The Fast Break Homework Plan is based on the concept of "fast breaks," which are short, focused work sessions of 15-20 minutes, followed by a short break of 5-10 minutes. Taking “fast breaks” encourages students to focus on one task at a time, and it helps prevent students from becoming overwhelmed or distracted. The goal of a Fast Break is to help students consider the priority, urgency, importance, and time needed, and make a concrete plan for the evening’s work.

ADHD does not only impact boys! In fact, girls with ADHD often go undiagnosed because their symptoms may differ from boys and be less disruptive in a classroom setting.

Understanding the developmental timeline of Executive Function skills is crucial for parents and educators alike. According to The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, Executive Function skills continue to grow and develop from childhood into adulthood. BrainTracks’ infographic "Executive Function Development Timeline" reviews the Executive Function skills that are expected to be mastered as children develop.

BrainTracks’ infographic "Executive Functions & ADHD" explains the connection between Executive Functions and ADHD. These strategies on the infographic support not only students with ADHD, but also students who struggle with Executive Functioning for a variety of other reasons. We hope that by understanding the connection between Executive FUnctions and ADHD, educators feel empowered to support students in a more inclusive learning environment and a better managed classroom.

In today's school environment, a rising number of students are dealing with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Students with ADHD frequently struggle with a variety of Executive Function (EF) deficiencies, including time management. BrainTracks’ infographic "Interventions for Students who Struggle with Time Management" includes six useful strategies that teachers can use to build students’ time management skills.

If you have a student or child that has trouble monitoring their progress and assessing their learning, you won’t want to miss this post! Metacognition is the ability to observe one's actions and results and then make modifications in pursuit of a goal. It includes having an awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses.

Welcome back to the fifth installment of our six-part blog series! If you're just joining us, be sure to catch up on our previous posts. If you have a student or child that has trouble getting work done, you won’t want to miss this post! In this installment, we address the strategies that adults can use to support an unproductive child.

In this installment, we address the Executive Function skill that seems to be more important than ever: Attention. Attention is an Executive Function skill with quite a few different components. There's focusing, sustaining that focus, selecting and inhibiting attention, shifting quickly between tasks, and maintaining attention over time.

If a child is at the stage of Contemplation—somewhat open to change but not fully committed—you're witnessing a crucial moment of potential transformation. Over the next five weeks, we will showcase a fresh excerpt from the book, addressing strategies that both parents and teachers can employ to nurture Executive Function Skills in their students.

If a child is at the stage of Contemplation—somewhat open to change but not fully committed—you're witnessing a crucial moment of potential transformation. Over the next five weeks, we will showcase a fresh excerpt from the book, addressing strategies that both parents and teachers can employ to nurture Executive Function Skills in their students.

This week's featured excerpt is taken from Chapter 1: Before Skills - Cultivating Motivation. While this chapter addresses the importance of aiding your student in discovering their personal sources of motivation, the following chapter dives into helping your student tackle the things that they avoid. Remember to join us next week for another excerpt!

We understand the pivotal role parents and teachers play in supporting our students as they go back to school. That's why we are bringing you excerpts from Your Kid’s Gonna Be Okay: Building the Executive Function Skills Your Child Needs in the Age of Attention. 

Here are some common signs that can indicate challenges with Executive Function skills, or Executive Dysfunction, as this difficulty is also known as:

Executive Function skills develop over time, from birth until a person is often in their mid-twenties. As children grow and develop, their Executive Function skills improve, and they become better able to plan and organize their thoughts and actions.

Executive Function is a set of brain-based skills that help people be organized, focused, persistent, on time, productive, and emotionally steady. In the most basic sense, you can think of Executive Function skills as the self-management skills that help humans of all ages get things done and achieve their goals.