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100 Powerful Learning Specialist and Educational Therapy Materials

This week I wanted to tell you about my online store, Good Sensory Learning. I’m Dr. Erica Warren, and I established this site so I could share all the materials that I have created over the last 20+ years as a learning specialist and educational therapist. When I first began my private practice, Learning to Learn, I had great difficulty finding fun and multisensory materials for my students that were effective and engaging. So back in 2005, I made it my mission to design and distribute high-end, remedial products as well as memorable, motivating lessons that bring delight to learning. If you would like to try a free sampling of my activities , CLICK HERE . How Are the Products Organized at Good Sensory Learning? You can download my Free Printable Catalog or you can browse the site using the grey “search all products” bar in the top right of any page with keywords such as dyslexia, working memory, and executive functioning. What’s more, drop down menus in the red banner allow you t
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Back to School: Establishing a Routine, Planning, and Managing Time

Having a great school year is largely determined by a student’s ability to plan out their day, manage their time, and stick to a routine. In other words, they need to have well-developed executive functioning skills. Executive functioning, or what I like to call the Grand Central Station of the brain, is the complex cognitive process of managing a crowd of sensory input and output and applying meaning, all while maintaining one’s “train” of thought. Although many teachers and parents can not fathom how apparently simple tasks such as using an agenda or turning in an assignment can be difficult, the truth of the matter is, the part of the brain that manages executive functioning, is not fully developed until individuals reach their early 20's. 

14 Common Signs of Executive Functioning Weaknesses  

1.   Losing materials.
2.   Forgetting to turn in assignments.
3.   Leaving things to the last minute.
4.   Underestimating the amount of time it will take to complete a task.
5.   Failing to record homework assignments.
6.   Leaving needed materials at school or at home.
7.   Neglecting to prepare for tests.
8.   Failing to break down long-term assignments into manageable tasks or goals.
9. Losing focus and missing important notes or directions.
10. Losing mental stamina.
11. rushing through work.

Students with Poor Executive Functioning skills are Often Misunderstood.

It is important to realize that weak executive functioning skills are NOT the result of laziness, lack of motivation or carelessness. In fact, criticizing these learners and providing negative feedback and pressure, worsens these difficulties and can trigger feelings of helplessness.  

So What Can be Done to Assist these Students?

1.   Maintain a structured daily routine.
2.   Teach how to set priorities.
3.   Generate a consistent homework plan.
4.   Break large assignments into manageable tasks.
5.   Make to do lists.
6.   Teach study skills.
7.   Illustrate note-taking skills.
8.   Demonstrate time management skills by generating self-imposed deadlines.
9.   Teach test-taking strategies.
10. Provide incentives and positive reinforcement.  
11. Utilize graphic organizers for writing.
12. Teach metacognitive skills by thinking through the process aloud.

Where Can I Get Ready-Made Materials and Exercises that Can Help Develop These Skills?

The Executive Functioning Cognitive Remedial Bundle offers a comprehensive approach to improving a student’s planning, time management, and organization abilities.  This bundle offers a discounted suite of downloadable activities, games, and handouts that were designed to help learning specialists, educational therapists, and even parents assist students in developing executive functioning skills.  To get a free sampling of activities from one of the publications in the bundle, Click Here  

If you would like to watch a video on this content, click on the image below

I hope you found this helpful! Please be sure to share this blog/video, and share your thoughts!!

Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Go Dyslexia, in Ossining, NY. To learn more about her products and services, you can go to https://godyslexia.com/, www.goodsensorylearning.com, www.dyslexiamaterials.com & www.learningtolearn.biz
· Blog: https://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/
· YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/warrenerica1
· Podcast: https://godyslexia.com/
· Store: http://www.Goodsensorylearning.com/ & www.dyslexiamaterials.com
· Courses: http://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/
· Newsletter Sign-up: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/69400
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