    As dog parents, it’s our responsibility to ensure the well-being and happiness of our canine companions. Behavior problems mean something’s wrong, whatever their cause, and seeking help from a veterinarian behaviorist is one of the best ways to address them. 

     

    Remember – behavioral issues can be caused by health problems

    Behavioral problems in dogs, such as growling or snapping, can often be caused by pain or discomfort arising from a physical health issue. An older dog in particular may “act out” because he has an undetected illness or injury. Both your regular veterinarian and a veterinary behaviorist can help you determine if your dog has an underlying medical issue. 

    “In about 50% of my patients, I find health problems that are likely contributory factors, such as orthopedic deficits, metabolic disease, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and intestinal parasites,” says Dr. Radosta.  

     

    How to find a veterinary behaviorist

    To find a veterinary behaviorist, visit American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and search for one in your area. If you’re not able to book an immediate appointment, or the behaviorists aren’t located in your area, ask if they offer video or telephone appointments.


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    Christine Caplan is a Certified Vet Tech, and a long-time PR veteran and content marketing expert who brings her unique understanding of social and digital media to connect dog lovers to brands both on and offline. She lives with three hounds – two “doxies” and a beagle/basset hound mix – who constantly teach her about life and companionship (mylifewithdogspdx.com).

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    Christine Caplan, CVT

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  • Partnership provides mental health first aid training to 9th graders

    Partnership provides mental health first aid training to 9th graders

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    A new program meant to certify all Gloucester High ninth-graders in Teen Mental Health First Aid was kicked off Monday.

    The program is a new partnership among Gloucester Public Schools, the city’s Health Department, the Cape Ann YMCA and the Justice Resource Institute.

    Powering implementation of the program is funding from The Tower Foundation awarded to the Health Department, according to Amy Kamm, the school department’s director of mental health and social-emotional learning.

    Teen Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training that teaches teens to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. The training is designed to provide teens with the skills for supportive conversations with their friends and emphasizes the importance of getting help from a responsible and trusted adult, according to a statement from the partnership.

    “Last year this program was piloted with 10th graders in homerooms,” Gloucester High Principal James Cook said. “To ensure a more comprehensive implementation this year it will be embedded into our standard ninth-grade health and wellness curriculum.”

    “Certified trainers,” he said, “will present to five classes a week for six weeks and topics include mental health challenges and their impact, effective treatments, helping a friend in crisis, where and how to get the help of a trusted adult, and recovery and resiliency.”

    At issue, teens tend to turn to each other when stressed or upset and try to help, sometimes taking on too much. Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches teens they don’t have to take on these problems alone.

    “By offering the Teen Mental Health First Aid program,” Kamm said, “Gloucester High School and the Gloucester Health Department aim to promote help-seeking behavior; improve a young person’s ability to identify resources of support; and to increase mental health literacy including improved ability to identify mental health struggles in themselves and their peers and when needed, to connect to a trusted adult.”

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    By Times Staff

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  • From Danvers to Ghana: Local teacher travels for global learning experience

    From Danvers to Ghana: Local teacher travels for global learning experience

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    For Danvers teacher John Hodsdon, summer break was by no means a vacation from learning.

    Hodsdon, a sixth-grade science teacher at Holten Richmond Middle School, spent more than two weeks in Ghana through the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program.

    The fully funded program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle and high school educators from the U.S. to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. The program equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad and global collaboration.

    “One of the goals is to help prepare kids for a global world,” said Hodsdon. “How do we communicate with different cultures? How do we show empathy? How do we create a sustainable future by working together?”

    Hodsdon is in his 30th year in Danvers. As a science teacher, he enjoys helping students learn about the environment and feel empowered to effect change. When he found out about the Fulbright opportunity, he was immediately interested, and applied.

    “Danvers is becoming a more diverse community of students,” he said. “I wanted to increase my own cultural understanding and my knowledge of global education.”

    Prior to the trip abroad, participants completed a semester-long online course focused on best practices in global education and gathered for an in-person professional development workshop in Washington, D.C. Finally, they traveled to immerse themselves in another country’s culture and education system. Participating countries and territories included Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Senegal and Uruguay.

    Hodsdon was in Ghana from July 13 to July 29 with 17 other participants in the program. Ghana, the second-most populous country in West Africa, is dominated by agriculture. Hodsdon and his group spent the first few days in the capital city of Accra for an orientation period.

    “We met with government officials, and they’re going through education reform right now, so it was interesting to see that process,” he said.

    Next, they went to Yendi, a small town in northern Ghana, and visited Yendi Senior High School. Hodsdon had a chance to observe, co-teach some lessons and put on presentations.

    “We shared ideas about making curriculum student-centered,” he said. “There are some really great teachers over there, so we learned a lot as well. And in working with the kids, they had so much joy in learning, in spite of the fact that they don’t have a lot of the conveniences that we have here.”

    Hodsdon said it was interesting to see how connected the students in Ghana were to their own environment and natural resources.

    “There’s more of a disconnect to the environment here, like if you were to ask, ‘where does your water come from?’” said Hodsdon. “In Ghana, they’re gathering their own water from a well.”

    Hodsdon said he and his host teacher in Yendi will continue to work together and hopefully collaborate on some projects throughout the year. At the start of the school year, Holten Richmond seventh-graders wrote to students in Yendi and sent them school supplies. Next, Hodsdon’s students are raising money to help the students there buy trees to plant, to help with climate change.

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  • Cassella new assistant principal at Collins Middle School

    Cassella new assistant principal at Collins Middle School

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    SALEM — Eliza Cassella was recently named the assistant principal for Collins Middle School in Salem.

    Cassella served the last two years as the Director of Social and Emotional Learning, Culture and Climate at Collins. She has served in educational leadership for more than a decade and has two masters degrees from UMass Boston and Harvard and several certifications in leadership.

    “We are so excited to have Eliza join our leadership team this school year,” said school principal Gavin Softic in an announcement. “Her experience integrating social emotional learning into the everyday learning environment for staff and students makes her a unique talent that we are very fortunate to have in our community.”

    Among other duties, Cassella will oversee grade 7 and help support the implementation of the new Student Success Advisor model, the integration of restorative practices across the school, and CREW 2.0, a space for Connection, Reflection, Excellence, and making real world connections.

    “I feel an overwhelming sense of joy, gratitude, and excitement to be transitioning into the assistant principal role at Collins Middle School,” said Cassella. “Collins…is cultivating something very special for students and educators, and you can feel and sense that when you walk through the doors. It’s electric.”

    She graduated from Assumption College in 2010 and spent five years at City Year, a Boston-based nonprofit that assists schools in the U.S. and other countries in developing young leaders. She began at City Year as an Americorps member serving in a resource classroom delivering targeted interventions in English language arts and math. She also co-led the extended day program before moving on as the Team Leader at the Dearborn Middle School STEM Academy.

    She held several leadership positions, including National Literary Lead, for which she worked with a team to implement evidence-based literacy interventions for corps members across the country. She was also named City Year’s Team Leader of the Year.

    Her tenure in Boston Public Schools included as a classroom teacher and in leadership positions at the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown and East Boston High School. She was also the girls’ junior varsity basketball coach and an assistant varsity basketball coach for the Jets.

    Cassella is currently a part-time adjunct professor at Assumption, a role she accepted last year, and lives in East Boston.

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    By News Staff

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