LOOKING BEYOND THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

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