Day 1 | Art of Motivating Students

Executive Function Strategies

Executive functions (EF) are cognitive processes that help us get stuff done. Although every brain has some EF challenge, neurodiverse students suffer more acutely. Today’s speakers share creative strategies to help diverse learners take action with less stress and more finesse.

Enjoy the presentations below for the next 48 hours!

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Curb Perfectionism with the Paint Strip Tool | Crista Hopp

Executive Function specialist Crista Hopp addresses the common challenge of perfectionism among students. Learn about her innovative coaching tool to help students break free from the paralyzing cycle of not beginning, or not finishing, their assignments because of the assumption that they need to be perfect. Finally, let’s help students find a balance between high standards and realistic goals.

After the presentation, click here to grab Crista’s handout, Shades of Success: The Perfectionism Paint Strip Tool.

  • I'm an Executive Function Coach and Educator. I opened Connected Pathways Coaching in 2014 and I'm the founder of Connected Pathways Academy (home of Mastering Executive Functions).

    I have had the good fortune to work with children and adults of all backgrounds throughout my career. My experience includes both children and adults with and without disabilities. Many years ago, I was working with students and didn’t understand executive function and how it was impacting students.

    Even holding a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology; I still didn’t know. It wasn’t until I began working as a Research Coordinator for the Prematurity’s Effects on Toddlers, Infants, and Teens Study, known as PETIT, that I began to understand executive function.

    This was a longitudinal study looking at the development of children born preterm verses full term. Among many roles, I administered neuropsychological tests to children ages three, six, and nine and also supervised students from local universities in their administration of neuro-psychological assessments to children that participated in the study.

    I’m a Graduate of JST Coaching in Coaching Children with ADHD and Coaching Teens and College Students with ADHD. I’m also a graduate of the Anti-boring Approach to Powerful Studying, Academic Coaching. With a diverse background in counseling, individuals with and without disabilities, neuropsychological assessment, and coaching; I bring a variety of experience to my work.

    Find out more at www.connectedpathwayscoaching.com

  • Ready to watch Crista's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

Reduce Procrastination with a Paper Planner | Lesley Martin

Students struggle to keep track of everything going on in their lives, and the information they need to get organized is often scattered across different platforms and systems, making it difficult for students to maintain a comprehensive overview of their responsibilities. Lesley Martin, academic coach and creator of the ClassTracker planner, walks us through how to teach students to effectively use a paper planner as their central organization system.

Catch the presentation, then click here to grab your copy of Lesley’s handout summarizing ways to use a paper planner.

  • Lesley Martin an Academic Coach and CEO of Class Tracker a company that sells tools to support student success. She has worked in education for over 20 years as an academic coach, classroom teacher, tutor and product designer. Lesley has published two books: Where’s My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide and Make the Grade: Everything you need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School. Lesley holds a bachelor degree from Wellesley College and earned a teaching credential from Mills College.

    Find out more at https://classtracker.com/

  • Ready to watch Lesley's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

How to Transition Into Focused Homework Time | Manu Shahi

The homework battle begins as soon as the school bell rings. Students arrive home, eager to shed the day's constraints, while parents brace for the inevitable clash over assignments. This daily struggle often leads frustrated families to seek guidance from coaches or advisors. Manu Shahi's solution? A holistic approach that transforms the after-school hours into a supportive learning environment, gradually empowering students to tackle homework independently.

Watch the presentation, and then click here to grab Manu’s tip Life After 3pm: A Tip Sheet for Parents.

  • Manu Shahi is a highly experienced educational leader, author, and founder-owner of Homework in a Cafe. Her career is multifaceted, and she aims to empower young individuals and foster personal growth through education. At Homework in a Cafe, Ms. Shahi guides middle and high school students through academics, equipping them with lifelong skills. Her role as an EF and ADHD Advisor helps parents, schools, and students learn about themselves and use the tools she provides.

    Her passion for inspiring others shines through her work as an academic life coach and speaker. She motivates students, teens, and families to tackle challenges, build confidence, and reach their full potential.

    Manu champions women's empowerment, helping them navigate work-life balance and nurturing young girls' leadership skills through the LeanIn Girls program.

    Her dedication extends beyond professional pursuits. Manu volunteers with the Make a Wish Foundation, serves on the Journey to Dream board, and acts as a liaison for schools on the Flower Mound Town Council and TEDx Speaker.

    Ultimately, Manu's mission is clear: to ignite potential, one individual, family, and community at a time.

    Find out more at www.homeworkinacafe.com

  • Ready to watch Manu's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

Plan Visually by Thinking Like a MIME | Sarah Ward

Many students struggle with time management, particularly when it comes to homework and assignments. They often find themselves overwhelmed, unprepared, or constantly playing catch-up, leading to feelings of guilt and disappointment. Sarah Ward introduces a unique approach that helps students visualize and mentally rehearse their tasks, enabling them to better manage their time and complete their work more effectively.

  • Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC/SLP has over 25 years of experience in the treatment of executive dysfunction. Sarah is an internationally recognized expert on executive function and presents seminars on the programs and strategies she has developed with her Co-Director Kristen Jacobsen. Their 360 Thinking Executive Function Program received the Innovative Promising Practices Award from the National Organization CHADD. She has presented to over 1800 public and private schools and organizations worldwide. In recognition of their global influence in the field of executive function skills in education Sarah and Kristen were named one of the Top 10 Professional Development Providers for 2023 by Education Technology Insights Magazine.

    Find out more at www.efpractice.com

  • Ready to watch Sarah's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

ADHD-Friendly Organization Dashboards | Sean McCormick

Many students struggle with executive function skills, leading to challenges such as missing assignments, feeling overwhelmed, and avoiding tasks. Sean McCormick, of EF Specialists, shares his favorite solution -- a student dashboard template using that helps students develop their own personal organization system.

After the presentation, click here to receive Sean’s free gift of Executive Function Printables.

  • I'm Sean! 

    I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.

    Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.

    In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.

    Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.

    In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.

    When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.

    Find out more at https://www.executivefunctioncoachingacademy.com/certification

  • Ready to watch Sean's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

Coaching Students to Self-Advocate | Seth Perler

Effective self-advocacy is crucial for students, especially those with executive function challenges. Many struggle to seek help due to communication barriers or discomfort. In this dynamic presentation, Seth Perler and Gretchen demonstrate practical techniques through engaging role-play, illustrating how to empower students in articulating their needs.

Enjoy the session, then click here to claim your copy of Seth’s 13 EF Skills Assessment.

  • Seth Perler: Executive Function, 2e, ADHD, Neurodiversity Coach

    Seth Perler is a well-known Executive Function Coach, activist, educator, vlogger, and guy who cares about seeing outside-the-box kids succeed. This means that he helps struggling, neurodiverse learners turn it around in a baffling system so they can launch a successful future. His weekly blog, SethPerler.com gives parents and teachers game-changing answers in a sea of misguided educational fluff.

    Seth runs TEFOS, The Executive Function Online Summit and it is excellent. Seth also hosts the coaching membership program EF- Lab which is a supportive community of compassionate & proactive parents. His newest program is the Rock Your Brain coaching program for parents and students.

    If you want to help a student who struggles with homework, grades, procrastination, overwhelm, underachievement, time-management & motivation, then understanding this “Executive Function” thing is critical.

    There’s no instruction book for how to help a child navigate school & life. Traditional interventions often fail because they don’t get to the root of a child’s problems and they’re often based on misunderstanding, misinformation and outdated paradigms. Consequently, a child’s patterns get worse each year, leading to pervasive difficulties transitioning into adulthood. That’s the opposite of what education should do, and the sooner we get the facts about Executive Function, the better.

    Parents often feel helpless, watching their child drown in school, as they spin their wheels trying to help. There’s no time to waste, life isn’t a dress rehearsal. Parents want tools that are 1) practical, 2) that demystify the problem and 3) that consider a child’s unique needs. It’s simple but not easy. It’s all about Executive Function and many of Seth’s students are 2e or Twice-exceptional.

    Find out more at sethperler.com

  • Ready to watch Seth's Deep Dive interview? Click here to find out more and purchase your All-Access Pass.

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