Organizational System

Many students with executive functioning challenges, including those with ADHD, struggle to stay organized. An executive functioning coach can help your child set up organizational tools and systems. For example, if your child’s backpack is filled with papers and their desk at home is a mess, the coach can help your child set up a 3-tier organizational system. With this system, your child selects a working notebook (tier 1), which can be either a binder or notebook/folder for each class that they take with them to school on a regular basis. They should designate one day per week to be the “clean out my working notebook day” where they remove any papers they don’t need to be carrying with them on a regular basis and file them into an accordion file that they keep at home (tier 2). This accordion file should contain three sections for each class: homework, notes, and tests/quizzes. At the end of the semester, if your child created a great project or assignment that they want to keep for the long run, they should put it in an organized filing drawer (tier 3). An executive functioning coach can also help your child organize their electronic computer files if their school integrates more digital assignments.

Develop Time Management Skills

Children with executive functioning difficulties often struggle with time management. They may think a task will take more or less time than it actually does and may consistently turn in their homework assignments late. An executive functioning coach can help your child develop stronger time management skills. One strategy they may use is the Estimated Time (ET) verses Actual Time (AT) technique. With this strategy, the student predicts how long they think a task may take to complete. For example, they may think it will take 20 minutes to complete a math worksheet. They should write down that predicted time (ET). Then they should compare it to how long it actually took to complete the task (AT). When students with executive functioning challenges start using this strategy, there is usually a big discrepancy between the ET and AT. However, the more they use this strategy, the more realistic they become with their time, and the more those times typically start to merge.

Chunk Tasks

Students with executive functioning difficulties often become overwhelmed with long, multi-step assignments or projects. Executive functioning coaching can help them chunk tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, if as student is asked to create a report about tornados, including what they are, how they are formed, how they are measured, and unique facts about tornadoes, their inclination may be to wait until the night before this project is due to work on it. However, an executive functioning coach can help them break this project into steps and put each step into their physical or electronic planner with specific deadlines for completing each step. In doing so, the project will become less overwhelming and more manageable, and the student will improve their homework completion, time management, and planning skills.

Note taking

Executive functioning coaching can also help your child learn how to take effective notes. For example, they may learn the column-style note taking method. With this technique, students learn to divide their page into two columns and write the topic of what they are reading at the top, the main ideas in the left column, and the important details that correspond to each main idea in the right column. They can even use highlighters to color-code the topic in one color, main ideas in a second color, and important details in a third color. This style of note taking can also be applied to in-class lectures.

Many students, both with and without ADHD, struggle with executive functioning skills. Executive functioning coaching can help your child build these important skills and thrive in school.

The post Can Executive Functioning Coaching Help My Child? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

As summer gives way to the crisp embrace of fall, it’s the perfect time to brush up on your list of fun things to do with family indoors. While the allure of screens may be strong when boredom hits, Claire Diamonstein Weinberg, LCSW-C, a licensed social worker, says it’s better to choose engaging activities that can unite the family.

“Children who routinely engage in fun, child-centred family activities tend to feel more emotionally connected with their family,” she explains. “Family activities support children’s development by providing opportunities to practice social skills and positive communication within a supportive environment.”

If you’re having trouble deciding which activities to put on your list, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a list of expert-recommended activities that are ideal for those days when you’re stuck indoors, including fun indoor games, creative arts and crafts, engaging STEM projects and much more.

Creative Arts and Crafts

Joseph Tito, a parenting expert from The Dad Diaries, suggests that crafting is one of the best things to do at home as a family. It sparks creativity and provides meaningful learning opportunities for kids of all ages.

“When children take part in arts and crafts, they are honing their fine motor skills, which boosts their dexterity and coordination,” he explains. “These activities also provide an amazing platform for creativity and imagination, enabling kids to express themselves in distinctive and innovative ways.”

Although craft kits are available online or at local stores, Tito recommends starting with these simple projects using everyday materials you probably already have at home.

DIY slime 

Materials Needed

• White school glue (4 oz bottle)
• Baking soda (½ teaspoon)
• Contact lens solution containing boric acid (1½ tablespoons)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Pour the Glue: Empty the entire bottle of white school glue into the mixing bowl.
2. Add Baking Soda: Mix in ½ teaspoon of baking soda to help firm up the slime.
3. Add Color (Optional): If you’d like coloured slime, add a few drops of food colouring and stir until evenly distributed.
4. Add Contact Lens Solution: Slowly add 1½ tablespoons of contact lens solution while stirring continuously. The mixture will start coming together and pulling away from the bowl’s sides.
5. Knead the Slime: Use your hands to knead the slime for about 2-3 minutes until it reaches a stretchy, gooey consistency.

Developmental Benefits

• Sensory Exploration: Enhances tactile experiences, helping kids understand different textures.
• Fine Motor Skills: Kneading and stretching improve hand strength and coordination.
• Scientific Understanding: Introduces basic chemistry concepts like mixing and reactions.

Paper plate animal masks 

Materials Needed

• Paper plates
• Coloured construction paper
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Markers or crayons
• Elastic string or ribbon

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Choose an Animal: Decide on an animal to create (e.g., lion, rabbit, owl).
2. Cut Out Eyes: Cut two eye holes in the paper plate where the child’s eyes will be.
3. Create Features: Cut out ears, noses, whiskers, or feathers from the construction paper.
4. Decorate the Mask: Glue the features onto the paper plate. Add details with markers or crayons.
5. Attach the String: Punch holes on either side of the mask and tie the elastic string so it fits snugly around the child’s head.

Developmental Benefits

• Creativity and Imagination: Encourages self-expression and storytelling.
• Fine Motor Skills: Cutting and gluing enhance dexterity.
• Social Skills: Great for group activities and role-playing.

Indoor Physical Activities

Even when the weather is dreary, families can find fun ways to stay active indoors. Taryn Parker, a curriculum director and professional instructor at The Little Gym, suggests creating obstacle courses and organizing relay races as entertaining indoor activities for the whole family.

Design the course together

Regardless of whether you’re organizing a relay race or setting up an obstacle course, Parker says that designing the challenge together as a family is just as important as participating in it.

“Working out the rules and obstacles as a family can be a great bonding experience,” she explains. “As you tackle the course together, you’ll find it’s a fantastic way to connect and have fun as a family.”

Prioritize safety

Safety should always be your top priority when participating in physical activities with your children to avoid accidents or injuries. Parker advises that you take proactive steps, such as removing any sharp-edged items from the area, to help maintain a secure environment.

She explains, “You can also use tape to create safe zones on the floor—just think of it like a game where the floor is lava, and the taped areas are your only safe spots! Additionally, allowing your child to navigate over, under, around, or through obstacles (like using two stools with a towel draped over them) can elevate an obstacle course from simply fun to truly exciting!”

Use household items

You also don’t need to spend any money to design the perfect obstacle course. Parker shares that a roll of masking or painter’s tape is one of the simplest items for creating obstacle courses at home. “With tape, you can design a variety of shapes on the floor or set up barriers for your kids to navigate. They can crawl under, climb, weave, or go around it in countless ways.”

Educational Games and Activities

Dr. Emily Levy, a developmental expert and director of EBL Coaching, recommends using educational games and activities to maintain children’s focus and enthusiasm for learning as they return to school.

She emphasizes, “It is important for parents to reinforce key academic skills at home. The more fun the activities are, the more kids will want to engage in them, leading to stronger academic performance.”

Finding enjoyable educational games and activities can be easy. Levy offers ideas that help sharpen reading, math and language skills while keeping children engaged.

Reading hour

Set aside dedicated time to read together to boost your child’s reading skills and strengthen family bonds. As Levy suggests, this simple activity enhances literacy and provides a wonderful opportunity for family bonding.

She advises, “Families can set up this designated reading time either after dinner or before bed, where all members of a family pick any book or reading material to read (newspapers and magazines count too!) and focus on reading together for either an hour or other set amount of time.”

Math

Incorporating math into everyday activities can be an engaging way for families to practice numerical skills together. For instance, a trip to the grocery store offers numerous opportunities for mathematical learning.

According to Levy, “Parents can turn shopping into a fun counting game. For example, they might ask their child to count out three green apples and two red apples and then calculate the total number of apples. This simple activity reinforces basic addition skills in a practical, hands-on manner.”

To challenge more advanced learners, Levy suggests that parents introduce estimation exercises. She suggests, “Before checkout, ask your child to estimate the total cost of the groceries. This encourages critical thinking and helps develop a sense of numerical magnitude. After the actual total is revealed, parents can pose more complex problems. For instance, if our bill is $85.75 and I pay with a $100 bill, how much change should we receive?”

Language: 

You may be surprised to learn that something as simple as a dress-up game can improve your child’s language skills. According to Levy, “When parents participate in dress-up with their children, they can discuss various characters and the roles they play while also exploring new foods or adventures that these characters might encounter.”

Parents can also further develop language skills by using building blocks and reading books together. “When building with blocks, parents can engage their child in conversations about what they are constructing, introducing vocabulary words like tall, short and strong,” Levy explains. “Reading together also provides a wonderful chance to explore characters, storylines, emotions, settings and much more—helping to strengthen essential language skills.”

Family Game Night Ideas

Joy Turner, vice president of education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, says family game night is another way to strengthen family ties.

“Game nights are a great way for families to spend quality time together,” she explains. “Parents can use this time to check in and have casual conversations about their children’s day or week. Children will feel more empowered during game night if they decide which games are played—parents can make a small list of options and allow their children to pick their favourite.”

If you’re looking for indoor games to play with kids, Turner suggests looking for activities that teach skills in a fun way. “Matching games that have pictures on the cards are exciting and promote short-term memory development and attention to detail,” she says. “Charades are another perfect way to get moving and showcase creative expression.”

Board games are also great for older children who understand winning and following directions. “Games like Sorry and Candyland elicit cognitive skills like counting,” adds Turner. The iconic card game Uno also helps with number matching, colour recognition, and following rules.”

Imaginative Play and Storytelling

According to Tara Donatiello, LAC, a licensed associate counselor who specializes in providing psychotherapy to children and adolescents, imaginative play is beneficial for children as it’s how they learn.

She explains, “Play is an important part of human development. It gives children the opportunity to explore, test possibilities, learn new skills, and solve problems. It also helps kids develop emotional regulation skills, empathy, and resilience.”

Try any of these ideas from Donatiello for activities that benefit from imaginative play and storytelling.

Go old school

“I believe the best activities for encouraging imaginative play and creativity are the toys we might consider to be ‘old school’ and that minimize batteries, electronic buttons and the use of technology,” Donatiello says. “Examples of these include blocks, people and animal figures, vehicles, dolls, play foods, etc. These types of toys give children the freedom to decide how they will be used.”

Puppets and dress up

Playing with puppets and engaging in dress-up activities are excellent ways for families with young children to bond while exploring various roles.

Donatiello, however, emphasizes that families need not purchase new items for these activities. She suggests, “The enjoyment often comes from searching through your home’s closets for old clothing (or Halloween costumes) and accessories or crafting puppets from discarded socks together.”

Storytime

Families can enhance their indoor activities by incorporating storytime, which fosters imaginative play.

Donatiello recommends a collaborative storytelling approach: “Start with one family member providing the opening sentence of a story. Then, take turns, with each person adding a single sentence per round. Continue for a predetermined number of rounds or until the story reaches a natural conclusion.”

Science Experiments and STEM Activities

According to Elizabeth Fraley, Kinder Ready’s founder and CEO, science experiments and STEM activities are excellent choices for kids who prefer hands-on learning approaches.

“These engaging exercises not only bolster scientific aptitude but also serve as powerful tools for developing critical thinking and enhancing problem-solving capabilities in children,” she says. “STEM activities and experiments are important for a child’s development because they help push higher-ordered thinking skills, not to mention inquiry-based thinking skills.”

DIY volcano experiment

You might recall this classic science experiment from your childhood. To share the same excitement with your kids, Fraley suggests all you need are household ingredients and a volcano mould with compartments. However, she advises conducting this experiment outdoors to prevent mess and suggests using gloves and goggles as a precaution.

Materials Needed

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Food coloring
• Volcano mould with compartments

Scientific backing

Surprisingly, this experiment has some scientific backing. According to Fraley, “When baking soda and vinegar are combined, they create an endothermic reaction that produces carbon dioxide gas. The reaction causes a volcanic eruption!”

Magic milk experiment

This is another perfect science experiment for both preschool-age and early elementary children. “With it, students learn how to make valuable predictions and findings,” Fraley explains. “They also learn that milk is built up of proteins and fats that hold the colour in the milk. However, it’s always a good idea to have safety goggles and plastic gloves on hand.”

Materials Needed

• Rainbow colours of food dye
• Dawn dish detergent
• Milk
• Large Platter

Scientific backing

When dish soap is added to the milk, the food colouring begins to blur, which Fraley explains is due to the breaking up of the proteins and fats present in the milk. “Students are fascinated by the vibrant colours and patterns created by the food colouring in the milk when combined with dish detergent,” she notes. “However, keep in mind that if food colouring is present, any changes may not be visible to the naked eye.”

Cooking and Baking with Kids

Jamie Watson, a registered play therapist and adjunct professor at the University of Western States, emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of cooking and baking together for children and families.

“Cooking and baking together provide parents and children with more than just a fun indoor activity; they also foster a deep sense of attachment and emotional connection,” Watson explains. These shared experiences create opportunities for parents to be both physically and emotionally present, showing care and attention, which helps children feel secure and valued.”

These activities also impart crucial life skills. Watson elaborates, “It teaches essential life skills, such as following directions, measuring ingredients, and understanding basic math and science concepts like fractions and chemical reactions. Cooking also promotes creativity, as children can experiment with flavours, colours, and decorations, giving them a sense of ownership and accomplishment (improving self-esteem!)”.

To help families get started, Watson offers three cooking and baking activities that both kids and parents can enjoy together.

Pizza Bagels

“Pizza bagels are fun and easy for kids to customize with their favourite toppings,” says Watson. “Simply slice bagels in half, add pizza sauce, sprinkle cheese and let them add their own toppings like pepperoni, veggies or pineapple. Bake until the cheese melts for a quick, kid-approved meal.”

Homemade Granola Bars

Watson suggests making these granola bars together if your kids are craving something sweet. “Mix oats, honey, peanut butter and a variety of mix-ins like chocolate chips, raisins or nuts,” she advises. “Press the mixture into a pan, refrigerate and cut into bars for a healthy, homemade snack.”

Fruit Kabobs

Fruit kabobs are another sweet treat your kids will love making with you; best of all, they’re easy to make. Watson suggests, “Using skewers (or even plastic straws for younger kids), let children build their own colourful fruit kabobs with a variety of fresh fruit like strawberries, pineapple, grapes and melon. It’s a simple way to encourage healthy eating.”

Scavenger and Treasure Hunts

Kristen Miller, Director of Education for Celebree School, recommends scavenger hunts as an excellent activity for children. She explains, “These hunts offer multiple benefits: they promote creative and higher-level thinking, encourage physical activity, foster teamwork and collaboration, reduce screen time, and are typically easy to set up and clean up.”

Try any of Miller’s suggestions below for easy scavenger and treasure hunt ideas.

Colour hunt

This treasure hunt idea is great for little kids, as Miller says it’s age-appropriate and helps support cognitive development.

“Encourage your toddler to two-year-old to find red items,” says Miller. “Then make it a little more difficult by asking for a specific number of blue items; for preschoolers, ask them for items to make the rainbow, for example, a red item, then an orange item, then yellow, etc.”

Shape search

You can also create a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt for your kids based on shapes. “Find items that match specific shapes or cut out shapes and hide them around your home,” suggests Miller.

Alphabet hunt

Alphabet hunts are equally great for kids of all ages. “For younger children, have them find cut-out letters, and for older children, have them search for the letter in their environment, such as grabbing an apple for A,” says Miller. “For more of a challenge, encourage children to find the letters in alphabetical order.”

Rainy Day Activities

Having a list of rainy-day activities is also smart, says Dr. Sara Jane Blackman, Director of Learning & Development at Parents as Teachers National Center.

She explains, “It ensures children remain engaged and entertained when outdoor play isn’t possible. These activities provide opportunities to foster creativity, problem-solving and social skills while preventing boredom and reducing frustration.”

Families can try various fun and educational indoor activities. Blackman suggests, “Homemade sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or pasta can engage children while promoting fine motor skills. Home scavenger hunts encourage observation and problem-solving, while games like hot and cold hide-and-seek help with listening and spatial awareness. Building a blanket fort for storytime or creating a cardboard castle also lets children explore their imaginations, making these rainy-day ideas both entertaining and enriching.”

Blackman recommends puzzles, drawing, simple crafts, or reading together for quieter moments. “Board games and storytelling inside a blanket fort are also great for peaceful activities,” she adds.

Most importantly, Blackman emphasizes flexibility. “Allow families to switch between quiet activities and more active games based on energy levels. Creating special traditions, such as rainy-day baking or story time, adds an element of fun and helps build lasting memories, transforming a gloomy day into a cherished family experience.”

Whether you choose to explore baking ideas in the kitchen or enjoy playing board games, there are countless indoor activities for families to share with their children.

These activities teach kids something new and bring the family closer together. Additionally, engaging in indoor activities is an excellent way to reduce screen time and reinforce learning from school.

What are your favourite fun activities for kids? We would love to hear your top ideas in the comments below!

Experts

• Joseph Tito is a parenting expert from The Dad Diaries.
• Claire Diamonstein Weinberg, LCSW-C, is a licensed social worker.
• Dr. Sara Jane Blackman is the Director of Learning & Development at Parents as Teachers National Center.
• Elizabeth Fraley is the founder and CEO of Kinder Ready, an educational service company that focuses on early childhood education.
• Tara Donatiello, LAC, is a licensed associate counselor who specializes in providing psychotherapy to children and adolescents.
• Jamie Watson is a registered play therapist and adjunct professor at the University of Western States.
• Kristen Miller is the director of education for Celebree Schools, a nationwide early childhood education franchise.

The post Fun Activities for Kids: Keeping Children Entertained at Home appeared first on EBL Coaching.

ADHD tutors can teach your child strategies to develop these executive functioning skills and show them how to apply the strategies to their relevant schoolwork. Let’s look at some of these strategies:

How Do ADHD Tutors Teach Time Management Skills?

Students with ADHD tend to struggle with time management. They are often late, wait until the last minute to complete tasks, or have an unrealistic sense of how long an assignment will take to complete. To help develop this skill, an ADHD tutor can teach students to differentiate between the ET, or estimated time (how long they think it will take to complete a task) and compare it to the AT, or actual time it takes to complete the task. When students with ADHD first use this strategy, there is often a big gap between the ET and AT since they often over or underestimate how long they think it will take to complete the task. However, the more they practice this strategy, the more realistic they will become with timing and the more the ET and AT times will start to merge. At our NYC and NJ tutoring centers, students can learn concrete strategies to help them build stronger time management skills.

You can read more time management strategies at Time Management Tips For Kids With ADHD – EBL Coaching.

How Can ADHD Tutoring Improve Organization?

Students with ADHD can be very disorganized. Papers are often spread out on their desk, their backpack is a mess, and their notebooks and binders are often stuffed with papers they don’t need to be carrying with them. Their digital files may be completely disorganized as well. To help with these challenges, ADHD tutors can teach students a 3-tier organization system, as follows:

• Tier 1 is a working notebook, or the binder or notebook they carry to school with them on a regular basis. It should only contain materials they absolutely need to be carrying with them, and they should designate one day per week as their “clean out my working notebook day”. On this day, the student should remove papers and materials they don’t absolutely need to be carrying with them and file them into the appropriate section of their accordion file, or tier 2.
• Tier 2 is an accordion file that should be divided into three sections for every class: homework, notes, and tests/quizzes.
• Finally, if the student completed a project or wrote a paper they want to save for the long run, they should put it in a filing drawer, which is tier 3.

Since many students now use computers in lieu of papers, ADHD tutors can also help students organize their online assignments into appropriate digital files and teach them to use calendars and set reminders for upcoming due dates. At our NJ and NYC tutoring centers, students receive individualized organizational skills support tailored to their individual needs.

Learn more about these types of strategies at How to Build Executive Functioning Skills With Homework – EBL Coaching.

How Does ADHD Tutoring Help with Writing?

Students with ADHD often struggle to organize their ideas and express them effectively when writing. They might have interesting, creative ideas, but need help with the writing process. ADHD tutors can help students start the writing process by teaching them to brainstorm their ideas. This might look like a web diagram with the topic in the middle and the details and supporting details ideas branching out of it. It could also be in list form or could be an outline. The key is learning to brainstorm before writing. Then an ADHD tutor can teach the student to translate their brainstorm diagram into an organized, structured writing piece. Finally, an ADHD tutor should teach the student to self-check their writing before completing it as a last step. One checklist they may use is CTOPS, which stands for:

• Capitalization
• Tense
• Organization
• Punctuation
• Spelling.

At our NJ and NYC tutoring locations, students can receive specialized writing tutoring to learn tools for expressing their thoughts effectively when writing.
Students with ADHD are often very bright and have many strengths. However, they can struggle in school due to weak organization and executive functioning skills. An effective ADHD tutoring program can teach students concrete strategies for developing these skills and can help students achieve confidence and success in school. If your child is struggling with their executive functioning skills, contact us at www.eblcoaching.com to see how we can help your child with one-on-one in person or virtual ADHD tutoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my child needs ADHD tutoring?
If your child is struggling with their executive functioning skills, including task initiation, organization, planning, note taking, or organizational skills, they will likely benefit from ADHD tutoring. Regardless of whether they have an ADHD diagnosis, they can still benefit tremendously from learning executive functioning strategies through ADHD coaching at our NJ or NYC tutoring locations.

Can ADHD tutoring help even if my child is already on medication?
Yes, absolutely. Many students who receive ADHD coaching are on medication. Medication can be helpful for some students, but most still need to learn strategies to improve their executive functioning skills, including organization, planning, time management, and other related skills.

Does ADHD tutoring improve grades?
Yes, we find that many students with ADHD are bright and capable of excelling academically. However, weak executive functioning skills can negatively affect their ability to obtain strong grades. With ADHD tutoring, however, they can learn concrete executive functioning strategies and how to apply them to their relevant schoolwork, which can ultimately help them improve their grades.

Other Related Blogs:
Wondering if Your Child Has ADHD? – EBL Coaching
Expert Tips on Managing Remote School for Your Child with ADHD – EBL Coaching

Additional Resources:
ADHD: Building Academic Success | LD OnLineskillsplanningspellingtime
Parenting a Child with ADHD | CHADD.org

The post Does Your Child Need ADHD Tutoring? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Date published: 7/28/23

Listen to the full podcast here

In this podcast, Dr. Levy discusses nonverbal learning disabilities and strategies that can help students with NVLD thrive in school. 

Individuals with nonverbal learning disabilities typically have many strengths but also exhibit academic challenges. For instance, they may have difficulty with reading comprehension, especially inferencing, and understanding abstract language. They often have trouble breaking down and solving math word problems, and may struggle with executive functioning skills, such as planning, time management, task initiation, and prioritization. Learning strategies for developing these areas of weakness can help students with nonverbal learning disabilities perform well in school.

To build their reading comprehension skills, it is helpful to teach students with nonverbal learning disabilities to be active, rather than passive readers. For instance, instead of asking them to simply read a passage and answer reading comprehension questions, it may be helpful to teach them a highlighting strategy for active reading. To do so, explain to them that when we read, there are three elements to look for: the topic, which is one, two, or three words describing the passage; the main idea, which is what the author is saying about the topic; and the important details, or salient information describing the main idea. They should highlight the topic in blue, the main idea in green, and the important details in yellow. Explain that they should read the passage in full one time, then go back through the passage and highlight the topic, main idea, and important details using the corresponding colors. We teach students this strategy and many others in our special education tutoring programs.

To develop their math word problem solving skills, students with nonverbal learning disabilities may benefit from the COINS strategy, which teaches them to move from language to arithmetic and back to language. To use this strategy, they should read the word problem, then circle the relevant information (C), identify the operations(s) to use (O), write down the relevant information (I), create a number sentence (N), and then write the solution as a full sentence in their own words (S).

For executive functioning, students with nonverbal learning disabilities may benefit from concrete strategies and executive functioning coaching to build their organization, planning, time management, task initiation, and similar skills – along with how to apply these strategies to their relevant schoolwork. Read more about building stronger executive functioning skills at How to Build Executive Functioning Skills With Homework – EBL Coaching.

Students with nonverbal learning disabilities have the potential to do very well in school. With these strategies for building their reading comprehension, math word problem solving, and executive functioning skills, they will be well on their way to academic success. 

Read more at Nonverbal Learning Disorder | Psychology Today.

The post Dr. Emily Levy on the Jennifer Purcell Interview Podcast: Strategies for Students with Nonverbal Learning Disabilities appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Date published: 4/27/23

Listen to the full podcast here

In this podcast, Dr. Levy discusses ways parents can help their child with autism develop stronger academic skills.

Students with autism may have academic strengths, including accurately decoding and spelling words. However, they tend to struggle with other academic skill areas such as “seeing the big picture” when reading and making inferences from information that they read. They may have trouble expressing their thoughts on paper when writing and often have weak organization and executive functioning skills. By teaching your child strategies for developing their areas of weakness, you can help them thrive in school.

Students with autism typically do well with structure and routine. When we provide special education tutoring to students with autism, we usually let the student know at the start of the session what we plan to cover that day, broken down by skill and time increments. For instance, we may create a visual schedule that says we will spend 25 minutes on reading, 25 minutes on writing, and 10 minutes playing a learning game. We typically show the student the visual schedule before the session begins so that they know what to expect. If there will be any changes, including skills we plan to focus on or how much time we will spend on a given lesson, we give them ample notice about these changes rather than immediately switching gears without notice.

To help them manage their school work, we often help students with autism create a structured plan for the order in which they will complete their assignments, including which one they will do first, second, third, etc., and go over that plan with them. We may even discuss how much time they think each assignment will take and write down the ET, or estimated time, next to each assignment, then later compare it to the AT, or actual time it took, to build stronger time management skills. Read more about helping your child with autism build stronger executive functioning skills at Helping Autistic Students Build Stronger Executive Functioning Skills – EBL Coaching.

Students will autism have unique strengths and weaknesses. By continuing to emphasize their strengths while teaching them strategies for building their areas of weaknesses, you will help set your child up for academic success.

Read more at Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive – HelpGuide.org.

The post Dr. Emily Levy on the Autism Wine Hour Podcast: Autism Tutoring Techniques appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Date published: 2/15/23

Listen to the full podcast here

In this podcast, Dr. Levy discusses ways parents can advocate for their special education child to help them thrive in school.

Special education students often have many gifts, but they also have unique and individual needs. Some thrive in math but struggle with reading and writing. Others have strong academic skills but have difficulty with their executive functioning skills, including organization, planning, prioritizing, and time management. Students might have autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or a combination of diagnoses. As a parent, it is important that you consistently advocate for your child, year after year.

Many different services and accommodations are available to special education students based on their needs, as defined by their IEP or 504 plan. Students may qualify for extra time, preferential seating, a scribe, speech therapy, occupational therapy, pull-out special education tutoring, or other related services. You might find that your child is thriving in school one year with a certain set of services and accommodations only to find that the following year – or even partially through the current school year – their performance begins to sink. 

As a parent, you should always be advocating for your child. At the beginning of the school year, schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher and any other service providers. Tell them about your child and what has or hasn’t worked in the past and try to make sure they read your child’s evaluation reports, IEPs, or 504 plans if available. Then stay in touch with them throughout the school year. Schedule periodic calls or meetings; don’t wait until the end of the school year to find out about any struggles or challenges. Be active in constantly evaluating and reevaluating the services and support your child is receiving to make sure they are consistently getting what they need. Learn more about strategies for helping your special education child at Strategies For Your Child with a Learning Disability or ADHD – EBL Coaching.

With the right support, students with special education needs have the potential to thrive academically.

Read more at Navigating the special education process | LD OnLine.

The post Dr. Emily Levy on the My Child Will Thrive Podcast: Tips for Advocating for Your Special Needs Child appeared first on EBL Coaching.

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.

Does your child struggle at school? Do they have difficulty sounding out new words when reading, breaking down math word problems, or expressing their thoughts on paper when writing? It can be difficult to watch your child struggle. Help your child improve their academic skills with the ideas detailed below.

Be your child’s advocate

If you notice your child is struggling, contact their teacher and set up a time to discuss what you are seeing at home. Find out if the teacher is noticing the same challenges (or others) and if so, ask for specifics. Does your child have trouble staying focused? Has the teacher noticed difficulty with reading, writing, and/or math? Try to get as much feedback as possible, and then maintain regular communication with the teacher to discuss any changes or improvements. If your child continues to struggle, you may want to find out what other resources, including extra help or tutoring, the school offers. If these challenges persist, you might want to request a full evaluation to determine if there are any learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning deficits, or other challenges that may require more support.

Build stronger study skills

Help your child build stronger time management, organization, planning, and overall executive functioning skills. To build time management skills, for example, teach your child to estimate how long they think a task will take to complete (and write down the ET, or estimated time) then compare it to the actual amount of time the task took to complete (and write the AT, or actual time). In the beginning, there is often a large discrepancy between the ET and AT, but the more your child practices this strategy, the better their time management skills will become. You can also help your child set up a 3-tier organizational system for filing papers they don’t need to be carrying with them on a regular basis. To do so, select one day per week to be the “clean out my notebook day” and file away any old papers into an accordion file divided into 3 sections for each class: homework, notes, and tests/quizzes. If it’s challenging for you to help your child build these executive functioning skills, you may want to consider hiring an executive functioning coach.

Try using a multisensory approach

Research tells us that using a multisensory approach to help struggling learners is the way to go! For young children who are learning to read and write, try having them practice writing letters in colored sand or sugar. To do so, pour sand or sugar on a cookie tray and have them trace each letter with their finger, while saying the formation aloud, like “around, up, and down” for lowercase a, or “down, up, and around” for lowercase p. For older students, help them build their reading comprehension skills by teaching them to read a passage and then highlight the topic (1, 2, or 3 words describing the passage) in blue, the main idea (what the author is saying about the passage) in green, and the important details in yellow. The more multisensory instruction you can provide, the better!

Hire a tutor

If your child continues to struggle despite your help at home, you may want to consider hiring a tutor. There are various types of tutors who specialize in different areas; for instance if your child struggles with reading, you may want to consider Orton Gillingham tutoring. The Orton Gillingham approach can do wonders in helping your child build stronger decoding and spelling skills. If they struggle with math, you may want to consider a tutor who can use a multisensory approach and lots of manipulatives to build their math skills, or you might also consider a writing tutor or executive functioning coach. The more specialized the tutoring can be, the better!

It can be challenging to watch your child struggle in school. Yet if you advocate for them, help them at home, and possibly consider hiring a tutor, you can help them achieve academic success as they progress through school.

The post How to Help Your Struggling Learner appeared first on EBL Coaching.

The simplest and most effective ways to avoid the mystery of the missing homework.

Some kids are naturally organized. They always write down their homework assignments, bring home the correct books, and turn in all of their work on time. Yet others are, well, forgetful— usually neglecting to bring home the correct books and materials, thinking they can remember their assignments without writing them down, or completing certain assignments but forgetting to turn them in. With the volume of work and academic demands increasing rapidly as students move through school, it’s helpful to teach your child strategies for being more organized and less forgetful. Try some of the ideas detailed below.

Homework Planner System
Many students forget to write down their assignments or write only some of them, and very inconsistently. Encourage your child to try this five-column homework strategy to help him complete his assignments in a timely manner and remember the materials he needs to do so. To use this strategy, have him divide each day in his assignment book into five columns: A (assignments), ET (estimated time), AT (actual time), O (Order) and D (Done). When he is in school, the only portion that he should fill in is the assignments column, which should be the largest space (i.e. English essay on “Romeo and Juliet,” math pgs. 61-62, science worksheet, etc.).

When he arrives home and sits down to start his homework, he should first estimate how long he thinks each assignment will take to complete and write it in the ET (estimated time) column. Then, based on the estimated times, he should mark the order in which he wants to do the assignments in the O (order) column—1, 2, 3, 4, etc. He should keep an eye on the clock and write down the time it actually takes to complete each assignment in the AT column (and track the difference between the ET’s and AT’s), which will help build his time management skills. Once the assignment is completed and put in the correct place to be turned in, he should place a check mark under the D column—thus helping him to be less forgetful and more on top of his work.

Family Calendar
For kids who often forget about their after-school activities, evening obligations, sports games, and the like, a family calendar is often helpful. To create one, purchase a large calendar and designate one color for each family member. Hang it in a central location, like the kitchen or family room, so everyone can see it. Then every time an activity or event comes up, that person should write it on the calendar in the appropriate color. For instance, Lisa’s activities may be written in purple (soccer game, school play practice, dinner with grandma, etc.), Jack’s activities may be written in red, Mom’s obligations in blue, and so on. You may even designate a “family color,” representing events or activities that the entire family will attend.

Set up a routine
For forgetful kids, routines are often very helpful. Encourage your child to make it a habit to select her clothes the night before school and lay them near her bed. She should also always check her assignment book the night before school to make sure all assignments were completed, then double check to ensure that they were put away in the right place to be turned in. Additionally, she should include any other materials, supplies, or snacks that she may need for school the next day. The more organized she can be the night before school starts, the less hectic the morning will be and the less likely she will forget any books or materials.

Rewards
If all else fails and your child continues to forget necessary papers, books, and materials, try implementing a rewards system. If he remembers to turn in all homework on time for five consecutive days, for instance, he can earn a small prize that you mutually decide upon—like a video game, trip to the movies, or new book. Later, try extending it to ten days, then twenty, and so on, until his routine becomes so automatic that rewards are no longer necessary.

As students move through school, the academic and homework demands increase quickly. Help your child become more organized and less forgetful with these tips, and she will be well on her way to flourishing in school.

The post 4 Tips To Help Your Child Become More Organized At School appeared first on EBL Coaching.

While most kids are still knee-deep in summer fun, the new school year is just around the corner. During these months off school, it’s easy to fall out of a regular structured routine, and both reading time and learning activities often fall to the sideline. Help your child transition back into “school‎ mode” and prepare for the new year with the ideas detailed below.

Get organized!

While the school year may seem far away, get a jump-start on organization by shopping for school supplies with your child early (yes, supplies sell out quickly!). Once you’ve purchased the relevant supplies, come up with a workable study space for your child and start organizing. Some kids prefer to work at a desk in their room while others like working at a dining room or kitchen table. Any of those options work well, as long as the space is quiet and free of distractions. Once you have established this space, start organizing! Make sure your child’s pens and pencils are placed in one section of the study space, and tape, scissors, paper, staples, and the like are arranged in their own pre-set spots. After the school year begins, make sure your child’s study area is always fully stocked with the necessary supplies so he never needs to stop mid-assignment to start hunting for additional paper or pens.

Set up a 3-Tier Filing System

As the school year progresses, the number of papers and handouts your child receives will inevitably continue to grow. Encourage your child avoid carrying an overloaded notebook and backpack stuffed with papers by helping her set up a 3-tier organizational system prior to the start of the school year. To do so, start with Tier 1, which is her “working notebook” – the notebook or binder she will carry to school with her on a regular basis. Help her designate one day per week to be her “clean out my working notebook” day, where she removes any papers she doesn’t absolutely need to be carrying with her on a regular basis and files them into Tier 2, which is a multi-section accordion file folder that she leaves at home. She should label the accordion file with 3 sections for every class – one for homework, one for notes, and one for tests/quizzes (i.e. math homework, math notes, math tests/quizzes, English homework, English notes, English tests/quizzes, and so on). Tier 3 is a file drawer or cabinet, where she keeps papers, notebooks, or projects that she wants to keep for the long haul.

Reduce Anxiety

Many kids develop a “summer mindset” during their time off school, when their days are filled with swimming, playing outside, and staying up late. As the school year approaches, kids often develop that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling and lots of anxiety, wishing that summer would never end and school would never start. Help your child combat this anxiety by sharing the positive experiences you had at school when you were a kid. Discuss cool projects you made (who can forget that multi-colored shoe box solar system?), fun field trips (Apple picking! Statue of Liberty!), and special school events and plays. You might want to show your child some pictures of your school days and share a few good laughs. The more positive you can be about school, the better.

Read Together

Keep up the reading this summer and into the school year by spending at least 20 minutes per night either reading to your child, having him read to you, or doing a combination of both. Some kids like to alternate reading aloud, where he reads one page, you read the next, and so on. Just keep up the reading! Research tells us that reading regularly to your child stimulates brain development and helps foster the parent-child bond. Don’t limit yourself to 20 minutes either; if you’re on a roll and your child is captivated by a story, keep reading!

Try a 5-Minute Meditation

If your child continues to feel anxious despite your childhood stories and positive school-talk‎, try a basic 5 minute meditation to help her relax – both before school begins and whenever she feels anxious during the school year. To do so, have her lay in a comfortable spot and start to take deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling through her nose. Then tell her to imagine that her stomach is like a balloon. Each time she inhales, the balloon fills up with air, and when she exhales, it shrinks. Encourage her to try to feel her body relax with these slow deep breaths as she inhales and exhales and the balloon inflates and then shrinks with each breath. Try this meditation for just 5 minutes and you’ll see a real difference in your child’s anxiety levels.

With the new school year approaching, feelings of fear and anxiety start to emerge for many kids. Help your child avoid the end-of-summer blues with these ideas and he will be well prepared for the new school year.‎

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