Study: How executive function affects academics

Students with executive-function deficits in kindergarten may experience academic difficulties during elementary school, according to a study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and the University of California at Irvine. Researchers considered data for over 11,000 students.

The Hechinger Report

My Study Life App

School life is complicated. To help you stay on top of your schedule and often conflicting deadlines, My Study Life is more than just a day planner and school calendar — the app even sends reminders to your mobile device whenever you have upcoming deadlines. As one of the few ad-free agenda apps on the market, My Study Life’s colorful interface gives you all the info you need regarding your day at a glance.

Visual and Audible Tool That Helps Answer the Question: “How Much Longer?” Time Tracker, an Effective Tool

Visual timers benefit people who need help keeping track of activities, or help understanding a sense of time.  There are a lot of situations where a visual timer can help.

Time Tracker is a wonderful visual and audible timer that reinforce time management.  Bright light sections flash sequentially to give visual cues as to the amount of time remaining to complete a task.  The Time Tracker is divided into green, yellow and red-lighted sections, each representing a portion of time.  The yellow serves as a warning and the red light tells you that time is up.  Continue Reading...

Executive Function: Activation Routines

In order to succeed at a task, students must organize, prioritize, and activate. The following collection of Landmark teaching strategies focuses on ways to activate students toward successful task completion by exploring the use of reference tools, working on time management, and cueing students to empower them to begin a task, sustain effort, and complete work.  http://www.ldonline.org/article/Executive_Function%3A_Activation_Routines

Executive Function Skills at Work: How Technology Can Help

This step-by-step guide provides an overview of tools and strategies for executive function skills used in the work place such as time management, motivation, following directions, organizing work space and information, remembering appointments and tasks, and focus and attention.   http://ctdinstitute.org/library/2016-11-11/executive-function-skills-work-how-technology-can-help?utm_source=Products+Dec&utm_campaign=Products%2FWebinars+DEC&utm_medium=email

Getting Started: Executive Function Skills at Work

This step-by-step guide provides an overview of tools and strategies for executive function skills used in the work place such as time management, motivation, following directions, organizing work space and information, remembering appointments and tasks, and focus and attention.    http://ctdinstitute.org/library/2016-11-11/getting-started-executive-function-skills-work?utm_source=Products+Dec&utm_campaign=Products%2FWebinars+DEC&utm_medium=email

Helping Child with Executive Functioning Issues

8 Ways to Use Color-Coding to Help Kids with Executive Function Issues

Octopus Smartwatch: a new way to stay on task!

One of the biggest challenges for people who struggle with staying on task is following a schedule throughout the day. Not long ago, Senior Assistive Technology (AT) Consultant Jeannie Krull published a wonderful 4 part series all about different types of scheduler and task management apps that can help people with Autism, and many others, stay on task:

• Visual Schedules and Task Managers: Apps for Autism and Beyond! Part 1
• Part 2-Visual Schedules and Task Managers: Apps for Autism and Beyond!
• Part 3-Visual Schedules and Task Managers: Apps for Autism and Beyond!
• Part 4-Visual Schedules and Task Managers: Apps for Autism and Beyond!

We have also explored and discussed other wearable devices that help remind people whats next, to stay on task, or not to forget an important event:

• The Pebble: A Watch With A Promising Assistive Technology Future
• Watchminder: Get Personalized Vibrating Reminders Without a Smartphone!

Continue Reading...

Free Printable Calendar for Tweens & Teens with Executive Functioning Issues

Understood.org has made a free set of 2016 printable calendar/planner pages that you can use to help your child with some common tasks such as getting to school on time or cleaning up his/her room. Learn more here: http://positivelyautism.weebly.com/blog/free-printable-calendar-for-tweens-and-teens-with-executive-functioning-issues

Musical training may bolster mental function in children

Learning how to play a musical instrument may help relieve anxiety and bolster emotional control and attention among children, according to a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Researchers said musical training was also tied to changes in brain areas associated with executive functioning, working memory and organization. Medical News Today (12/29) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287458.php

Coaching Students with Executive Skills Deficits - New Book

Peg Dawson & Richard Guare

Model for coaching students whose academic performance is suffering due to deficits in executive skills, including time and task management, planning, organization, impulse control, and emotional regulation