How can you help your child with dyslexia prepare for the new school year?

1. Establish a Back-to-School Routine for Your Child with Dyslexia

In addition to reading challenges, some students with dyslexia may also have difficulty with executive functioning skills, including planning, organization, and time management. Helping them set predictable routines can reduce the number of tasks your child needs to remember and can make busy school days feel more manageable for them.

Before school starts, establish consistent routines for waking up, getting ready for school, completing homework, and going to bed. Encourage your child to prepare as much as possible the night before by packing their backpack, choosing their clothes, and organizing any materials they will need for the following day.

You may want to even create visual checklists for recurring tasks, both for the morning and after-school hours. Over time, these strategies can help your child become more independent and organized.

2. Create a Homework Space That Supports Your Child with Dyslexia

To build organizational skills and prepare your child for the new school year, help them set up a designated place where they will consistently complete their homework and study. Ideally, the area should be quiet, organized, and free from distractions.

Make sure you stock this space with supplies they will need for completing their schoolwork, including pens, pencils, highlighters, paper, and folders. Having everything readily available can minimize interruptions and make it easier for your child to get started and finish their work.

If your child has difficulty staying focused for long periods, try breaking homework into shorter work sessions with brief breaks in between. Additionally, a long assignment can also be overwhelming to them, so try dividing it into smaller, clearly defined steps.

3. Help Your Child with Dyslexia Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

Children with dyslexia may feel anxious about challenges they may face during the new school year, such as reading aloud, completing writing assignments, keeping pace with their classmates, or adjusting to a new teacher’s expectations.

Talk to your child about these concerns. Instead of just reassuring them that everything will be okay, help them identify specific situations they are worried about and develop strategies for handling them. For instance, if homework was particularly difficult last year, discuss strategies that can help make the process more manageable this year.

Giving your child a voice in these conversations can help them feel more prepared and less anxious about starting the new school year.

Learn more about dyslexia tutoring and the different approaches that may support reading and writing development at Best Tutoring for Dyslexia: Orton Gillingham, Reading, and Writing Support for Children – EBL Coaching.

4. Talk to Your Child’s Teacher About Dyslexia Before School Starts

For students with dyslexia, communication with teachers is important. Don’t wait until your child starts to struggle to establish communication with their teacher.

At the beginning of the year, introduce yourself and share relevant information with them about your child’s dyslexia, learning style, strengths, and areas of difficulty. If your child has an IEP, make sure their teachers and service providers receive the document and are familiar with the accommodations and services your child needs.

You may also want to establish a system for ongoing communication so you can learn about and address any concerns early, before they become larger challenges.

5. Make Sure Your Child’s Dyslexia Accommodations Are in Place

Accommodations can help students with dyslexia demonstrate what they know without being limited by challenges with reading, spelling, or writing.

While it can vary based on a child’s individual needs and educational plan, accommodations might include extended time, access to audiobooks or text-to-speech technology, reduced copying demands, or preferential seating.

Accommodations should always be individualized to the needs and profile of each student. The idea is to provide appropriate access to instruction and allow your child to demonstrate their knowledge.

6. Watch for Early Signs of Academic Difficulty

The beginning of school can provide important information about whether your child’s current supports are sufficient.

Take notice if your child:

• Takes an unusually long time to complete reading or writing assignments
• Often avoids reading
• Has significant challenges with spelling
• Struggles to sound out words
• Reads slowly or inaccurately
• Has trouble remembering information they read
• Becomes increasingly frustrated when completing schoolwork
• Makes comments like, “I’m bad at reading,” or “I’m not smart”
• Shows a decline in confidence

One challenging homework assignment or poor grade doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem. However, a consistent pattern of difficulty shouldn’t be ignored.

Learn what to look for when choosing a reading specialist in NYC at What to Look for in a Reading Specialist in NYC- EBL Coaching.

7. Provide Structured Reading Support

Children with dyslexia typically benefit from reading instruction that is explicit, structured, multi-sensory, and cumulative.

Structured literacy approaches, including Orton-Gillingham instruction, can provide explicit, systematic instruction in foundational reading and spelling skills. It incorporates multi-sensory tools while explicitly teaching sound/letter relationships, decoding, spelling, syllable types, and other foundational literacy skills.

For a child with dyslexia, don’t assume that additional reading practice alone will resolve their challenges; it’s important to determine the specific areas of difficulty and provide instruction targeted to those needs.

At EBL Coaching, we provide individualized, one-on-one tutoring to students with dyslexia and other learning challenges. The specialized tutoring sessions integrate structured, research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham approach, that target each student’s specific reading and spelling needs.

Students can receive support at our learning centers in New York City and New Jersey, at your home, or virtually.

8. Focus on Your Child’s Strengths

When a child struggles with reading and other academic skills, those difficulties can easily become the focus of conversations about school.

Try to make a conscious effort to recognize and emphasize your child’s strengths. A student who has difficulty decoding words may be an excellent problem solver, athlete, artist, musician, or creative thinker.

Remember to praise their effort, persistence, and improvement, rather than focusing exclusively on grades.

Your child should understand that dyslexia describes a particular pattern of learning challenges, but it doesn’t define their intelligence or their potential.

9. Don’t Wait Too Long to Seek Additional Help

Some parents may think that a challenging start to the school year will resolve once their child becomes adjusted to a new teacher and routine. While that may sometimes be the case, persistent reading difficulties shouldn’t be ignored.

If your child continues to struggle with decoding, reading fluency, spelling, comprehension, or writing, you may want to speak to their teacher and seek additional individualized support.

Early intervention can prevent academic gaps from becoming even greater and can help protect your child’s confidence.

Helping Your Child Start the School Year with Confidence

A new school year can be an exciting time, offering children with dyslexia an opportunity for a fresh start. By establishing predictable routines, communicating with your child’s teachers, ensuring appropriate accommodations are in place, and providing targeted reading intervention, you can help make your child’s transition to school much smoother.

Remember not to measure your child’s success solely by how quickly they read or the grades they receive. Help them recognize their progress (and be proud of it!) and understand that they can become successful students even when certain academic skills require additional effort and support.

If your child with dyslexia is struggling with reading, spelling, writing, or executive functioning, EBL Coaching can help! We offer individualized tutoring for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning challenges in NYC and New Jersey. We create customized tutoring plans based on each student’s specific learning needs and use structured, research-based, multi-sensory approaches to help students strengthen their academic skills and self-confidence.

Learn more about Orton Gillingham tutoring for students in Manhattan at  Orton Gillingham Tutoring in Manhattan for Dyslexia & Reading Success.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dyslexia Intervention 

How can I prepare my child with dyslexia for a new school year?
To help prepare your child with dyslexia for the new school year, start by establishing school-year routines before classes start, like creating visual checklists and moving bedtime and wake up times earlier. You can also help your child set up a homework space and communicate with their teachers and other service providers early.

Should I tell my child’s new teacher that they have dyslexia?
Yes! Teachers should know about your child’s diagnosis along with their learning needs and any accommodations or services included in their IEP or 504 Plan. You may want to also share information about strategies that have worked well for them in the past (and even those that haven’t worked) to help their teacher support your child from the start of the year.

Which accommodations can help students with dyslexia at school?
Accommodations vary based on the needs of each student, but some accommodations that many students with dyslexia benefit from include extended time, audiobooks, text-to-speech technology, reduced copying requirements, and additional time for writing assignments. Accommodations should be based on your child’s individual needs.

What are signs that my child with dyslexia needs additional reading support?
If your child has difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, reads slowly, has persistent spelling challenges, avoids reading, or takes an excessive amount of time to complete homework, additional support may be helpful for them.

Is the Orton Gillingham approach helpful for children with dyslexia?
Yes! The Orton Gillingham approach uses explicit, structured, sequential, and multi-sensory instruction to teach students foundational reading and spelling skills. These principles align with the type of structured literacy instruction that students with dyslexia often need.

How often should a child with dyslexia receive tutoring?
There is no set schedule that is appropriate for every student. The frequency of tutoring should vary based on your child’s individual needs, including their reading level, severity of difficulties, and school-based services they may be receiving. Consistent instruction is important when a student is receiving Orton Gillingham tutoring or reading remediation to develop academic skills effectively and help close significant skill gaps.

Can tutoring help a child with dyslexia become more confident?
Yes! Individualized dyslexia tutoring can help students build skills that previously caused frustration. As children begin to develop their reading skills and experience success, they often become more confident and willing to take on challenging academic tasks.

Where does EBL Coaching provide dyslexia tutoring?
EBL Coaching provides individualized tutoring for students with dyslexia and other learning challenges in New York City and New Jersey. Sessions can be provided at their learning centers, at the home, or virtually.  Tutoring sessions use research-based, multi-sensory techniques that are individualized to each student’s specific needs.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with dyslexia improve their academic skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Back-to-School Tips for Children With Dyslexia: A Parent’s Guide appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Students with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, planning, and task initiation. After the less-structured days of summer, adjusting to early mornings, full school days, homework, and new routines can feel especially overwhelming for them. However, there are practical steps you can take to ease the back-to-school transition for your child with ADHD. By putting the right routines and supports in place, you can help your child start the school year feeling more confident, organized, and prepared for success.

Why Is Back-to-School Challenging for Students With ADHD?

ADHD affects more than a child’s ability to focus. It can also impact the executive functioning skills they need to effectively manage their daily responsibilities and stay on top of their schoolwork.

A student with ADHD may be bright and understand the material being taught in class, yet still struggle to keep track of assignments, remember to bring home necessary materials, manage their time, or get started on their work.

These challenges can become especially noticeable at the beginning of the school year, when students are adjusting to new schedules, routines, teachers, and academic expectations.

Back-to-school challenges that students with ADHD often face include:

• Forgetting their assignments and important materials
• Losing papers or school supplies
• Struggling to get ready in the morning
• Procrastinating getting started on homework
• Becoming easily distracted when working on assignments
• Struggling to transition from one activity to the next
• Estimating how much time assignments will take to complete
• Forgetting upcoming quizzes, projects, or deadlines
• Feeling overwhelmed by a multitude of assignments
• Struggling to adjust to new classroom expectations

Learn more about how to find the right executive functioning coach in NYC for your child at Best Executive Functioning Coach in NYC: How to Choose – EBL Coaching.

11 Back-to-School Strategies for Students with ADHD

Instead of waiting for missing assignments and poor grades to pile up, use the start of the school year as an opportunity to put strategies in place that strengthen these skills and help your child stay on track. Try the ideas detailed below:

1. Reestablish a Daily Routine

Students with ADHD often benefit from predictable routines and consistent schedules. Knowing what to expect throughout the day can reduce the number of decisions they need to make and make it easier for them to manage transitions and responsibilities.

Before school begins, gradually start shifting your child back to a school-year schedule. Move bedtime and wake-up times earlier and begin establishing consistent times for meals, homework, and extracurricular activities.

Once the school year is underway, try to keep the general structure of each weekday as consistent as possible. A predictable routine can help your child stay organized, manage their time, and feel more prepared for each part of the day.

An after-school routine for your child might look like:

• Come home from school
• Have a snack
• Take a short break
• Complete homework
• Organize materials for next day
• Eat dinner
• Enjoy relaxation time
• Get ready for bed

The specific routine you create should be tailored to your child’s individual needs. Some children may benefit from physical activity or downtime right after school, while others may do best starting their homework while they are still in “school mode” before they become tired or distracted.

The idea is not to create an overly rigid schedule, but to establish enough consistency that important tasks and responsibilities gradually become part of your child’s daily routine.

2. Create a Morning Checklist

Mornings can be particularly challenging for students with ADHD. Your child may become distracted while getting dressed, forget to pack an important item in their backpack, or suddenly remember something they were supposed to complete the night before.

A visual morning checklist can help your child stay on track and complete each step of their routine more independently, while reducing the number of reminders you need to give them.

While it may vary based on your child’s age, a visual checklist might look like:

• Wake up
• Get dressed
• Eat breakfast
• Brush teeth
• Pack lunch
• Check backpack
• Pack sports or activity equipment
• Put on shoes
• Leave for school

You may want to hang up the checklist up in a visible place where your child will see it every morning.

As your child gets older, try to encourage them to take more responsibility with completing the items on their checklist independently, without you reminding them to do so.

Read our parent guide to executive functioning skills in children at What Are Executive Functioning Skills? A Simple Guide for Parents – EBL Coaching.

3. Create One Place for School Materials

Many students with ADHD struggle with organization and time management. They might spend fifteen minutes completing their homework and another thirty minutes looking for it the next morning.

To help with these struggles, create a designated “organization station” near the door.

Select one location where your child puts everything they need for the following day, including their backpack, completed homework, lunch, sports equipment, and other materials.

Encourage your child to place their belongings in this area the night before rather than in the morning, to avoid morning chaos.

By minimizing the number of details that your child needs to remember in the morning, you can make leaving for school much smoother.

4. Set Up an Organization System

Some parents start the school year by helping their child create a detailed organizational system, only to find that it is abandoned within the first few weeks.
For students with ADHD, simpler systems are often easier to maintain and more effective over time.

Try using:

• One folder for papers that need to come home from school
• One folder for assignments your child has completed
• Color-coded folders for each subject
• A backpack organization system, with a designated clean-out day
• One planner for all assignments and activities

Try to avoid creating a complex organizational system with too many steps. If maintaining the system requires too much effort, your child will be less likely to use it consistently.

You can also designate one day each week, such as Tuesday or Friday, for your child to clean out their backpack and folders. This weekly routine can help prevent papers and clutter from piling up and make their organizational system easier to maintain.

5. Encourage Your Child to Use a Planner

Writing down assignments in a planner may sound simple, but it actually involves multiple executive functioning skills.

A student must record their assignments accurately, remember to look at their planner, bring home the materials needed for completing their homework, finish their assignments, and remember to turn them in.

Students with ADHD often struggle with their executive functioning skills and may need explicit instruction and repeated practice with this process.

When using a planner, encourage your child to record:

• Homework assignments
• Tests and quizzes
• Project deadlines
• After-school activities
• Appointments
• Holidays
• Important school events

For long-term projects and assignments, your child shouldn’t just write down the final due date. Instead, they should work backward to create smaller deadlines for individual steps.

For example, if they have a social studies project to complete, they might write the following steps in their planner:

• October 12: Choose research topic
• October 14: Find relevant sources
• October 17: Finish outline
• October 20: Create first draft
• October 22: Edit draft
• October 24: Turn in project

By breaking down large assignments into smaller steps, the assignment will feel much more manageable for your child.

Read more about ADHD homework strategies for better focus and organization at Homework Help for ADHD: Strategies That Actually Work – EBL Coaching.

6. Create an ADHD-Friendly Homework Environment

Students with ADHD are often easily distracted by their surroundings. A phone notification, television playing in another room, nearby conversation, or even clutter in their workspace can pull their attention away from schoolwork.

To help your child stay focused, create a designated homework area with as few distractions as possible. Keep commonly used supplies, such as pens, pencils, paper, highlighters, and a calculator, fully stocked and within easy reach. This can prevent your child from repeatedly leaving their workspace to search for something they need.

Keep phones and other distracting devices out of reach unless they are necessary for a particular assignment.

The ideal homework environment will vary from child to child. Some students work best in complete silence, while others concentrate better with quiet background noise. You may need to experiment with different setups to determine which environment helps your child stay focused and productive.

7. Break Homework into Manageable Pieces

Students with ADHD can easily feel overwhelmed by large amounts of homework. Avoid telling them to just “do your homework,” since they may not even know where to begin and might avoid starting their work all together.

Instead, help your child break larger assignments and homework tasks into smaller, manageable steps. For example, rather than saying, “do your book report,” break the assignment down into specific actions, like review the assignment, choose a book, read the directions, create an outline, and begin working on the first section.

Breaking assignments into smaller steps can reduce the demands on your child’s working memory and make tasks feel less overwhelming and easier to start.

It can also be helpful to divide homework time into shorter work periods followed by brief breaks. For example, your child might work for 20 minutes, take a five-minute break, and then begin the next task. This approach can make longer homework sessions feel more manageable and help your child maintain their focus.

8. Focus on Task Initiation

Many students with ADHD spend more time avoiding or putting off assignments than actually completing them. This tendency is often related to difficulties with task initiation, an executive functioning skill that involves being able to begin a task efficiently without excessive procrastination.

One way to make getting started easier is to keep the first step as small and manageable as possible. For example, instead of saying, “Start your math homework,” try saying, “Open the assignment and review the instructions.”

Once your child takes that first step, it may be easier for them to build momentum and continue working.

Timers can also be helpful for overcoming the initial resistance to starting a task. Try challenging your child to work for just seven minutes. Knowing they only need to focus for a short period can make an overwhelming assignment feel more manageable, and once they get started, they may find it easier to keep going.

9. Build in Movement

For many students with ADHD, movement helps them improve their focus.

Rather than asking your child to sit at their desk for several hours straight, build in short movement breaks between homework assignments.

During these breaks, your child might:

• Go for a short walk
• Stretch
• Jump in place
• Take the dog out
• Have a quick snack
• Kick a ball for a few minutes

Try to keep these breaks brief and structured. The goal is to give your child a chance to reset and refocus without becoming absorbed in another activity that makes it difficult to return to their work.

10. Communicate With Your Child’s Teachers Early

For students with ADHD, regular communication between home and school can make a significant difference. If you notice that your child is struggling, don’t wait until the first parent-teacher conference to reach out to their teacher.

At the beginning of the school year, connect with your child’s teacher and share any relevant information, including strategies or supports that have helped your child succeed in the past.

As the year progresses, look out for patterns that may indicate a specific area of difficulty. Is your child completing homework but forgetting to turn it in? Is writing taking them much longer than expected? Do long-term projects make them feel overwhelmed? Are assignments frequently missing or incomplete?

Identifying these specific patterns can help you and your child’s teacher better understand where they are struggling and determine which strategies and supports may be most helpful.

11. Encourage Independence Gradually

You may feel that you are helping your child by reminding them about every assignment or stepping in to prevent a poor grade. However, doing too much can result in you managing their schoolwork rather than helping them learn to manage it independently.

While guidance and support are important, the ultimate goal is to help your child develop strategies and systems they can gradually take ownership of and eventually manage on their own.

Instead of telling your child what to do from the start, ask them questions like:

• “Do you have a plan for getting your assignments done?”
• “Which materials do you need to bring home from school today?”
• “When should you start studying if your quiz is on Thursday?”
• “What’s the first step you need to do for your science project?”

These types of questions will help your child learn how to plan and problem-solve rather than rely on your reminders.

When Does a Student with ADHD Need Extra Support?

Some students gradually adjust to the school year after a few weeks of consistent routines and structure. Others, however, may continue to struggle despite receiving support at home.

You may want to consider additional academic tutoring or executive functioning coaching if your child consistently:

• Loses or forgets their homework
• Has trouble starting tasks
• Takes significantly longer than expected to complete schoolwork
• Struggles to organize their materials
• Waits until the last minute to start studying or working on projects
• Has difficulty managing multiple classes and assignments
• Becomes easily overwhelmed by schoolwork
• Understands core concepts but receives grades that don’t reflect their abilities
• Depends on you to manage their schoolwork and academic tasks

If these challenges continue despite consistent routines and support at home, your child may benefit from ADHD tutoring or executive functioning coaching. Individualized support can help students learn specific strategies for organization, time management, planning, task initiation, study skills, and completing assignments more independently.

ADHD Tutoring and Executive Functioning Coaching in NYC and New Jersey

EBL Coaching provides individualized ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students in New York City and New Jersey. Our one-on-one programs help students strengthen the academic and executive functioning skills that can make school challenging for children with ADHD.

Our instruction is highly individualized to each student’s specific needs and can target skills such as:

• Organization
• Planning
• Time management
• Prioritizing
• Task initiation
• Task completion
• Note taking
• Test preparation
• Academic skills development

We help students with more than just completing their homework. We teach them concrete, research-based strategies for managing their assignments, preparing for tests, organizing their materials, planning long-term projects, and becoming more confident learners.

Some students with ADHD also struggle with specific academic skills in reading, writing, or mathematics. EBL Coaching provides individualized academic tutoring based on each student’s specific strengths and needs. We begin by evaluating the student to identify areas that need support and then develop an individualized instructional plan.

If your child is struggling with organization, time management, homework, study skills, or other ADHD-related academic challenges, EBL Coaching can help! Families seeking ADHD tutoring or executive functioning coaching in NYC or New Jersey can contact EBL Coaching to discuss their child’s needs and learn more about our individualized one-on-one programs.

Learn what to look for when choosing an ADHD tutor in NYC at Best ADHD Tutors in NYC for Executive Functioning & Academic Support.

Helping Your Child Start the School Year with Confidence

Students with ADHD do not need to be perfectly organized to have a successful school year. The goal is to establish practical routines, teach effective strategies, and gradually help your child take greater ownership of their academic responsibilities.

With consistent routines, individualized support, and direct instruction in executive functioning skills, students with ADHD can develop the tools they need to manage their schoolwork more independently and approach the new school year with greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions About ADHD and Back-to-School Strategies

Why is the beginning of the school year difficult for children with ADHD?
The transition from summer to school presents many changes in structure, schedules, and responsibilities. Students with ADHD may have difficulty adapting to these changes, since those with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning skills including organization, working memory, planning, time management, and task initiation.

How can I help my child with ADHD get organized for school?
To help your child with ADHD become more organized, start with a simple organizational system. Set up designated locations for homework and school materials, encourage them to use a consistent planner, help them create morning and evening checklists, and schedule a weekly backpack and folder cleanout. Try to avoid complicated systems with multiple steps.

How can I make mornings easier for my child with ADHD?
To make mornings easier for your child, prepare as much as you can the night before. Have your child pack their backpack, organize their homework, choose the clothing they plan to wear the next day, and place necessary items in a specified location. A visual morning checklist can also reduce the need for repeated reminders.

Why does my child with ADHD take so long to do homework?
ADHD can affect sustained focus, working memory, task initiation, and the ability to process multi-step directions. Students may become easily distracted and overwhelmed by a large volume of assignments. Help your child break their homework assignments into smaller tasks and use structured work periods to help them complete their homework efficiently.

Should students with ADHD use a planner?
Yes, but just giving your child a planner is probably not enough. Students with ADHD often need direct instruction and practice on how to record assignments, when to check their planner, and how to prioritize tasks, estimate time, and plan ahead for exams and projects.

What executive functioning skills are important for students with ADHD?
Executive functioning skills include organization, planning, prioritization, time management, working memory, task initiation, and self-monitoring. These skills become increasingly important as students progress through school, so the sooner your child can develop these skills, the better.

When should I consider executive functioning coaching for my child?
If your child consistently struggles with organization and time management and these challenges begin to interfere with their academic performance, it may be helpful to consider additional support. Signs that your child may need extra help include frequently missing assignments, procrastinating on schoolwork, taking significantly longer than expected to complete homework, struggling to prepare for tests, or having difficulty keeping their materials organized.

Can ADHD affect reading and writing?
Yes. ADHD can make reading and writing more challenging, particularly when tasks require sustained attention, working memory, organization, planning, and self-monitoring. While ADHD itself is not a reading or writing disability, some students with ADHD also have dyslexia or another learning disability. These students may benefit from targeted academic instruction in addition to executive functioning support.

Where can I find ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching in NYC?
EBL Coaching provides one-on-one ADHD tutoring and executive functioning coaching to students in New York City and surrounding areas, as well as in New Jersey. Instruction can target organization, planning, time management, task initiation, study skills, test preparation, and academic skills, based on each student’s individual needs.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, has helped thousands of students with ADHD improve their academic and executive functioning skills over the past twenty years. She is the author of the Strategies do Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math student workbook series. She speaks nationally at educational conferences and frequently appears on podcasts as an educational expert. She has also been featured in publications including Newsweek, Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, Epoch Times, and Macaroni Kids.

The post Back-to-School With ADHD: 11 Strategies for a Successful School Year appeared first on EBL Coaching.

What does “executive functioning” mean? Why is it so important for school success?

Executive functioning is more than just a single skill. It’s a set of skills that involves planning, organizing, focusing, and managing tasks effectively.
This article will explain executive functioning to you in simple terms and will help you understand when specialized coaching may help your child.

What is executive functioning in children?

Executive functioning is essentially the brain’s management system. It includes skills such as:

• Task initiation
• Staying organized
• Planning assignments
• Managing time
• Following multi-step directions
• Remembering multi-step instructions
• Finishing assignments

When executive functioning works well, students can typically stay on top of their assignments and overall workload, and school usually feels manageable. When students have weak executive functioning skills, however, school can feel overwhelming.

Explore ADHD study skills and executive functioning strategies for kids to help your child stay organized and focused at Executive Functioning Coaching | Build Organization, Time Management & Study Skills | EBL Coaching.

Main executive functioning skills

What are the primary executive functioning skills?

Time management skills

Time management is a key skill for success in school and in life. It involves having a strong grasp of how long tasks take and being able to plan accordingly.

Time management challenges may look like:

• Always rushing
• Constantly running late
• Underestimating homework time
• Turning in assignments late
• Struggling to start assignments at an appropriate time

Organizational skills

Organization can affect all aspects of school. It involves keeping track of materials and assignments.

Organizational challenges may look like:

• Losing homework assignments
• Having a messy backpack or locker
• Forgetting due dates
• Leaving assignments at home

Working memory

Working memory is an integral part of many different skills at school, including reading comprehension, writing, and math. It involves holding information in one’s mind long enough to use and apply it.

Working memory challenges might include:

• Forgetting instructions, especially when there are multiple steps
• Needing repeated reminders
• Losing track mid-task
• Struggling to complete math word problems
• Challenges with remembering information from a passage and then answering questions about it

Task initiation

Most aspects of school and life involve initiating tasks efficiently. Students who struggle with task initiation typically have trouble getting started without delays.

• Task initiation challenges might look like:
• Procrastinating homework
• Avoiding starting projects
• Staring at a page but not starting a writing assignment
• Needing constant prompting and reminders

Self-monitoring

Self-monitoring is a key component of executive functioning. It involves skills such as checking work and noticing errors (and then correcting them).

Self-monitoring challenges might include:

• Making careless mistakes
• Not checking for mistakes after completing an assignment
• Incomplete assignments
• Not reviewing work before turning it in

Emotional regulation

Emotional regulation involves effectively managing frustration and stress. Emotional regulation challenges might include:

• Homework meltdowns
• Avoiding challenging tasks and assignments
• Becoming easily frustrated

Why executive functioning is important 

When parents don’t know what executive functioning is, they might assume that these challenges are related to:

• Laziness
• Poor effort
• Lack of motivation
• Not trying hard

However, executive functioning helps translate effort into results in a structured, efficient manner.

Learn more about executive functioning coaching for kids and how it builds organization, time management, and study skills at Summer Study Skills for Kids With ADHD | EBL Coaching.

Students with executive functioning challenges are often:

• Intelligent
• Articulate
• Creative
• Highly capable

Yet despite these strengths, they can still struggle in school if their executive functioning skills are weak.

Common signs of executive functioning challenges

Many students struggle with their executive functioning skills, and these challenges often become more pronounced as students move through upper elementary school into middle school and beyond. When students struggle with executive functioning, you might notice your child:

• Takes much longer than expected to complete homework
• Needs constant reminders to start tasks
• Loses their belongings
• Turns in incomplete assignments
• Has trouble finishing tasks
• Is disorganized
• Has emotional reactions related to schoolwork

These executive functioning challenges are particularly common in students with ADHD and learning differences.

Can executive functioning be improved?

Yes! Executive functioning skills can absolutely be improved with the right tools and strategies.

Students can build stronger executive functioning skills when they receive:

• Organized lists
• Structured routines
• Step-by-step instructions
• Organizational systems
• Time management strategies
• Tools for planning and prioritizing

Students must be taught directly with concrete tools and strategies to develop their executive functioning skills effectively.

How executive functioning coaching helps

Executive functioning coaching teaches students how to manage their schedule and assignments – not just homework help or general academic skills building.

Executive functioning coaching might include:

• Breaking down large tasks into smaller steps
• Setting up organizational systems
• Teaching time management strategies
• Improving task initiation
• Reducing anxiety related to schoolwork

How EBL Coaching helps students with executive functioning coaching in NYC and New Jersey

At EBL Coaching, we specialize in helping students in New York City and New Jersey who struggle with executive functioning challenges, ADHD, learning disabilities, and academic skills.

Unlike traditional tutoring that focuses only on subject content, we teach students research-based, multi-sensory strategies to develop stronger executive functioning and academic skills.

We help students develop:

• Effective organization systems
• Step-by-step tools for completing assignments
• Strong time management and study habits
• Tools for starting and finishing schoolwork
• Strategies for prioritization
• Tools for building working memory

Discover effective ADHD and executive functioning strategies for kids to improve focus, organization, and follow-through at Summer Strategies for ADHD: Build Executive Function Skills | EBL Coaching.

Many families seek tutoring from EBL Coaching when they notice that their child:

• Is bright but underperforming in school
• Is easily overwhelmed by multi-step assignments
• Needs constant reminders to start and complete their work
• Struggles to stay organized across subjects
• Becomes easily frustrated with schoolwork
• Has poor self-esteem

Our coaching teaches students strategies for building their executive functioning skills and learning how to apply those strategies to their relevant schoolwork.

When to consider support

Many parents may be unsure as to when their child needs support. It might be time to seek executive functioning coaching if your child:

• Struggles to complete their homework independently
• Regularly loses assignments
• Has trouble managing their time
• Struggles to prioritize tasks
• Becomes easily overwhelmed by multi-step tasks
• Is struggling in school and performing below their potential

Seeking executive functioning support early can significantly improve your child’s academic performance and self-confidence.

Closing thoughts

Executive functioning skills are key components of academic success.

When these skills are weak, students can struggle immensely in school, and they likely need systematic instruction on how to learn, organize, and manage their homework effectively.

With the right coaching, students can move from feeling overwhelmed and disorganized to feeling confident and self-sufficient.

FAQs about Executive Functioning Coaching 

What is executive functioning in basic terms?
Executive functioning involves the brain’s ability to manage tasks such as planning, organizing, time management, and initiating tasks.

Why does my child struggle with executive functioning? 
Executive functioning weaknesses are often associated with ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, or underdeveloped skills. These challenges are not caused by laziness or a lack of effort.

Can executive functioning skills be improved?
Yes! Executive functioning skills can absolutely be improved. These skills can be strengthened through structured tutoring, concrete strategies, and repeated practice.

How do I know if my child has executive functioning issues?
Common signs of executive functioning challenges include disorganization, forgetting schoolwork, trouble starting tasks, weak time management, and emotional breakdowns related to schoolwork.

Does EBL Coaching offer executive functioning coaching in NYC and New Jersey?
Yes! EBL Coaching provides executive functioning coaching to students throughout New York City and New Jersey. We help students build their executive functioning and academic skills through structured, research-based support.

Dr. Emily Levy, the founder and director of EBL Coaching, holds her Doctorate Degree in Education and her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She has helped thousands of students with executive functioning challenges for over twenty years. She is also the author of the Strategies for Study Success student workbook series, the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook program, and the Flags and Stars Multi-Sensory Math program, used by students and schools nationwide.

The post What Are Executive Functioning Skills? A Simple Guide for Parents appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Spring is a great time for fresh beginnings. Flowers are blooming and the chilly weather will soon be behind us. As the school year progressed, many students developed habits that may not be serving them well. Spring is a wonderful time to reset these habits and help your child boost their academic performance. Try some of these strategies with your child to improve their study skills, organization, reading, and writing skills this spring.

Study skills strategies

Your child may have started the year off with well-organized materials and intact study skills strategies. Yet as the school year progressed, these habits may have faded. They may now be completing their homework at random and inconsistent times, studying at different spots in your home, turning in assignments late, or losing their belongings. Help your child kick-start spring with these refreshed study habits:

Set a consistent homework time

Your child may come home and decide to have a snack, which then leads to TV time, a few video games, and another snack – and they don’t start their homework until well into the evening. Other days they might do their work right when they get home from school or just before dinner. For many students, this inconsistency can create chaos and can negatively affect their grades. Spring is a great time to help your child recreate a consistent homework time. Talk to them about the time they feel is best for completing their homework. Some students prefer doing their homework right after school, when they are still in “school mode.” Others prefer a snack or physical activity break before completing their work, and some prefer doing schoolwork in the early evening. Any of these options can work; the key is picking a consistent time and sticking with it. If there are days when your child has an after-school activity, come up with a plan for the time they will complete their homework on those specific days. Having a consistent homework time can help your child increase their focus, improve their productivity, and reduce parent-child homework battles that might otherwise ensue.

Set up a dedicated study space

As the school year has progressed, your child may have moved their homework spot all around your home, completing their work in different places just about every night. Take advantage of spring to help your child recreate a consistent study space. This space should ideally be a desk in their bedroom, but a spot on your kitchen or table or another room can work too. The key is having them complete their homework at this same spot on a regular basis. Also make sure they have all of the supplies they need for completing their school work at this spot – pens, pencils, scissors, highlighters, etc. If the supplies run low, fill them up to make sure your child doesn’t wander around during homework time looking for supplies they need, losing focus on their work. If your child works at a spot in another room, help them create a portable supplies bucket containing all of the supplies they need to complete their homework that they should carry with them to and from their room during homework time.

Create a reading routine

With phones, televisions, video games, apps, and so many options for entertainment, reading often falls by the wayside. Yet reading regularly is critical for success in school, as reading affects essentially all academic subjects. This spring, help your child get back into reading by creating a daily 20-minute reading routine. For young children, this ritual might take place right before bed, where you read to your child and discuss the events in the book. As children get older, you can alternate reading – you read a page, then they read a page, and discuss the book as you read to help your child develop active reading and comprehension skills. Talk about the characters, setting, and plot, and ask them prediction and inference questions. Later, when children are independent readers, have them read on their own for 20 minutes and then ask them to tell you about the book. You can even have them write a chapter summary at the end of each chapter in a notebook and create character maps describing each character in the book. The more children read, the more their fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills will improve.

Daily writing work

Spring is a great time to encourage your child to practice daily writing – something they should ideally continue into the summer months to further develop this skill. Have them start a journal and write a daily journal entry about something that happened to them that day. If daily is too frequent, even 2-3 times per week would work. You can also have them peruse newspapers or online news sources and have find articles that interest them – then write a summary about the article, or write a written response on whether they agree or disagree with it and why. Alternatively, you can have them pick any topic that interests them – rainbows, tornados, dogs – anything works, and each week write one paragraph per day (or as many days as possible) about that topic. Later, you can encourage them to self-check their writing using a checklist like COPS, which stands for Capitalization, Organization, Punctuation, and Spelling. The more they practice writing, the better.

Spring is a great time for renewal, and there’s still time in the school year for your child to improve their academic skills. Try these strategies with your child to help them end the school year on a confident and positive note.

EBL Coaching specializes in one-on-one in person and virtual tutoring for students in grades pre-K-12 with specialized learning needs. They use research-based, multi-sensory techniques, including the Orton Gillingham method, to develop students’ reading, writing, math, note taking, test taking, and executive functioning skills. Each student is evaluated and then receives an individualized learning plan to address their specific academic needs. Learn more at http://www.eblcoaching.com/.

Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, is happy to hear from anyone who is in need for their child. You may reach her thru her website, and mention you heard of her thru MotherhoodLater.

The post How Spring Is a Great Time to Reset Academic Habits appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Practical Homework Tips for Kids With ADHD

Children with ADHD often struggle with completing their homework. They may forget to bring home the proper materials, start their homework at erratic times, lose focus when doing their work, or turn in their assignments late. As a parent, there are many tools you can use to help your child with ADHD build stronger homework habits. Try some of the ideas below:

Time Management Strategies For Kids With ADHD

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Many students with ADHD struggle with time management, which can affect their ability to complete their homework efficiently.

Help your child build stronger time management and homework skills by creating an organized homework schedule.

If they have four assignments to complete, for example, have them decide on the order in which they plan to complete them and label the assignments 1, 2, 3, 4 (either in their assignment or on a separate sheet of paper or digital document). Then teach them the Estimated Time vs. Actual Time, or ET vs. AT, strategy. Starting with their first assignment, have them predict how long they think it will take to complete it and write down the ET, or estimated time. Then have them note how long it actually takes to complete that assignment and write the AT, or actual time. They should use this strategy for all of their assignments every time they work on their homework.

For students who struggle with time management, there is usually a large discrepancy between the ET and AT when they start using this strategy, but the more they practice it, the more realistic they tend to become with their time, and the more their time management skills improve.

Crafting the Perfect ADHD Study Space

Setting up an organized study space can help your child with ADHD build stronger homework skills. To do so, select a space where your child will complete their homework on a regular basis. This spot should ideally be a desk in their room, but an area on your kitchen or dining room table can work too. The key is consistency: anytime your child sits down to do their homework, they should work at their designated study spot.
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Make sure this space contains all of the supplies they need to complete their homework, including pens, pencils, paper, scissors, highlighters, and any other related supplies. If the supplies run low, refill them right away to make sure your child doesn’t wander around mid-session looking for more supplies. If your child works at a communal spot like a kitchen or dining room table, create a supplies bucket filled with the materials they need to complete their work, and have them take the bin to and from their room for their homework sessions.

Create a Consistent Homework Time

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Some children with ADHD complete their homework right when they get home from school; others start later; and many are completely inconsistent with when they do their homework. They might begin their assignments immediately after school, then take several breaks, become distracted by items around your home, and finally complete their work late in the night (if at all).

Help your child build better homework habits by setting a consistent homework time. Talk to them about when they feel they work best. If they prefer to work on their homework right after school to “get it over with,” that’s great. Some children may want a snack or physical activity break after school before starting their homework, while others may work best after dinner.

Any of these options can work; the key is consistency. If your child has after-school activities on some days, plan accordingly and help them find different times for completing their schoolwork on those days.

Pomodoro Technique For ADHD Kids – Give it a Try!

The Pomodoro Technique is a great strategy to help students with ADHD improve their homework and focusing skills. To use this strategy, your child should set a timer for 25 minutes and work consistently for that period until the timer goes off. Then they should take a five-minute break, followed by another 25-minute segment of dedicated work.

After they have completed four of these cycles, they should take a longer break of roughly 15–30 minutes. Your child can also tweak the time windows if need be; if 25 minutes is too long for them, they can start with 15 minutes of work followed by a five-minute break and gradually increase their work time to build stamina.

This strategy can help your child create a structured homework routine and complete their work more efficiently and effectively.

You Can Do This!

As students progress through school, homework demands increase quickly. Teach your child these strategies for building stronger homework and executive functioning skills, and you will set them on a path towards academic success.

For more information on ADHD, coaching, and tutoring, checkout www.eblcoaching.com

The post Homework Help for ADHD: Strategies That Actually Work appeared first on EBL Coaching.

The holidays are filled with festivities, treats, and loads of family time. However, the break from school is also a time when kids tend to do little if any academic work. As a result, the shift back to school in January can be a tough one for many students. Help your child have a successful transition back to school with the ideas detailed below.

Re-set routines

Before the holidays, your child may have finally settled on their school routine: each morning they woke up, got dressed, packed their backpack, ate breakfast, then came home from school and completed their schoolwork on a regular basis. Yet during the holidays, routines and schedules often go awry and your child may need some routine re-setting before school starts again. To help them, reset routines gradually. If they went to bed very late during holiday time, start setting their bedtime 15-20 minutes earlier each day for four or five days before school starts. You may want to also create checklists to remind them of their morning and afternoon routines before school begins. For example, a morning chart might include waking up at a certain time, brushing their teeth, eating breakfast, and packing their backpack. An afternoon checklist might include unpacking their backpack, having a snack, completing their homework, putting their finished homework in their backpack or turning it in online, eating dinner, and getting ready for bed. You might want to also try limiting screen time before school starts to help set the stage for a focused, organized return to school.

Academic activities during break

Your child may become accustomed to lazy, school-free days during the holiday break. To help them transition back into school-mode, start to integrate academic activities before school starts. For example, read with your child for 20 minutes each night and discuss the plot, characters, and setting with them. Ask them to create predictions about what they think might happen next or make inferences about certain events in the story to help engage them in the book. Older children can read independently for 20 minutes each night but ask them similar questions about their book even if you aren’t reading it with them, to make sure they fully comprehend the material. You can also do math exercises when cooking or grocery shopping with them, or have them write in a journal about their favorite activities during the holiday break. The more academic activities you can integrate now, the better!

Discuss expectations

Your child may be nervous about returning to school and may face similar jitters that they felt before the new school year started. Talk through these feelings with them. Are they nervous about their workload? Anxious about waking up early again? Worried about friendship issues? Whatever the issue is, be there for them – listen to their worries and help them come up with solutions to help ease these anxieties. You can also discuss any assignments or projects they may have coming up and help them create a plan for competing them in an organized fashion.

Executive functioning strategies

Your child likely wasn’t focusing on executive functioning strategies during the holiday break. They probably didn’t have to worry about organizing their school assignments, planning their after school activity schedule, or organizing their academic work. Help them re-integrate executive functioning strategies before school starts again. Make sure they have a dedicated homework space where they will complete their assignments each day, filled with all necessary supplies. Discuss with them what time they will work on their homework daily after school and keep that time consistent. Help them set up an assignment book, especially if they started using one at the start of the school year but then used it less and less in the fall. If they have lengthy homework assignments to complete, help them break the assignments into steps and put each step into their assignment book. For time management, have them predict how long they think each assignment will take to complete, then compare it to the actual time it takes. The more systematic executive functioning strategies you can integrate, the better, and if your child continues to struggle with these skills, executive functioning coaching can help them tremendously.

The holiday break should be a fun-filled time that all kids enjoy. Yet the transition back to school can be a tough one. Try using these ideas at home with your child to help them start the new year on a positive, organized, and successful note.

The post Help Your Child Transition Back to School After the Holidays appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Summer is a time for fun in the sun, relaxing days, and outdoor play. Yet the school year is just around the corner and many children have trouble with the transition from a laid back summer to a more structured fall. Try some of the ideas below to help your child jump start the new school year on a positive note.

Set routines

During the summer, many kids enjoy less structured free time with fewer routines. While this can serve as a well-needed break for children, once they transition back to the school year, having structured routines typically becomes the new reality. Begin setting routines before the school year starts to avoid a challenging transition. You can start by changing your child’s sleep schedule. If they’re used to going to bed and waking up late, set an earlier bedtime two weeks or so before the school year starts and have your child follow that new time so they get used to it before school begins. You may want to also discuss with your child a morning routine that they will adhere to once the school year starts. This might include getting dressed right when they wake up, eating breakfast, brushing their teeth, and making sure their backpack is filled with everything they need for the day. You can even discuss breakfast options with them before the school year starts to avoid any delays in decision making over what to eat. The more routines you can set now, the easier the transition to the new school year will be.

Homework timing

Before the school year begins, it’s helpful to discuss with your child what time they plan to work on their homework each day. Some kids prefer doing their homework right when they get home and are still in “school mode”. Others like to have a small snack or physical activity break before beginning their work, and some enjoy working at night, after dinner. Any of these options can work; the key is setting a regular homework time and sticking with it. If there are days when you know your child will have an after school activity or event and won’t be able to complete their homework at their usual time, set an alternate time for those days so a plan is in place for the week.

Set up a study space

At the start of the school year, it’s important that your child has a designated clutter-free spot in your home for completing their homework. Ideally this should be a desk in their room, but it can also be a spot at your kitchen or dining room table if a private space isn’t available. Make sure they have all the supplies they need for completing their work at this spot, including pens, pencils, paper, scissors, and so on. If their supplies run low, refill them right away to prevent your child from wandering around your home looking for supplies mid-homework session. If their designated homework spot is on a common table, create a transportable homework bin for them containing all the necessary homework supplies that they will carry to and from their bedroom. Some kids also like having a reading nook in their room, or a designated spot devoted just to reading, separate from their homework space.

Meet your child’s teachers

If your child has historically struggled in school or has an IEP or 504 plan, make sure you communicate this information to their teachers at the start of the school year. When the year begins, try setting up a meeting with your child’s teachers and any service providers to tell them about your child, along with strategies that have or have not worked for them in the past. Additionally, set up a plan for communicating with them on a regular basis to discuss how your child is doing – perhaps once per month via email, phone, or in-person meetings. Try to be proactive rather than reactive; don’t wait until later in the year to find out your child is struggling. Stay on top of communicating with their teachers to help ensure they continue to thrive.

The transition back to school can be a challenging one, but try these ideas and your child will be on their way to a successful new year.

The post Tips to Help Your Child Get a Positive Jumpstart on the School Year by Dr. Emily Levy, Founder & Director, EBL Coaching appeared first on EBL Coaching.

For some children, the transition back to school is seamless. They look forward to the excitement of reconnecting with friends, meeting their teachers, and starting new after school activities. Yet for other students, especially those who are neurodivergent, the transition back to school can be challenging. Help your neurodivergent child start the new school year strong with the ideas detailed below.

Routines

For many children, summer is filled with free play, outdoor activities, and unstructured days. When the school year begins, however, routines become paramount. Rather than springing this transition on your child, start to integrate elements of their fall routine now, before the school year begins. You can discuss wake-up times and bedtimes with your child, both for school days and weekends. If they have been waking up closer to 9am in the summer but need to wake up at 7am during the week once the school year starts, have them set an alarm progressively earlier in the summer until they reach 7am right before the school year begins. The same applies to bedtime; if they have been going to bed later in the summer, have them start to go to sleep a little earlier each night. You can also create morning and afternoon checklists for tasks they’ll need to do once the school year begins. For example, their morning checklist might include getting dressed, brushing their teeth, eating breakfast, and preparing their backpack for school. You may want to come up with a list of menu items for breakfast and have them decide what they will eat for breakfast each day at the start of a given week, so you can prepare accordingly.  Their afternoon checklist might include having a snack when they get home, completing their schoolwork, turning in or putting away their homework in their backpack, eating dinner, and going to bed. The more structure you can integrate into your child’s day now, before the school year begins, the better!

Get organized!

Having strong organizational skills is a key component to school success, especially for neurodivergent children who may struggle with executive functioning skills. Shop for school supplies with your child as early as you can so you have plenty of time to organize them. You may want to color code items by subject. For example, you may select green for science, blue for math, yellow for social studies, and so on. For each subject, there should be a folder and a notebook in the color that corresponds to that class. Encourage your child to write down their homework daily in an assignment book when they are at school, and perhaps highlight the assignment for each subject in its corresponding color. You may want to designate one day per week as a “clean out my backpack and folders day” where your child cleans out any items or papers from their backpack that they no longer need to be carrying with them.

Distraction-free workspace

Neurodivergent students often become easily distracted when trying to complete their homework. Before the school year starts, set up a distraction-free work zone where your child will do their homework every day. This could be a desk in their room or a spot in a communal area, like a kitchen or dining room table. Make sure they have all the supplies they need for completing their homework, like pens, pencils, paper, a calculator, scissors, and highlighters. When the supplies run low, refill them right away to avoid having your child wander around in the middle of a homework session looking for more supplies. If they plan to work in a communal area, they can carry a portable supplies bin from their bedroom to their homework spot and back when they’re done, containing all the supplies they will need to complete their homework.

Connect with your child’s teachers

Most neurodivergent children have very unique needs. Before the school year begins or right after it starts, set up a meeting with your child’s teacher and their other service providers if relevant. Tell them about your child, including which techniques have and haven’t worked for them in the past, and set up a line of communication going forward. Perhaps you will check in with them once per month via email or set up regular phone calls to discuss your child’s progress. Additionally, you should consistently advocate for your child; while they may be doing well in school at one point in time, that could change quickly and their academic performance could take a downturn. Don’t wait for your child to struggle. Be proactive in helping them succeed and seeking additional support for them if needed. If the school year progresses and your child continues to struggle academically despite these interventions, you may want to consider private tutoring, which can be custom-tailored to your child’s needs and help them thrive in school.

The transition to the new school year can be challenging, especially for neurodivergent children. These strategies can help your child get excited for the new year and start school on a positive note.

The post Help Your Neurodivergent Child Prepare for the New School Year appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Applying to college

Applying to college can be an overwhelming process for all students, but for students with learning disabilities, this process can be even more challenging. You may want to start by researching various institutions and looking at the support services they offer for students with learning disabilities. If you can, try to visit the colleges you are considering once you have narrowed down your search, and spend some time in the disability office learning about the services they offer. Once you start the application process, it’s up to you to decide whether to share your diagnosis but it may be helpful for colleges to know what your needs are. Doing so may help provide a more complete picture of your profile and allow colleges to better understand your needs. If you do decide to disclose your disability, make sure you have support documentation, including evaluations, IEPs, or 504 plans. If the school requires a standardized test for admission, you may want to apply for accommodations for these exams. You might also want to also consider test-optional schools where you may not be required to take a test at all for admission.

At college

Once you are accepted and have chosen which college to attend, one of your first visits should be to the school’s disability office. If you are seeking services, you will need to submit the documentation of your learning disability to this office so they can verify which services and support you are eligible for. The office will then help manage and coordinate your support throughout your college journey.

Tutoring

Many colleges offer free tutoring to students with learning disabilities. This may come in the form of peer tutoring from other college students, or it may be through federal funding that is available for students with disabilities. Some schools offer learning centers where students can come in-person for help. When you are at college, if your school offers a learning center, you may want to visit it, meet the tutors and staff members, and determine how they can help you. You can also look into private specialized learning disability tutoring if you feel that’s more suitable for you.

Accommodations

It is important to determine which accommodations you may need while at college. You might need extra time on tests, or perhaps you will need to take your tests in another location like a learning center. Other accommodations you might qualify for include note takers, preferential seating, audio versions of textbooks, access to a computer during tests, and other related accommodations based on your disability.

Organizational skills

A large key to success in college is developing strong organizational skills. Try to build your time management skills to help you manage your classes, workload, and other obligations. For example, you might want to learn and practice the ET/AT time management technique, where you predict how much time you think it will take to complete a task (which is the ET, or estimated time), then compare it to the AT, or actual time it takes to complete that task. You can also work on planning out your schedule in a physical or electronic calendar and work on breaking down assignments into individual steps. Additionally, you can work on techniques for prioritizing tasks by listing the most important tasks at the top of your list and less important tasks beneath that. You can also use your phone as a tool to set alerts before appointments to further help with time management. If organization is still a challenge, executive functioning coaching can help you develop these skills.

Self-advocate

In college (and in life), it’s important to advocate for yourself, especially if you have a disability. Try to fully understand your learning disability and which tools have or haven’t helped you in the past. Identify the types of services you think you would benefit from and seek them out. If you feel you are struggling despite the support you are getting at any given time, seek additional resources or tutoring. Go to your school’s disability office, explain what is going on, and ask them what they can do to further help you. You should also know your rights. There are federal laws that protect you and ensure that you receive the services and accommodations that you need. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits any discrimination towards individuals with disabilities.

Students with learning disabilities absolutely have the ability to thrive in college. It is important to visit your school’s disability office and learn the types of support and services they offer. You can also seek tutoring and accommodations as needed, strengthen your organizational skills, and self-advocate. Following these tips will help you on your path towards success in college and in life after school.

The post Can Your Child with Learning Disabilities Thrive in College? appeared first on EBL Coaching.

Internet users have been left speechless after a frustrated parent shared an image of their seventh-grade son’s word-search homework, which they described as a “nightmare.”

Posted by Reddit user u/Lily_Thief in the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, the image shows a complex word search based on Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver, with words hidden in every possible direction—forward, backward, diagonally and even reversed.

Newsweek reached out to u/Lily_Thief for comment via Reddit.

Image of a child’s word search. u/Lily_Thief

In the post, the parent wrote that their son, who has dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), struggles significantly with these assignments.

“They are easily the longest part of any of the homework that he has to do, and also likely the least educational,” the parent wrote. “Since he’s dyslexic and has ADHD, they are especially horrible, and have become a family chore.”

Despite having an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that should account for his learning needs, the parent shared that their attempts to communicate with the teacher about the issue have gone unanswered.

The parent expressed frustration with the lack of response, adding that they have reached out multiple times but never received a reply.

“He’d rather be writing essays, which also seems like it’d be a better use of his time,” the original poster wrote. “I never get a reply and at this point the school year is nearly done anyway. I’m hoping his next teacher isn’t like this. If they are I’m going to have to be more aggressive.”

Emily Levy, an expert learning specialist, told Newsweek she is strongly against using word searches in the classroom, especially when it comes to children with ADHD.

“Individuals with dyslexia often become overwhelmed by letters and words on a page,” Levy said. “The focus should be on teaching them to identify the names of letters and their corresponding sounds and how to blend those sounds together to form individual words—not searching for random words within the context of many other letters on a page.”

Levy, who is also the founder and Director of EBL Coaching (eblcoaching.com), said that word searches can make dyslexic children feel overwhelmed and frustrated and diminish their desire to learn how to read—a task that is typically already extremely challenging for them.

The post Internet Left Speechless by 7th-Grader’s Word-Search Homework: ‘Nightmare’ appeared first on EBL Coaching.