Fix It with Focus


Book Description

Spring is in the air! That means great things like warmer weather, playing outside, and baseball! So, when Blake is distracted by kids in the schoolyard, it’s no wonder why he doesn’t notice his friends working on the ground and knocks over their project! And when things are slow in the outfield and Blake begins to work on a dirt clump beneath his feet, is it a surprise he doesn’t see or hear the warning before a baseball nails him in the elbow? And come on, how is he supposed to keep working on his math test when it’s taking FOREVER, and he just wants to go outside? Focus. Focus. Focus. That is the advice Blake frequently hears but fails to follow. Although he may be struggling with focus and learning to stay on task, the adults in his life are there to help teach him how to use tools like the work/brain break cycle, squishy eraser, glove tapping, and more! Fix It with Focus adds another entertaining lesson to the very popular Executive FUNction book series by award-winning author, school counselor, dad and coach Bryan Smith. Being able to focus is an important life skill and can help set children up for success. Included at the end of the story are tips for parents and educators to help teach children in grades K through 5 how to channel their energy, time-management and self-monitoring skills.




Fix It with Focus : A Story about Ignoring Distractions and Staying on Task


Book Description

Focus. Focus. Focus. That’s the advice Blake frequently hears but fails to follow. Blake stumbles from one mishap to another because of a complete lack of concentration. He carelessly demolishes a Lego volcano in his rush to look out a window. A baseball bruises his elbow (and ego) because a dirt clod takes his focus off the game. And he ends up all wet when he interrupts his own story to do something foolish. Can using manipulatives, including squishy erasers, stress balls and glove taps, help Blake maintain focus and strengthen his concentration muscles?




Deep Work


Book Description

AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF 2O16 PICK IN BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP WALL STREET JOURNAL BUSINESS BESTSELLER A BUSINESS BOOK OF THE WEEK AT 800-CEO-READ Master one of our economy’s most rare skills and achieve groundbreaking results with this “exciting” book (Daniel H. Pink) from an “exceptional” author (New York Times Book Review). Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep Work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep-spending their days instead in a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there's a better way. In Deep Work, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age. Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite. Dividing this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill. 1. Work Deeply 2. Embrace Boredom 3. Quit Social Media 4. Drain the Shallows A mix of cultural criticism and actionable advice, Deep Work takes the reader on a journey through memorable stories-from Carl Jung building a stone tower in the woods to focus his mind, to a social media pioneer buying a round-trip business class ticket to Tokyo to write a book free from distraction in the air-and no-nonsense advice, such as the claim that most serious professionals should quit social media and that you should practice being bored. Deep Work is an indispensable guide to anyone seeking focused success in a distracted world.




How Did You Miss That?: A Story for Teaching Self-Monitoring


Book Description

When he rushes to get home after a tough evening of baseball, the last thing Braden wants to deal with is his parents on his case about not finishing every little thing on his list. But when his parents and teacher are able to show him it’s a pattern that extends far beyond skipping an occasional, chore, or math problem, Braden starts to realize that he DOES need some help. Soon Braden learns four steps to better self-monitoring. Award-winning author, father, and school counselor Bryan Smith pens another teaching tale in the very popular Executive FUNction series, written for K-5 students.




But I Need Your Help Now! : A story teaching how to get an adult's attention, and when it's okay to interrupt


Book Description

Isaac is a second grader who struggles with waiting to be recognized by an adult. He’s a little impatient, and this can get him in trouble at school and in the world. When a tough problem has him stuck, Isaac blurts out. With patience, Isaac’s mom guides him through the steps of getting somebody’s attention, and she helps him with the problem. Isaac understands, but needs some practice! Isaac’s adventures continue at the store, at home, and at school, where the adults are there to teach him even more skills like how to interrupt the right way!




Time to Get Started! A Story about Learning to Take Initiative


Book Description

Blake and Mom explore WHY Blake doesn't want to get started, and they go through a few simple steps on how to take initiative and get things done. Will Blake be able to use these steps to get started on his work at home and school? Find out in the very popular Executive FUNction series.




My Day is Ruined!


Book Description

When Braden wakes up to pouring rain that cancels a championship baseball game he's been excited for, he goes on a overreactin tailspin! Will he be able to recover and practice the tips of flexible thinking? Find out in this comical story.




I'll Never Get All of That Done!


Book Description

Blake's baseball team is doing a bake sale fundraiser. He just can't wait for his mom to whip up a batch of her famous chocolate chip cookies! That is, until Mom reminds Blake that it is HIS fundraiser, so he needs to help. Blake has a to-do list that's just too long. How can his parents and teachers expect him to finish his homework, clean his room AND bake cookies for the baseball bake sale? Don't they know there's something urgent he has to do now - like play video games?! When Mom encourages Blake to follow the 3 Ps - prioritizing, planning and posting a reminder of what needs to be done - he's unimpressed. But as his responsibilities pile up and his deadlines quickly approach, he has to figure out what needs doing now. Can following Mom's advice and using the 3 Ps really make a difference? School counselor and award-winning author Bryan Smith reveals the answer in the relatable story about the power of preparation and planning. It's the latest tale from the author's Executive FUNction picture book series. Tips for parents and educators to help reinforce the message of time-management and self-reliance in children are included.




If Winning Isn't Everything, Why Do I Hate to Lose?


Book Description

Kelsey is a young basketball star who will do whatever it takes to win. Unfortunately, her poor sportsmanship hurts her team and her relationships. Can anyone - her coach or her mom- teach Kelsey how to have fun and play fair, win or lose?




It Was Just Right Here!


Book Description

Blake is struggling to keep his schoolwork, his papers and his things in order. Assignments and permission slips always go missing. Even the class pet disappears (only to be found nesting inside Blake’s overstuffed, completely cluttered, bursting-at-the-seams school desk)! With a much-needed assist from his teacher and a timely baseball analogy, Blake finally learns how to get organized.