You've tried everything. You've set up a homework routine. You've talked to teachers. You've tried rewards and consequences. You've helped with organization. You've been patient and supportive. And your child is still struggling. Here's what's probably happening: you're addressing the wrong problem. Not because you're doing anything wrong, but because it's really hard to see what's actually getting in the way. When a child struggles academically, we tend to jump straight to s

From Understanding to Action You've learned to recognize executive function and SEL skill gaps. You've observed patterns in your students. You understand that academic struggles often stem from these foundational skills, not content knowledge. Now what? Because noticing the problem is only half the battle. The real question is: what do you actually do when a student is struggling? That's what we're tackling today. Practical, targeted strategies that address the most common ac

Picture this: Two kids take the same test. Both get a C. One child looks at the grade, feels disappointed for a minute, and moves on. They ask the teacher what they got wrong and make a plan to study differently next time. The other child sees that C and falls apart. They cry. They shut down. They declare they're stupid and school is pointless. They refuse to even look at what they got wrong because it feels too overwhelming. Same test. Same grade. Completely different reacti

The Problem with Prioritizing Compliance Let's be honest. Most of us were trained to value compliance in the classroom. The "good student" sits quietly, raises their hand, follows directions the first time, and doesn't disrupt the lesson. The challenging student questions rules, has big emotional reactions, or can't seem to "just do what they're told." We've built entire classroom management systems around compliance. Behavior charts. Clip systems. Reward programs for followi

Let's start with a scenario you've probably lived through a hundred times. Your child sits down to do homework. You've set up everything they need. Books, pencils, a quiet space. They know what they're supposed to do. But 20 minutes later, they're still sitting there. Staring at the page. Fidgeting. Getting up for water. Starting and stopping. Getting frustrated. Meanwhile, that same child spent three hours yesterday building an elaborate world in Minecraft. Completely focuse

Why Observation Matters More Than Assessment You don't need a formal assessment to understand which executive function skills your students are struggling with. You need to know what to look for. Because the truth is, students show you every single day. They show you when they can't get started on an assignment. When they forget materials even though you just reminded them. When they rush through work or shut down during challenging tasks. When they struggle to work with peer

The Student Who "Should Be" Doing Better Let me guess. You have at least one student right now who's confusing you. They're clearly capable. They participate in discussions. They understand the concepts when you explain them. But when it comes time to actually do the work? Something falls apart. Maybe they can't get started. Maybe they rush through and make careless mistakes. Maybe they shut down the second something gets hard. Maybe they're disorganized, distractible, or con

Let's talk about something that's probably keeping you up at night. Your child is smart. You know this. Their teachers know this. But somehow, school is still a struggle. They forget their homework. They lose track of assignments. They study for the test but freeze when it's time to take it. They can explain a concept perfectly at home but can't show what they know on paper. And everyone keeps telling you the same thing: "They just need to apply themselves more." "They need t

Life throws challenges at all of us, and kids are no exception. School pressures, friendship struggles, and big changes at home can all bring stress. While we can't remove every challenge, we can give kids the tools to handle them with confidence. That's where resilience comes in. Building resilience in kids isn't about pushing them to "be tough." It's about teaching healthy ways to manage stress, solve problems, and keep going when things get hard. And the good news? Familie

I used to think my job was to help kids feel better as quickly as possible. Remove the stressor, solve the problem, ease the anxiety. Turns out, I was accidentally teaching kids they couldn't handle difficult emotions on their own. Building long-term resilience isn't about eliminating stress from children's lives - it's about helping them develop confidence in their ability to navigate whatever comes their way. What Long-Term Resilience Actually Looks Like Resilient kids don'

"I'm fine." If I had a dollar for every time a clearly-not-fine child told me they were fine, I could fund my own research study. Here's what I've learned: when kids say "fine," they're not lying. They're telling us something important about their capacity to communicate about their inner world at that moment. Why Kids Struggle to Communicate About Stress Developmental Factors  Young brains are still developing the neural pathways that connect emotions to language. What feels

Stress doesn't wait for a convenient time to show up. Kids can feel anxious right before a test, during a transition, or even when they're trying to fall asleep. While routines and structure help prevent some stress, children also need tools they can use right in the moment. That's where calming strategies come in. Teaching calming strategies for kids gives them practical ways to soothe their minds and bodies when anxiety starts to build. Understanding Stress in Kids: Why Cal

I used to think the kid who couldn't do breathing exercises was just being "difficult." Turns out, I was asking him to use a Ferrari-level skill when he was still learning to ride a bicycle. Most traditional coping strategies assume kids already have emotional regulation skills. But what works for children who are just beginning to understand their emotions, let alone manage them? Why Traditional Coping Strategies Often Fail Kids The Deep Breathing Problem  Deep breathing req

Life can feel unpredictable for kids. They don't always know what's coming next, and that uncertainty can quickly lead to stress or anxiety. The good news? One of the simplest ways to help is also one of the most effective: routines. Establishing routines for kids' anxiety doesn't mean making life boring or rigid. It means giving them predictable patterns that help them feel grounded, safe, and capable of handling what's ahead. Why Routines for Kids Anxiety Work: The Science

Picture this: Eight-year-old Maya is having a complete meltdown because her pencil broke. To adults, this seems like a massive...

When most of us think about stress, we picture long workdays, bills, or deadlines. But stress isn't just an adult problem — kids...

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored practical ways to help kids get organized—using checklists, color codes, and step-by-step plans....

In education, it’s easy to focus on what’s missing. We run assessments, review skill deficits, and write goals based on gaps. But if...

Making Planning Routines Work for Real Life  So you’ve set up a checklist. You made a weekly planner. Your child helped create the...

Self-advocacy is more than a buzzword—it’s a vital life skill. When students can identify and communicate their needs, they’re better...