Learning Differences

It's hard for students in grades K through 6 to recognize when they are getting angry and to manage their emotions so they can control how they react. It's a skill that takes time, practice, and self-awareness. Students will identify ways and plan...

There's a saying we've all heard, that patience is a virtue. It's also a really important life skill - and one that is tough for most young people and many adults. Helping children learn how to practice patience by staying calm and waiting their turn...

Symptoms of ADHD may manifest both at home and at school and can include inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Many children without an ADHD diagnosis also struggle with one or more of these symptoms.  Help students learn to avoid...

Read the storybook Uniquely Wired to help your students gain acceptance and understanding of kids living with autism. The four activities will help drive home the lessons from the story. Students will have the opportunity to interpret that people see and...

This adorable "My Little Squishy" is kid-designed and kid-tested! It has a unique feel with the ability to stretch, squish, and crunch. Studies have shown that squeezing and releasing a fidget can help with emotional regulation. When your child feels...

Staying on task until a job is done can be tough for adults, so it's not surprising that it's also difficult for most children. Teaching kids the importance of staying focused and finishing tasks is something that will serve them well in life. Help...

Focusing is easier said than done for some children. Being able to focus is a life skill and can help set children up for success. School counselor Bryan Smith has developed five downloadable activities for educators to use in the classroom to help teach...

Self-monitoring is the ability to observe and evaluate one’s behavior. Give students the working knowledge of learning how to pay attention, stay on task and follow instructions with these five downloadable activities from Bryan Smith's How Did You...

Working memory is an important executive function because it helps children (and adults!) recall information required to complete tasks or functions, such as notetaking, spelling, or the order of operations in math. Some children seem to excel in this...

Planning is the ability to create a roadmap to reach a goal or achieve a task, while prioritizing involves the ability to make decisions about what is important for you to focus on next. It can be challenging for children to know where to get started on...

Learning how to get and stay organized is an important executive function skill for children. Good organization skills allow children to order items or pictures into sequential order, maintain toys and personal items in a neat and orderly manner, and...

Flexible thinking allows people to think about things in new ways or to incorporate new information into a specific plan or idea. Flexible thinkers are often able to come up with more than one solution to a problem or challenge. The ability to think...