Executive Functioning

RESOURCES

Mark Ylvisaker, PhD created an informative website on executive functioning, including tutorials that demonstrate techniques, user friendly info for parents, teachers and other professionals, etc.   http://www.bianys.org/learnet

Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary “Executive Skills” Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by EdD Peg Dawson and PhD Richard Guare Phd (Guildford Press, 2009)

From Amazon review: Drawing on this revolutionary discovery, school psychologist Peg Dawson and neuropsychologist Richard Guare have developed an innovative program that parents and teachers can use to strengthen kids’ abilities to plan ahead, be efficient, follow through, and get things done. Smart but Scattered provides ways to assess children’s strengths and weaknesses and offers guidance on day-to-day issues like following instructions in the classroom, doing homework, completing chores, reducing performance anxiety, and staying cool under pressure. Small steps add up to big improvements, enabling these kids to build the skills they need to live up to their full potential. More than 40 reproducibles are included.

Executive Function in Education: From Theory to Practice by Lynn Meltzer PhD (Guildford press, 2007)

Book Description:  This uniquely integrative book brings together leading researchers and practitioners from education, neuroscience, and psychology. It presents a theoretical framework for understanding executive function difficulties together with a range of effective approaches to assessment and instruction. Coverage includes executive function processes in specific disorders–language-based learning disabilities, nonverbal learning disabilities, and autism spectrum disorders–as well as ways to support all students in developing vital skills for self-directed learning. Specific teaching methods are discussed for reading, writing, and math. Scholarly and authoritative yet highly practical, the book provides guidelines for intervening at the level of the individual child, the classroom, and the entire school.

Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention by Peg Dawson, EdD and Richard Guare, PhD (Guilford Press, 2003)

Book Description:  This book provides information in how to assess for executive dysfunction but it’s strength lies  in the detailed coverage and multiple examples of interventions, including environmental modifications, interventions addressing specific executive skills, coaching, and home based and classroom based strategies.  Research based interventions discussed are practical and feasible for teachers and parents to use on a regular basis. Multiple, diverse case examples are provided to aid readers in understanding the nuances of assessment and treatment, and many helpful handouts facilitate implementation.

Tasks Of Problem Solving: Elementary by Linda Bowers, Rosemary Huisingh, Carolyn LoGiudice (http://www.linguisystems.com/itemdetail.php?id=742)

A strong language system is essential to develop strong thinking skills. Now your students with language impairments will gain language/thinking skills that will allow them to succeed in their classrooms, communities, and homes. Designed for students with impairments in language and problem-solving skills; builds skills in expressive language semantics vocabulary; boosts skills in critical thinking and problem solving as students learn to think and express their ideas and reason in general information (answering wh- and how questions), identifying problems, justifying opinions, generalization of skills, etc.

From Chaos to Calm:  Effective Parenting for Challenging Children with ADHD and Other Behavioral Problems   by Janet E. Heininger, Ph.D., and Sharon K. Weiss, M.Ed. Foreward by Sam Goldstein, Ph.D., coauthor of Raising Resilient Children

“This fascinating new book provides unique perspectives and helpful suggestions for parents of challenging children including:

-Establishing daily routines

-Setting realistic goals

-Learning to deal with stalling, forgetting, overreacting and other behavioral problems

-Working with teachers and finding professional help when needed

-Engaging in proactive, not reactive, parenting

-Avoiding common traps and pitfalls when dealing with a challenging child

-Teaching important skills