The core of EBL Coaching’s methodology is a profound respect for the learner. This isn’t just about delivering information; it’s about fostering understanding, building confidence, and equipping students with the tools they need to become independent, lifelong learners. We often hear about students who feel “left behind” or “not smart enough.” These are typically indicators that their learning style isn’t being met by the prevailing teaching methods. EBL Coaching seeks to bridge this gap by offering a learning environment that is responsive, adaptive, and, most importantly, empowering. Every student has the potential to succeed, and EBL Coaching is dedicated to unlocking that potential through a meticulously individualized approach.

The Philosophy Behind EBL Coaching
At its heart, the philosophy of EBL Coaching is rooted in the understanding that learning is not a linear, uniform process. It’s a complex tapestry woven from individual cognitive styles, prior experiences, emotional well-being, and environmental factors. Dr. Emily Levy, the visionary behind EBL Coaching, recognized early on that generic educational approaches often fail to account for this inherent individuality. The philosophy therefore centers on:

• Individualization: Every student is unique, and their educational support should reflect this. This means no two students will receive the exact same program, even if they have similar academic goals.
• Strengths-Based Approach: While addressing areas of difficulty is crucial, EBL Coaching also emphasizes identifying and leveraging a student’s existing strengths. This builds confidence and creates positive learning associations.
• Empowerment: The ultimate goal is not just to improve grades, but to empower students with the skills and self-belief to navigate their academic journey independently and confidently.
• Research-Based Practice: EBL Coaching is deeply committed to utilizing strategies and methodologies that are scientifically proven to be effective.
• Multi-Sensory Engagement: Recognizing that people learn through different modalities, EBL Coaching integrates visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile methods to create a richer and more effective learning experience.

This holistic philosophy extends beyond mere academic remediation. It seeks to build resilience, foster a growth mindset, and nurture a positive relationship with learning. By understanding the “why” behind a student’s struggles, EBL Coaching can create a supportive environment where challenges are seen as opportunities for growth, not insurmountable barriers.

Dr. Emily Levy’s Expertise and Journey
The exceptional quality of EBL Coaching is inextricably linked to the profound expertise and personal journey of its founder, Dr. Emily Levy. Her academic and professional path is a testament to a lifelong dedication to understanding and improving the learning process. Dr. Levy’s impressive academic credentials, including a Master’s and Doctorate from Nova University and her undergraduate studies at Brown University, provided her with a strong theoretical foundation. However, it was her early recognition of the nuances of reading comprehension, highlighted by her Westinghouse Science and Talent Award for a five-year study on the subject, that set her apart.

This early research likely ignited a deep curiosity about how individuals process information and the diverse factors that influence comprehension and academic success. Her experience presenting at national and international conferences further signifies her commitment to advancing the field of education and sharing best practices. It’s this blend of rigorous academic inquiry and practical application that forms the bedrock of EBL Coaching. Dr. Levy’s personal journey is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about translating that knowledge into tangible, life-changing support for students. Her authorship of the “Strategies for Study Success” workbook series, addressing crucial skills like test-taking, reading comprehension, and executive functioning, and the development of programs like “Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham and Multi-Sensory Math,” are concrete examples of her dedication to creating accessible, effective learning tools that are now used in schools nationwide.

This deep well of knowledge and experience directly informs the individualized approach at EBL Coaching, ensuring that every student benefits from strategies that are not only evidence-based but also developed by an expert who truly understands the intricacies of learning.

How EBL Coaching Delivers Tailored Support
The “EBL” in EBL Coaching stands for Exceptional, Best, and Learned, a powerful acronym that encapsulates their commitment to excellence in educational support. The delivery of this tailored support is a multi-faceted process that begins with a comprehensive understanding of each student.

Initial Assessment and Goal Setting
The journey with EBL Coaching begins with a thorough assessment. This isn’t a superficial quiz; it’s an in-depth evaluation designed to pinpoint a student’s specific learning profile, including their strengths, weaknesses, learning style preferences, and any underlying challenges that might be hindering their academic progress. This assessment might involve diagnostic testing, detailed interviews with the student and their parents, and an analysis of past academic performance. Based on this comprehensive understanding, personalized learning goals are collaboratively set, ensuring that both the student and the coaching team are aligned on what success looks like.

Individualized Learning Plans
Once the assessment is complete and goals are established, EBL Coaching develops a highly individualized learning plan. This plan is a roadmap that outlines the specific strategies, techniques, and resources that will be used to help the student achieve their goals. It’s a dynamic document, meaning it’s regularly reviewed and updated as the student progresses and their needs evolve. The plan might incorporate:

• Targeted skill development in areas such as reading, writing, math, or executive functioning.
• Strategies for improving study habits, organization, and time management.
• Techniques for enhancing test-taking skills and reducing test anxiety.
• Support for specific learning differences or challenges.

Highly Trained and Dedicated Tutors
The effectiveness of any coaching program hinges on the quality of its coaches. EBL Coaching employs a team of highly trained and dedicated tutors who are not only experts in their subject areas but are also skilled in implementing research-based, multi-sensory teaching methods. These tutors undergo continuous professional development to stay abreast of the latest educational research and best practices. They are passionate about fostering a positive and supportive learning environment, building strong rapport with their students, and celebrating every milestone achieved.

Flexible Delivery Options
Understanding that students have diverse needs and schedules, EBL Coaching offers flexible delivery options. Tutoring can be provided in-person, allowing for direct interaction and immediate feedback, or online, offering convenience and accessibility. This flexibility ensures that students can receive the support they need, where and when they need it, without compromising the quality or personalization of the instruction.

Multi-Sensory Methods and Research-Based Strategies
The cornerstone of EBL Coaching’s success lies in its unwavering commitment to employing multi-sensory methods and research-based strategies. This approach is not arbitrary; it’s grounded in a deep understanding of how the brain learns most effectively.

Traditional educational methods often rely heavily on auditory and visual input. While these are important, they can leave out students who learn more effectively through physical engagement or tactile experiences. Multi-sensory learning, as implemented by EBL Coaching, engages multiple senses simultaneously, creating stronger neural pathways and enhancing memory retention. For example:

• Visual: Using diagrams, graphic organizers, color-coding, and visual aids to explain concepts.
• Auditory: Explaining concepts verbally, using mnemonics, rhymes, and encouraging students to explain concepts in their own words.
• Kinesthetic: Incorporating movement, role-playing, building models, and using manipulatives.
• Tactile: Using hands-on materials, tracing letters or numbers, using textured objects, and writing on different surfaces.

These methods are not just engaging; they are proven effective. Dr. Levy’s work, including the “Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham” program, is a prime example of applying these principles in a structured and highly effective manner. Orton-Gillingham, in particular, is a renowned approach for literacy instruction that is systematic, explicit, and multi-sensory, making it highly beneficial for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges. Similarly, the “Strategies for Study Success” workbooks are designed with these principles in mind, offering practical tools and techniques that students can immediately apply.

The research-based aspect means that every strategy and technique is backed by scientific evidence. EBL Coaching doesn’t guess; they implement what works. This commitment to evidence-based practice ensures that students are receiving the most effective interventions available, maximizing their potential for growth and achievement. It’s about providing learners with the tools and techniques that have been rigorously tested and proven to enhance understanding, improve retention, and build lasting academic skills.

The Impact of Personalized Learning on Student Success
The impact of EBL Coaching’s personalized approach extends far beyond improved test scores. While academic gains are certainly a significant outcome, the true value lies in the profound and lasting transformation of the student themselves. When learning is tailored to an individual’s needs and strengths, several key areas experience significant positive shifts:

• Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem: Students who have struggled often internalize their difficulties, leading to feelings of inadequacy. Personalized support helps them experience success, fostering a belief in their own abilities. As they master new skills and overcome challenges, their confidence soars, spilling over into other areas of their lives.
• Enhanced Motivation and Engagement: When learning is made relevant, engaging, and achievable, students are more likely to become intrinsically motivated. They move from viewing learning as a chore to seeing it as an exciting opportunity for growth. This renewed engagement leads to greater participation and a more proactive approach to their education.
• Development of Independent Learning Skills: EBL Coaching doesn’t aim to create perpetual dependence. Instead, it focuses on equipping students with the strategies and metacognitive skills they need to become independent learners. This includes teaching them how to problem-solve, self-monitor their progress, and adapt their learning strategies as needed.
• Reduced Academic Anxiety: The pressure and frustration associated with struggling academically can lead to significant anxiety. By providing targeted support and breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, EBL Coaching helps alleviate this anxiety, creating a more relaxed and productive learning environment.
• Long-Term Academic Achievement: The skills and confidence built through personalized coaching create a strong foundation for continued academic success. Students who have experienced the benefits of EBL Coaching are often better equipped to handle future academic challenges and pursue their educational goals with greater assurance.
• Improved Executive Functioning: Many students struggle with executive functions such as organization, time management, planning, and impulse control. EBL Coaching often incorporates explicit instruction and practice in these areas, which are critical for overall academic and life success.

The anecdotal evidence and testimonials from students and parents alike consistently point to these profound changes. It’s about more than just getting better grades; it’s about fostering a love of learning, building resilience, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential, both academically and personally.

Resources and How to Connect with EBL Coaching
The journey towards enhanced learning and academic success is accessible, and EBL Coaching is dedicated to making their expertise readily available. If you’ve been inspired by the philosophy and methods discussed in this post, or if you know a student who could benefit from this tailored support, here’s how you can learn more and connect:

The primary hub for all things EBL Coaching is their official website. Here, you can find detailed information about their services, the methodologies they employ, and the team of dedicated professionals who make it all happen. It’s an excellent resource for understanding the full scope of what EBL Coaching offers and how they tailor their programs to meet the unique needs of each learner.

In addition to the website, Dr. Emily Levy and EBL Coaching maintain a strong presence on social media. Engaging with them on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram can provide valuable insights, tips, and updates. These platforms are often used to share success stories, educational resources, and announcements about upcoming workshops or events.

For those who would like to reach out directly to inquire about services, schedule a consultation, or simply ask questions, the contact information provided on their website will be your best resource. They are committed to responding to inquiries and guiding potential clients through the process of understanding how EBL Coaching can support their specific academic goals.

Remember, the conversation about personalized learning is ongoing, and the insights shared by Dr. Emily Levy on The Coaching Corner with Dori DeCarlo are a powerful starting point. This blog post has aimed to expand on those foundational ideas, offering a deeper look into the “EBL Coaching Difference.” Whether you’re a parent seeking support for your child, an educator looking for effective strategies, or a student aiming to unlock your full potential, EBL Coaching offers a path forward built on expertise, personalization, and a genuine commitment to learning.

Thank you for joining me on this exploration. I encourage you to listen to the full episode and explore the resources provided by EBL Coaching. Until next time, happy learning!

The post How EBL Coaching Provides Personalized Tutoring for Student Success appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Best strategies to improve organization for children with ADHD

When students with ADHD have multiple assignments to complete and activities to partake in after school, they may feel overwhelmed. They might not know where to start or how to fit everything into a limited time window. Creating a visual schedule can help! Together with your child, create a schedule of all activities and assignments they have on a given day on a large poster board or even a smaller sheet of paper if that works better for them. Write out an organized schedule for completing these daily tasks. For example, a visual after-school schedule might look like the following:

• 3:15-3:30pm snack
• 3:30-4:30pm work on homework
• 4:30-6pm soccer practice
• 6-6:45pm dinner
• 6:45-7:30pm complete any remaining assignments
• 7:30-8pm shower and get ready for bed

You can even draw or cut out pictures depicting each item and paste them on the visual schedule – like a picture of an apple for snack, an image of a homework sheet for homework time, and a picture of a shower in the getting ready for bed section. By creating a visual schedule, your child will feel less overwhelmed, more focused, and more in control of completing their tasks in a structured, organized manner.

Learn more about executive functioning strategies for your child at Executive Functioning Strategies for Your Child | EBL Coaching

Create an organized homework workspace

Creating a designated homework space for your child with ADHD can help them avoid distractions and stay focused when completing their schoolwork. This space should ideally be a desk in their room, but a spot on a communal table in the kitchen or dining room can work too. The key is consistency; your child should always complete their homework in this designated space. You should also make sure this space is fully stocked with all the supplies they may need for completing their assignments, including pens, pencils, scissors, paper, etc. If the supplies run low, refill them right away. This will help prevent your child from wandering around your home mid-homework session, searching for missing supplies and finding distractions as they look for these materials. Additionally, if your child works on a communal table, create a portable homework bin containing all the supplies they may need for completing their work, which they should bring with them to and from their room when they complete their schoolwork. This approach will help your child build their organization and executive functioning skills.

Use the Pomodoro Method for homework sessions

The Pomodoro Method is a great technique for helping students with ADHD stay focused for longer stretches of time. To use this strategy, your child should sit down at their designated workspace to begin working on their homework. They should set a timer for 25 minutes, work for that period of time, and then when the timer rings, take a 5-minute break. After that break, they should set their timer again for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break when it rings and do this same cycle four times. After four Pomodoro cycles, they should take a longer 15–30 minute break before starting the next four cycles. This system will help build structure into their study time and should increase their executive functioning skills and their ability to stay focused for longer periods of time.

Learn more about study skills strategies for your child with ADHD at Study Skills Strategies for Your Child with ADHD | EBL Coaching.

Active reading strategies for helping children with ADHD focus

Many students with ADHD lose focus when reading, which can negatively affect their ability to comprehend the material. To combat this challenge, teach them a tri-colored highlighting strategy to help them become a more active, rather than a passive, reader. To use this strategy, do the following:

• Explain to your child that when we read, there are three elements we should look for: the topic, which is one, two, or three words describing the passage (like snacks or rain). They should highlight the topic in blue.
• The second element they should look for is the main idea, which is what the author is saying about the topic (like types of afternoon snacks). They should highlight the main idea in green.
• Finally, they should look for the important details, or salient information describing the main idea, and highlight these details in yellow.

When sitting down to read a passage, your child should read it through once, then go back through the passage and highlight the topic in blue, main idea in green, and important details in yellow – making them an active reader and improving their ability to stay focused when reading.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD affects roughly 11.4% of children in the United Stats ages 3-17, and those with ADHD benefit from structured routines when completing homework. As students move through school, the academic and focusing demands increase rapidly. Help your child with ADHD stay focused and on-task with these strategies and they will be well on their way to success in school. If you notice your ADHD child struggling with focus, time management, organization, or other executive functioning skills, EBL Coaching can help with one-on-one in person and virtual executive functioning coaching and academic tutoring programs. Learn more at www.eblcoaching.com.

Frequently Asked Questions about ADHD and Focusing Skills

How does ADHD affect school performance?
Students with ADHD often have difficulty with their executive functioning skills, including planning, time management, organization, and task initiation. These executive functioning skills play a large role in school performance, so learning strategies to build these skills through executive functioning coaching can be very beneficial for students with ADHD.

What is the Pomodoro Method and how does it help students with ADHD?
The Pomodoro Method is a great strategy for improving time management skills. It involves setting a timer and working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break, and repeating this cycle four times before taking a longer break. This technique helps students with ADHD learn to focus for increasing increments of time and feel less overwhelmed with their workload.

How can I help my child with ADHD stay focused while doing homework?
You can help your child with ADHD stay focused when doing their homework by setting up a study space that contains all of the supplies they need to complete their schoolwork and that is free of distractions. Have them turn off sounds and notifications on all devices when working on their homework and even try a method like the Pomodoro Technique to help them stay focused for set periods of time before taking a break.

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching and has been helping students with ADHD build stronger academic and executive functioning skills for over twenty years.

The post How to Help Your ADHD Child Improve Focus: Four Proven Strategies appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Your child just received a learning disability diagnosis. While this diagnosis may feel like a relief, providing some explanations as to why your child has been struggling academically, it might also feel perplexing. What steps should you take from here? How can you help your child thrive academically given their challenges? Try some of the resources for students with learning disabilities in NYC detailed below.

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Interviewing Dr. Levy, an educational expert, business owner, public speaker and author that specialized learning needs in grades Pre-K to 12, you will sure be inspired by this short interview.

Coming from a family of educators, she finds her calling at her young age and started her teaching journey since 1993 as a speaker of an event hosted by Ministry of Education.

We journey with her on her 31 years of teaching journey to become the founder of her own education business in 2004 helping kid and young teens learn better using research based multi-sensory techniques, and here is her story.

The post Dr. Emily Levy: Founder of EBL Coaching & Expert in Student Success appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Students with dyslexia typically struggle with decoding words and reading fluently. They may also have difficulty with spelling and expressing their thoughts effectively when writing. As students progress through school, these skills become increasingly important and can affect nearly every subject. Help your child thrive with dyslexia tutoring that is customized to their individual needs. How can dyslexia tutoring help your child?

Decoding Basic Words

Many students struggle to decode basic single syllable words when reading. They may have difficulty learning sound-letter relationships, including short vowels sounds, and often struggle to blend these sounds together to form words. This challenge can create frustration and lead to poor self-esteem. Dyslexia tutoring or, more specifically, Orton Gillingham tutoring using the Orton Gillingham technique, can help your child strengthen these key skills. This multi-sensory approach to tutoring engages the visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic modalities and can help students master these foundational reading skills.

If your child struggles to learn the names of the letters and their corresponding sounds, Orton Gillingham tutoring can help build these skills, starting at a basic foundational level. For example, a tutor might hold up a flash card that has the lower case letter “a” on the front and the key picture of an apple on the back. The tutor might say to the student, “This is the letter a, like apple, it makes the sound /a/.” The student would then repeat that language out loud along with the Orton Gillingham tutor and then say it independently on their own. Next, the tutor may move onto skywriting and the tutor would write in the sky with their finger, “around, up, and down”, saying the formation of the lower case letter “a” aloud. Then the student would write the same letter in the sky along with the teacher and then independently on their own. Next, the Orton Gillingham tutor may take out a tray of colored sand or shaving cream and practice the same writing exercise in the sand or cream, again saying the formation of the letter aloud as they write it. Next, the student might complete Orton Gillingham workbook pages and then do exercises where they blend sounds together to form words, using tools such as flash cards or magnetic tiles. The more multi-sensory the Orton Gillingham tutoring can be, the better!

Decoding Multi-Syllabic Words

Some students can accurately read basic, single syllable words, but struggle to decode multi-syllabic words. An Orton Gillingham tutor can teach students strategies for breaking down and decoding multi-syllabic words. For example, an Orton Gillingham tutor may teach the student what a compound word is: two little words that are combined to form a big word. They might learn that certain words have endings, like est, ed, ing, or ful, and how to syllabicate these types of words. They might learn the “rabbit” syllabication rule, where the word is split between the two middle consonants, like in the word rabbit. By learning how to break down longer words into their smaller parts with Orton Gillingham tutoring, students can learn to more accurately decode longer, multi-syllabic words.

Reading Fluency

Many students, especially those with dyslexia, exert so much energy into decoding words that their reading fluency is slow. Learning to accurately decode words through Orton Gillingham tutoring can help students develop their reading fluency, but your child’s dyslexia tutor can also use specific strategies, like the choral reading technique, to build their reading fluency skills. The dyslexia tutor may select a passage form a book and use this strategy as follows:

1. Your child reads the passage aloud to the tutor as an initial read.
2. The tutor reads the same passage aloud to your child to model good fluency.
3. Your child reads the same passage aloud WITH the tutor‎, trying to keep up with their fluency.
4. Your child reads the same passage aloud one more time, and their dyslexia tutor empowers them with the improvement in their fluency!

As students move through school, they will be required to read and write increasingly complex material. Dyslexia tutoring can help your child develop stronger reading and writing skills and enable them to thrive as the demands of school continue to increase.

The post How can Tutoring Help your Child with Dyslexia? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Most children look forward to the last day of school and the first day of summer break. They can’t wait to swim, play outside, and relax with their friends at a park. Yet summer is a long stretch of time, and without continuous learning, students face a real risk of summer slide. In fact, research tells us that over the summer students can lose up to 39% of the information they learned during the school year! Help your child avoid the summer slide with the ideas detailed below.

Create a summer reading plan 

It’s important that kids continue to read throughout the summer, despite the temptation to ditch all books and focus on play. Help your child set a goal for the summer – it could be reading four books, for example, or devoting a certain amount of time each day to reading. Encourage your child to find a series they like or take a trip to the book store and peruse different genres of books with them. If your child chooses to carve out a certain amount of time each day to read, like 30 minutes or so, help them pick a daily time. It might be right before bed or even right after they wake up; the key is choosing a consistent time slot. You might even try setting aside family reading time – maybe right after dinner – when everyone in the family comes together and reads a book of their choosing.

Make math real!

There are so many great real life opportunities for practicing math over the summer. For younger children, bring them to the supermarket with you and build math into your shopping. Grab three peaches and two plums and ask them how many pieces of fruit you have altogether. Then ask how many pieces would be left if you ate one of the peaches. You can do these basic addition and subtraction problems with just about any items in the supermarket. For older kids, you might ask questions like, “This $6 box of cereal is 10% off. What will the new price be?” or “I have a coupon for $5 off two packs of paper towels that are each $15. How much will I spend on paper towels if I use this coupon and buy two packs?”
You can also try playing math games on the road. For instance, if you are driving on a highway with numbered exits and you are at exit 5, ask your child how many more exits you need to pass to reach exit 21. For older kids, you might tell them you have 100 miles left in your road trip. If you are driving 60 miles per hour, how much more time do you have until you reach your destination? Rather than telling your child to work out of a math workbook or complete worksheets, which they may complain is “boring”, try integrating math into your day-to-day summer activities. Read more about these ideas at https://eblcoaching.com/how-to-avoid-the-summer-slide-and-get-ready-for-back-to-school/

Write in a journal 

Writing is a key skill for success, and one that becomes increasingly important as students progress through school. Help your child maintain their writing skills over the summer by encouraging them to write in a journal. This could a general task, like spending 15 minutes per day writing in their journal about any topic they wish. Alternatively, it can be activity-specific. For instance, if you take them to a water park one day, have them write about which slides they went on and foods they ate while at the park. Likewise, if they spend a day at camp, visiting grandparents, or playing baseball outside, have them create a journal entry on activities they did that day and parts that they did or did not like about it. Writing tutoring to build this skill may help as well. The more writing, the better!

Build skills by baking

Most kids love to bake, whether it’s brownies, cupcakes, or corn muffins. Why not build some learning into this fun activity? Start by pulling a recipe  and ask your child to measure out the ingredients required for the recipe, like 1.5 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and so on, to help build measurement skills. You might also ask them how much more of each ingredient you would need if you doubled each recipe, or how much less you would need if you cut the recipe in half. You can have them weigh different items and work on conversions from ounces to pounds, or vice versa. Keep it fun (and delicious) and they will build key math skills along the way.

Summer is a time for fun and play, but learning should never be completely neglected. Help your child continue building their key academic skills and avoid the dreaded summer slide with these ideas. You can also try summer tutoring or specific tutoring in reading, writing, or math during summer break. In doing so, you will help set your child up for success in the new school year.

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EBL Coaching Offers Specialized ADHD Tutoring To Help!

Does your child with ADHD have difficulties at school? Do they struggle with time management, organization, task initiation, note taking, or planning? If so, your child may benefit from specialized ADHD tutoring to help build these critical skills. ADHD tutoring can help your child thrive with the strategies detailed below.

Time Management

Students with ADHD often struggle to effectively manage their time. They may over or under estimate how long they think a task may take to complete. They might start working on their homework later in the day, only to find that they aren’t able to finish it or must stay up very late in order to do so. They may be tardy in turning in their homework assignments or might forget to turn them in entirely. ADHD tutoring can help your child build stronger time management skills. One strategy that may help them is the ET/AT strategy, where students are taught to predict how long they think a task might take to complete (and write down the ET, or estimated time), then compare it to the actual time it takes to complete (and write down the AT, or actual time). Students who struggle with time management typically find that there is a big discrepancy between these times when they start using this strategy but the more they practice this strategy during ADHD tutoring sessions and on their own, the more these times will start to merge.

Create a Study Space 

Students with ADHD often lose their belongings and can’t always find the supplies they need in order to complete their homework. They might sit down to start an assignment, only to find that they don’t have the necessary materials at hand and spend ample time wondering around looking for pens, pencils, paper, or highlighters. ADHD tutoring can help your child create a study space that has all of the supplies they may need to complete their homework. This space should include their computer, writing tools, paper, scissors, and so on. If you notice your child’s supplies are running low, encourage them to refill the supplies or help them do so, so they always have the supplies they need in their study space.

Prioritization 

Prioritizing tasks can be a challenge for students with ADHD. They may start a less important assignment only to find that they run out of time and aren’t able to complete a more important assignment or study for a critical upcoming test. ADHD tutoring can help your child evaluate all upcoming assignments and tests and come up with a plan for completing them, prioritizing the more important tasks first, followed by the less important ones. ADHD tutoring can also integrate the ET/AT strategy for deciding which tasks to prioritize, building time management skills along with prioritization.

Note Taking

Students with ADHD often have trouble taking effective notes. They may lose focus during a lesson and miss key elements that they needed to take down, or they might scribble down disorganized notes that they may not be able to read or understand later. ADHD tutoring can help your child develop more effective note taking skills. One strategy they may learn from ADHD tutoring is the column style method, where students learn to write the topic of the lesson on the top of their page (like “World War 1”), then divide their page into two columns: one for main ideas on the left side and one for notes on the right side. In school, they should only take notes on the right side of their page, in the notes section. Then when they get home and look at their notes, they should categorize their notes into  main ideas and write those main ideas in the left column, like “Causes of World War 1”, “Battles of World War 1”, and so on. Students can learn to effectively use this strategy with ADHD tutoring to help them become more effective note takers. 

Hire a tutor

ADHD tutoring can help your child tremendously with developing these key skills. Building stronger time management, studying, note taking, and prioritization skills with ADHD tutoring can help your child excel in school.

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Many children with autism struggle to start and complete their homework assignments. They may lose papers, notebooks, and teacher's notes. Some may find it difficult to plan and prioritize their actions, and to self-monitor. When children struggle in these areas, it is often a sign of issues with executive functioning skills. These are skills that play a significant role in success at school, but many autistic children find them particularly challenging. The following are some strategies that you can use to help your child with autism build stronger executive functioning skills.

Time Management

Children with executive functioning challenges often need help with time management. They might procrastinate or not have a good sense of how long a task might take to complete. You can strengthen your child's time management skills with a time management strategy based on estimated time/actual time. When children have a task to complete, such as a math worksheet or a science packet, have them estimate how long they think the assignment will take to complete and write down the estimated time. Once the task is completed, have them note how long the assignment actually took to complete and write down the actual time. There will often be a big difference between these two times when students with time management issues start using this technique. Over time, however, the two times will become closer as they practice the technique and make more realistic estimates. Read more at How to Build Executive Functioning Skills With Homework - EBL Coaching.

Organization

Poor organizational skills are a common characteristic of executive functioning challenges. If your child loses papers and has a messy backpack or a cluttered desk or room, you may want to consider this three-tier organizational strategy. Tier one involves designating a working notebook that your child will carry to school on a regular basis. It could be made up of one folder and notebook per class that ideally are color-coded, or a large three-ring binder divided by classes. One day per week should be designated as the time to clean out the notebook and remove papers that no longer need to be carried on a regular basis. Tier two entails filing these papers in an accordion file. The accordion file could have three sections for each class: homework, notes, and tests or quizzes. The papers from the working notebook are placed into the proper section of the accordion file and saved for the purpose of studying for a quiz or test. Tier three is a file drawer or cabinet for projects completed by your child or well-written essays that are worth saving for the long term. Read about additional organizational skills at Organizational Tools for Academic Success - EBL Coaching.

Create a Schedule

Individuals who struggle with executive functioning skills often fail to create a well-organized schedule. They might jump from one task to another with little or no planning. To address this challenge, you can map out steps for your child for each part of his or her day when at home. For example, your child might have five steps to complete in the morning before leaving for school: wake up; get dressed; have breakfast; brush teeth; and check backpack to make sure it has all necessary items for the day. You may want a checklist for the backpack, too.

You could also create a colorful poster to map out this routine with pictures or images that correspond to each step. A similar schedule could be created for after-school and pre-bedtime activities. It may be worth asking if your child's teacher would be willing to prepare one for the school day.

Play Games

Playing games is a fun way to improve executive functioning skills that can involve the whole family. In the game Jenga, for example, players try to figure out what will happen if they remove a block from the tower. They need to determine if it will make the tower fall, and if they should try to pull the block out slowly or quickly. Thinking about strategies and the best way to proceed can help improve executive functioning skills. Other possibilities include playing a sequencing game in which a set of four to six pictures must be placed in the right sequence to illustrate the correct way to complete a task such as washing a car or making lemonade. The number of pictures can gradually be increased so that the game is more challenging. Playing a memory game is another great way to build attention and improve working memory skills, both of which are important aspects of executive functioning. A series of cards are placed face down on the table, and players must turn over two cards and remember what they are in order to find future matches.

Memory Matching Game

1. Print out this page on cardstock or construction paper. Cut out each card.

2. Lay the cards face down randomly on a table.

3. Player 1 will turn over two cards. If the two cards have the same picture, the player will keep the cards and go again. If the two cards are not a match, the cards are turned face down again and player 2 will take a turn.

4. The person with the most matches when all the cards are gone is the winner.

Download Game (2-page .pdf)

Other Blogs about Autism:

Differentiating Between ADHD and Autism in Children

The post Helping Autistic Students Build Stronger Executive Functioning Skills appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Children with autism learn, behave, socialize, and communicate in ways that are different than their peers of the same age. The spectrum of autism is wide; some kids can speak clearly, while others are completely nonverbal. Certain children need intensive help with daily living skills, while others are more independent.  It is important that children with autism receive specialized services to help strengthen their areas of weakness. However, when services are scarce, or when your child is also receiving them at school, you can further support skills development at home with the ideas detailed below.

Create a Schedule

Individuals with autism thrive on routine. Changes in that routine and new, unexpected events can throw them off and lead to negative behaviors. Try sticking to a regular schedule at home for meals, wake up time, bed time, therapy, after school activities, and other daily activities. You should also create a visual schedule that your child can see. It should beia large chart indicating the time for each event, along with a description and corresponding picture. For instance, you might write 7:00 am wake up (with a picture of someone waking up), 7:30am breakfast (with a picture of someone eating breakfast), 8:00 am school (with a picture of a school), 3:30pm speech therapy (with a picture of a child receiving therapy), 6:00 pm dinner (with a picture of someone eating dinner), and so on. The more structured and consistent the schedule is, the better.

Use Rewards

Children with autism respond well to regular and consistent rewards. Every time you see your child doing a good job on a task (like completing a homework sheet or putting their dish in the sink), praise them and give them a reward such as a sticker or special prize. Try not to wait too long to offer the reward; the more frequent the rewards come, the better. Also, try to individualize the rewards based on your child’s interests. Some children like physical toys while others prefer watching a television show or playing a video game. Some kids are even fine with just a hug or a nice praise.

Try Play Therapy at Home

Many children with autism struggle to interact and play with other kids. Instead, they often play alone and repeat the same motions over and over again. While play therapy by a professional is likely the best option for developing play and social skills, you can also help your child build these skills at home. To do so, start by laying out a mix of toys in front of your child, like cars, trains, dolls, and animals, or even squeaky toys or bubble jars. Have them look at all the toys and decide which one they want to play with at that time. Later, you can try to engage with them using a more interactive game. You can also be more directed in your approach by presenting toys that offer specific learning opportunities. For instance, present your child with a baby doll to help them learn life skills like dressing and undressing the doll, bathing it, feeding it, and so on. You can also use kitchen toys (including a pretend kitchen) to build play, social, and life skills. Have your child say the names of different foods, make a meal, and then discuss the meal with you. You can ask pointed questions, like “What’s for dinner tonight?”, “What vegetable are we eating?”, and “Is there anything for dessert?” Playing with play doh can strengthen your child’s muscles, which can help with writing, and allow them to be creative in forming shapes while also improving their cutting skills.

Play Games!

Playing games is a great family activity that can also help your child with autism build important skills. For instance, to build sequencing and following directions skills, try playing Simon Says – where kids follow commands that engage gross motor movements. Commands might include “Simon says, hop on one leg” or “Simon says, touch your nose.” So as to build speaking and listening skills, you can play the game Conversation Cubes. This game includes thirty-six cubes; each with a conversation starter question on it, like “What do you like to do in cold weather?” and “What foods do you like?” Players can answer the questions orally to build oral language skills, or you can even use them as writing prompts to help your child get started with a writing piece.

Children with autism respond well to services from professionals during, and often outside of, school.
However, the additional support you provide at home can help them further develop their social, academic, and general life skills.

The post Parental Resources for Autistic Children During Post Pandemic Times appeared first on EBL Coaching.