Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions


Book Description

This book presents an innovative model for supporting executive function in students with attention, memory, organization, planning, inhibition, initiative, and flexibility difficulties, including those with ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. The author advocates a student-centred approach in which educators first explore 8 key 'ingredients' with the student: relationships; strengths and weaknesses; self-advocacy and responsibility; review and preview; motivation and incentive; synthesis and analysis; rhythm and routine; and practice and repetition. She provides a step-by-step explanation of how these 'ingredients' can then be used in different ways and in different combinations to successfully address particular areas of difficulty. The approach is clearly explained, and the book contains many useful examples, practical tips and strategies, suggested conversation starters, sample time management plans and other tools that can be adapted to meet the particular needs of individual students. Original and effective, the approach outlined in this book will be of interest to teachers and other professionals involved in supporting executive function in students of all ages, as well as parents and carers.




Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions


Book Description

This book presents an innovative model for supporting executive function in students with attention, memory, organization, planning, inhibition, initiative, and flexibility difficulties, including those with ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. The author advocates a student-centred approach in which educators first explore 8 key 'ingredients' with the student: relationships; strengths and weaknesses; self-advocacy and responsibility; review and preview; motivation and incentive; synthesis and analysis; rhythm and routine; and practice and repetition. She provides a step-by-step explanation of how these 'ingredients' can then be used in different ways and in different combinations to successfully address particular areas of difficulty. The approach is clearly explained, and the book contains many useful examples, practical tips and strategies, suggested conversation starters, sample time management plans and other tools that can be adapted to meet the particular needs of individual students. Original and effective, the approach outlined in this book will be of interest to teachers and other professionals involved in supporting executive function in students of all ages, as well as parents and carers.




Smart but Scattered


Book Description

There's nothing more frustrating than watching your bright, talented son or daughter struggle with everyday tasks like finishing homework, putting away toys, or following instructions at school. Your "smart but scattered" 4- to 13-year-old might also have trouble coping with disappointment or managing anger. Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guare have great news: there's a lot you can do to help. The latest research in child development shows that many kids who have the brain and heart to succeed lack or lag behind in crucial "executive skills"--the fundamental habits of mind required for getting organized, staying focused, and controlling impulses and emotions. Learn easy-to-follow steps to identify your child's strengths and weaknesses, use activities and techniques proven to boost specific skills, and problem-solve daily routines. Helpful worksheets and forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Small changes can add up to big improvements--this empowering book shows how. See also the authors' Smart but Scattered Teens and their self-help guide for adults. Plus, an academic planner for middle and high school students and related titles for professionals.




The Executive Function Guidebook


Book Description

Teach some of the most important skills your students will ever need! Executive function skills—including self-regulation, focus, planning, and time-management—are essential to student success, but they must be taught and practiced. This unique guidebook provides a flexible seven-step model, incorporating UDL principles and the use of metacognition, for making executive-function training part of your classroom routine at any grade level. Features include: Descriptions of each skill and its impact on learning Examples of instructional steps to assist students as they set goals and work to achieve success. Strategies coded by competency and age/grade level Authentic snapshots and “think about” sections Templates for personalized goal-setting, data collection, and success plans Accompanying strategy cards




Autism and Everyday Executive Function


Book Description

Understand and support executive function in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with this fully-explained, innovative model. Showing how to use an individual's strengths to address executive functioning weaknesses, this approach will also help to build a strong foundation for social and communication skills. Advocating a person-centred approach, the author describes the importance of identifying the individual's preferred style of engagement and communication, and how sensory experiences impact their thoughts, feelings, and actions. She explains how to use this information to identify the individual's strengths and weaknesses across eight key areas which are the building blocks of executive functions: attention; memory; organization; time management; initiative; behavior; goal setting and flexibility. These areas can be used daily to establish predictability and offer a foundation for interpreting, processing and understanding the world with flexibility. Professionals and parents can also use them as the basis of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or to create personalized interventions and support at school or at home.




Promoting Executive Function in the Classroom


Book Description

Accessible and practical, this book helps teachers incorporate executive function processes - such as planning, organizing, prioritizing, and self-checking - into the classroom curriculum. Chapters provide effective strategies for optimizing what Ka "12 students learn by improving how they learn. Noted authority Lynn Meltzer and her research associates present a wealth of easy-to-implement assessment tools, teaching techniques and activities, and planning aids. Featuring numerous whole-class ideas and suggestions, the book also covers the nuts and bolts of differentiating instruction for students with learning or attention difficulties. Case examples illustrate individualized teaching strategies and classroom accommodations. Fifteen reproducibles are included; the large-size format facilitates photocopying and day-to-day reference. This book will be invaluable to classroom teachers and special educators in grades K-12, teacher educators, school psychologists, and neuropsychologists.




Everyday Executive Function Strategies


Book Description

Everyday executive function strategies to engage and motivate YOUR students Without a good foundation in executive function skills, many interventions will not be helpful for students experiencing academic and social-emotional challenges. However, explicitly taught metacognitive strategies provide students with the tools to engage and benefit from classroom instruction through the use of an executive function skillset. With an impressive collection of 75 grade-appropriate executive function strategies, this practical guide addresses student needs in areas such as planning, working memory, time management, inhibitory behavior, cognitive flexibility, and self-regulation. Inside, you’ll find the metacognitive strategies shown most effective in facilitating students’ readiness and success in learning, plus Suggestions for incorporating executive function skills into your daily lesson planning and teaching routine without detracting from instructional time A step-by-step manual for explicitly teaching metacognitive skills Grade-level appropriate strategies grouped according to elementary, middle, and high school levels Guidance for adapting strategies to meet a wide range of individual student needs Designed to be applicable to and usable by many educators, from teachers and school psychologists to administrators and school counselors, this toolbox of strategies will help you improve student engagement, self-regulation, behavior, and learning.




Executive Function & Child Development


Book Description

A brain-based approach to helping kids stay focused and achieve. Poor executive function (EF) in the brain can mean behavioral and attentional problems in school. This book explains to professionals and parents how EF develops in kids, what EF difficulties look like, and what creative and effective interventions can meet their needs. Executive functions involve mental processes such as: Working memory–holding several pieces of information in mind while we try to do something with them–for example, understand and solve a problem or carry out a task. Response inhibition–inhibiting actions that interfere with our intentions or goals. Shifting focus–interrupting an ongoing response in order to direct attention to other aspects of a situation that are important for goal attainment. Cognitive flexibility–generating alternative methods of solving a problem or reaching a goal. Self-monitoring–checking on one's own cognitions and actions to assure that they are in line with one's intentions. Goal Orientation–creating and carrying out a multi-step plan for achieving a goal in a timely fashion, keeping the "big picture" in mind.




Executive Functioning Workbook


Book Description

Many students struggle with organization, planning, completing homework, and creating an effective study routine. School seems more challenging for them than their peers. These children may be labeled as disorganized, absent-minded, scattered, or forgetful by teachers, when in reality the issue is underdeveloped executive function - a skill, like any other, that can be taught! This EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING WORKBOOK increases student's ability to plan, start, and finish work independently. It identifies student's aims and challenges, builds thinking skills, and provides tools to help build organizational strategies. Judging time accurately Building "Working Memory" Breaking down complex projects into manageable, orderly tasks Correctly estimating how long tasks will take Starting, stopping, and changing activities This Executive Functioning Workbook is the first subject-matter book geared toward the STUDENT - providing worksheets and advice for students to develop and improve their Executive Functioning skills. The step-by-step worksheets and checklists designed by educational experts Melissa Mullin Ph.D. and Karen Fried PsyD MFT are the results of over 20 years of helping students succeed in school. Parenting and teaching solutions utilize student's strengths and weaknesses help build organization and establish a schedule that works. The Executive Functioning Workbook provides easy to follow, hands-on guidance and support to help students organize, plan, and follow through on tasks.




Mind in the Making


Book Description

“Ellen Galinsky—already the go-to person on interaction between families and the workplace—draws on fresh research to explain what we ought to be teaching our children. This is must-reading for everyone who cares about America’s fate in the 21st century.” — Judy Woodruff, Senior Correspondent for The PBS NewsHour Families and Work Institute President Ellen Galinsky (Ask the Children, The Six Stages of Parenthood) presents a book of groundbreaking advice based on the latest research on child development.