Executive Functioning, EF Apps & Tools, Organization, Planning

Mind Mapping: Visuals to Help Your Teen Learn to Plan Ahead

Navigating the path to academic success for neurodivergent teens, particularly those with ADHD or autism, can be challenging. Teens and young adults with unique learning styles can benefit academically and socially from tailored strategies to enhance executive functioning skills like planning and organization. One powerful tool that has shown promise in boosting executive functioning skills … read more

Prioritization, Executive Functioning, Organization, Planning

16 Tips for Teaching the Art of Prioritization

As much as we would like to think that our lives are under control, there are times when we get overwhelmed and can’t seem to get our priorities straight. This is where the art of prioritization comes in. It’s not just simply about setting priorities – it’s also about making sure that our priorities align … read more

Executive Functioning, EF Coaching, Planning, Time Management

12 Executive Functioning Exercises for Small Groups

If you’ve hung around Life Skills Advocate long enough, you know that we’re always looking for new ways to help neurodivergent learners get better at executive functioning. Executive functioning plays a vital role in our daily lives, influencing our ability to plan, organize, prioritize, focus, and regulate our behavior. Strong executive functioning skills are crucial … read more

Planning, Executive Functioning

10-Minute Strategies to Teach Planning Skills

Life is just like a puzzle. For those of us with ADHD, it’s not always easy to plan things in advance. Those puzzle pieces don’t always come together with ease! ADHD can make it challenging to stick to schedules, remember important dates, and meet deadlines. Therefore, we often need help in developing planning and organization … read more

Making Stuff EF Friendly, Executive Functioning, Leisure & Recreation, Planning

How To Make Vacation Planning Executive Function Friendly

The beach is calling you. Or maybe it’s the mountains, the sea or a theme park. Wherever it is, you’re ready to plan a vacation but feel overwhelmed or unsure how to do so when you or someone in your travel party has executive function challenges. Maybe you’ve tried to travel before and it didn’t … read more

Planning, Executive Functioning, IEPs

15 “Planning” IEP Goals for Real Life

This article is designed to be utilized with the utmost professional integrity and ethical consideration. It is imperative to acknowledge that directly copying and pasting example goals into student’s IEPs from any external source, including ours, undermines the individualized nature of IEP planning and does not serve the best interests of students. This resource aims … read more

Personal Finance, Planning

Teaching Unique Learners About Saving For Long-Term Purchases

When you think about teaching your child about money, what topics come to mind? More than likely, you’ve considered the need to teach your child about things like saving, budgeting, and perhaps even how to manage a bank account. But have you given any thought to more lofty goals, like how to save money for … read more

Social Skills, Executive Functioning, Planning

How to Write a Social Story (A Step-By-Step Guide)

If you’re working with a child with unique learning needs, you’ve probably heard all about the benefits and potential uses for social stories for students of all ages (even adolescents and young adults!). Social stories can help young learners adjust to new routines, participate in conversations, develop certain life skills, or learn how to interact … read more

EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning, Planning

Planning Skills: Long-Term Supports & Strategies For Diverse Learners

It’s not uncommon for parents and special education professionals to struggle with what skills to teach and in what order to teach them. This struggle applies to executive functioning skills, which are so closely tied to academic and vocational skills (as well as linked to challenging behavior when difficulties arise). It can be challenging to … read more

EF 101 Series, Executive Functioning, Planning

10 Planning Skills Every Child Should Learn

We all know the familiar catchphrases about good planning. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” “Plan your work and work your plan.” “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Planning connects to our culture so much that we spend an astounding $386 million on planner books and organizers annually. Yet … read more