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With working memory reported to be the number one indicator of academic success, it's surprising that most teachers and parents know little about it. Working memory is like a mental dry erase board where we post information until we need to use it in short-term memory.  This information is accessible through one's inner visualizations as well as one's inner voice. There are a Number of Misconceptions about Working Memory: 1) Myth : Kids with a weak working memory have ADHD or other learning disabilities. 1) Truth:  Some kids just have a weak working memory that doesn't warrant a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability. 2) Myth:  Kids with a weak working memory can't remember what they learn. 2) Truth:  Memory strategies & exercises can bypass and remediate a weak working memory. 3) Myth:  Kids with a weak working memory always have problems with executive functioning skills. 3) Truth:  Working memory is only one small part of executive fu...

An awesome sunset will likely capture one’s attention for a minute or two, but much of our sensory processing information remains overlooked. Although we are subconsciously processing our surroundings with our senses so that we can navigate our environment, being consciously aware of this sensory input is less common. I’ll never forget a seventh grade student, Mary, that I had in a study skills course. One afternoon, she came bursting into the classroom and eagerly shared a profound revelation. Mary had consciously decided to focus her attention and listen in class, and she was astonished at how easy it was to learn. Individuals of all ages have the ability to get “lost in thoughts,” and these distractions can be past experiences, future predictions, fantasies, worries, or even new and creative ideas. In fact, many of us are so tangled in the past and the future, that we miss the present moment. Students that struggle with processing sensory information in the moment are often diagno...

Mindfulness-based approaches to learning are attracting more and more teachers, therapists and school administrators. Mindfulness refers to being completely in touch with and aware of the present moment, as well as taking a non-evaluative and non-judgmental approach to one's inner experience. These methods are helping students, as well as their teachers, learn how to manage and minimize stress, become active engaged participants, enhance memory and learning, improve classroom climates, and even develop supportive communities. Mindfulness-based programs empower students to self-regulate, develop emotional intelligence, and gain a sense of control over both their minds and bodies. Classrooms today are faced with endless distractions including electronic devices, competitive classroom environments, ever-increasing administrative expectations, and both real and virtual violence. What’s more, competing diversions bombard learners, even when they are at home. This high-pressure lifestyle...

I'm so pleased to announce the release of my new Publication: Executive Functioning Game: No Match Penguin! It is the third of a series of four executive functioning games that I have been creating over the past couple months. My students have been active participants in the creation and testing of this game, and they love it!   No Match Penguin is the simplest of all the games involves and can be played individually or against an opponent.  This game was created to exercise working memory, attention to detail, stamina, response inhibition, as well as mental shifting and sustained attention. It can be used to exercise core cognitive skills, as a warm-up to integrate the two hemispheres of the brain, and it can also be used as a fun brain break.  It’s great for individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, visual processing issues and executive functioning disorder.  It can also be used with the head injured and the elderly. Card Descriptions: All 27 cards include a mother and...

I'm so excited to announce the release of my new Publication: Executive Functioning Game: Memory Master! It is the second of a series of four executive functioning games that I have been working on over the past six months. I’ve played it with my students, and it is ridiculously fun! Memory Master is a fabulously fun game for everyone, but it can also serve as a tool that exercises working memory, attention to detail, management of distractions, stamina, response inhibition, as well as mental shifting and sustained attention. This game can be used to integrate the two hemispheres of the brain, provide a fun brain break, and it can benefit individuals with ADHD, learning disabilities such as dyslexia, executive functioning disorder as well as the head injured and the elderly. Card Descriptions: Sample Memory Master card All 30 cards include six memory challenge actions, three activities and a distractor. For 1 to 4 Players/Teams: A parent, therapist or teacher can challenge a single...