This book presents an innovative model for supporting executive function in students with attention, memory, organization, planning, inhibition, initiative, and flexibility difficulties, including those with ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. The author advocates a student-centred approach in which educators first explore 8 key 'ingredients' with the student: relationships; strengths and weaknesses; self-advocacy and responsibility; review and preview; motivation and incentive; synthesis and analysis; rhythm and routine; and practice and repetition. She provides a step-by-step explanation of how these 'ingredients' can then be used in different ways and in different combinations to successfully address particular areas of difficulty. The approach is clearly explained, and the book contains many useful examples, practical tips and strategies, suggested conversation starters, sample time management plans and other tools that can be adapted to meet the particular needs of individual students. Original and effective, the approach outlined in this book will be of interest to teachers and other professionals involved in supporting executive function in students of all ages, as well as parents and carers.

This book presents an innovative model for supporting executive function in students with attention, memory, organization, planning, inhibition, initiative, and flexibility difficulties, including those with ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders and related conditions. The author advocates a student-centred approach in which educators first explore 8 key 'ingredients' with the student: relationships; strengths and weaknesses; self-advocacy and responsibility; review and preview; motivation and incentive; synthesis and analysis; rhythm and routine; and practice and repetition. She provides a step-by-step explanation of how these 'ingredients' can then be used in different ways and in different combinations to successfully address particular areas of difficulty. The approach is clearly explained, and the book contains many useful examples, practical tips and strategies, suggested conversation starters, sample time management plans and other tools that can be adapted to meet the particular needs of individual students. Original and effective, the approach outlined in this book will be of interest to teachers and other professionals involved in supporting executive function in students of all ages, as well as parents and carers.

Understand and support executive function in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with this fully-explained, innovative model. Showing how to use an individual's strengths to address executive functioning weaknesses, this approach will also help to build a strong foundation for social and communication skills. Advocating a person-centred approach, the author describes the importance of identifying the individual's preferred style of engagement and communication, and how sensory experiences impact their thoughts, feelings, and actions. She explains how to use this information to identify the individual's strengths and weaknesses across eight key areas which are the building blocks of executive functions: attention; memory; organization; time management; initiative; behavior; goal setting and flexibility. These areas can be used daily to establish predictability and offer a foundation for interpreting, processing and understanding the world with flexibility. Professionals and parents can also use them as the basis of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or to create personalized interventions and support at school or at home.

Accessible and practical, this book helps teachers incorporate executive function processes - such as planning, organizing, prioritizing, and self-checking - into the classroom curriculum. Chapters provide effective strategies for optimizing what Ka "12 students learn by improving how they learn. Noted authority Lynn Meltzer and her research associates present a wealth of easy-to-implement assessment tools, teaching techniques and activities, and planning aids. Featuring numerous whole-class ideas and suggestions, the book also covers the nuts and bolts of differentiating instruction for students with learning or attention difficulties. Case examples illustrate individualized teaching strategies and classroom accommodations. Fifteen reproducibles are included; the large-size format facilitates photocopying and day-to-day reference. This book will be invaluable to classroom teachers and special educators in grades K-12, teacher educators, school psychologists, and neuropsychologists.

Teach some of the most important skills your students will ever need! Executive function skills—including self-regulation, focus, planning, and time-management—are essential to student success, but they must be taught and practiced. This unique guidebook provides a flexible seven-step model, incorporating UDL principles and the use of metacognition, for making executive-function training part of your classroom routine at any grade level. Features include: Descriptions of each skill and its impact on learning Examples of instructional steps to assist students as they set goals and work to achieve success. Strategies coded by competency and age/grade level Authentic snapshots and “think about” sections Templates for personalized goal-setting, data collection, and success plans Accompanying strategy cards

The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale--Children and Adolescents (BDEFS-CA) is an empirically based tool for evaluating clinically significant dimensions of child and adolescent executive functioning. Evidence indicates that the BDEFS-CA is far more predictive of impairments in daily life activities than more time-consuming and costly traditional EF tests. The BDEFS-CA offers an ecologically valid snapshot of the capacities involved in time management, organization and problem solving, self-restraint, self-motivation, and self-regulation of emotions. Two parent-report forms are included: a long form (10-15 minutes) and a short form (3-5 minutes). There is also a short clinical interview form based on the short-form rating scale, for use in unusual circumstances where a parent is unable to complete a rating scale. Special features include an ADHD risk index in the long form. Complete instructions for scoring and interpreting the scale are provided. QUICK VIEW What does it do?: Provides an ecologically valid assessment of executive functioning deficits in daily life activities. Age Range: 6-17 Administration Time: Long Form: 10-15 minutes. Short Form: 3-5 minutes. Format: Parent-report rating scale. Cost of Additional Forms: No cost--purchasers get permission to reproduce the forms and score sheets for repeated use. See also the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS for Adults) and Barkley's authoritative book on EF development and deficits, Executive Functions. Also available: Barkley Functional Impairment Scale--Children and Adolescents (BFIS-CA). Includes Permission to Photocopy Enhancing the convenience and value of the BDEFS-CA, the limited photocopy license allows purchasers to reproduce the forms and score sheets and yields considerable cost savings over other available scales. The large format and sturdy wire binding facilitate photocopying. Age range: 6-17.

This book has been replaced by Smart but Scattered, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-4625-5459-1.

Help kids grow their executive functioning skills with activities for ages 6 to 9 Executive functioning is the name for the skills we use to pay attention, complete tasks, and remember important things. But that's a lot for a brain to do every day--especially for kids. The Executive Functioning Workbook for Kids helps them train their brain to improve their memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Kids will explore 40 hands-on activities to help them conquer executive functioning skills at home, at school, and out in the world. Just for kids--This book is made especially for kids to work on independently so they can see their skills develop and feel accomplished. Insightful activities--Kids will discover exercises that inspire them to work hard and appreciate the strengths and talents they already have. Tools for parents--Grown-ups can get involved, too, with a section of tips and activities that explain how kids learn and how adults can help them succeed. Empower kids to tackle any challenge with the skills they'll learn in the Executive Functioning Workbook for Kids.

Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals with Autism and Attention Disorders is a manual written for individuals who work with learners who struggle with executive function deficits. The manual takes the perspective that executive function skills can be improved through effective intervention, just like any other skills. This how-to manual provides practical strategies for teaching learners to be focused, organized, flexible, and able to effectively manage themselves. Ready-to-use lessons, data sheets, worksheets, and other tools for practitioners, educators, and parents are provided to help them tackle common problems associated with executive function deficits in learners of any diagnosis, ages 5 to adult. The principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which form the foundation of this manual, are translated into simple, easy-to-use procedures. Lessons for improving executive function skills in real-life everyday situations are provided in the following areas: - Self-awareness - Inhibition and impulse control - Self-management - Attention - Organization - Problem solving - Time management - Planning - Working memory - Emotional self-regulation - Flexibility - Provides an overview of what constitutes executive function skills - Outlines how techniques based on applied behavior analysis can be used to teach skills - Presents step-by-step lessons for practitioners, educators, and parents to implement with individuals with executive function deficits - Includes data sheets, task analyses, worksheets, and visual aids

A brain-based approach to helping kids stay focused and achieve. Poor executive function (EF) in the brain can mean behavioral and attentional problems in school. This book explains to professionals and parents how EF develops in kids, what EF difficulties look like, and what creative and effective interventions can meet their needs. Executive functions involve mental processes such as: Working memory–holding several pieces of information in mind while we try to do something with them–for example, understand and solve a problem or carry out a task. Response inhibition–inhibiting actions that interfere with our intentions or goals. Shifting focus–interrupting an ongoing response in order to direct attention to other aspects of a situation that are important for goal attainment. Cognitive flexibility–generating alternative methods of solving a problem or reaching a goal. Self-monitoring–checking on one's own cognitions and actions to assure that they are in line with one's intentions. Goal Orientation–creating and carrying out a multi-step plan for achieving a goal in a timely fashion, keeping the "big picture" in mind.