Beyond Backpacks: Setting Up for School Success (Part 2)

As summer starts to wrap up and the back-to-school excitement kicks in, most of us are thinking about new backpacks, fresh school supplies, and meeting this year’s teacher. Those things matter—but there’s something even more important that often gets missed: executive function skills. These behind-the-scenes brain skills are what really help kids start the year strong, no matter what grade they’re in. In my last blog, I described how parents can help their children establish routines, get organized, and make time tangible. This blog explains how parents can help their children become more flexible, manage impulses, and develop a working memory.

Flexible Thinking & Problem Solving: Embracing the Unexpected

School life rarely goes exactly as planned. Cultivating flexible thinking helps children adapt.

Brainstorming Solutions: When a problem arises (“I forgot my lunch!”, “I don’t understand this math problem!”), resist the urge to immediately solve it for them. Instead, ask, “What are some ways we could solve this?” or “What’s your plan B?”
Role-Playing Scenarios: Practice different social situations or academic challenges through role-playing. “What would you do if you finished your work early?” or “How would you ask for help if you’re stuck?”
Emphasize Learning from Mistakes: Reframe mistakes as opportunities for growth. “That didn’t work out as you planned. What did you learn from it? What could you try differently next time?”

Sustained Attention & Impulse Control: Fostering Focus

In an increasingly distracting world, the ability to focus is paramount.

Minimize Distractions: During homework time, create a low-distraction environment. Turn off TVs, put away phones, and limit background noise.
“First/Then” Statements: For younger children, “First, finish your reading, then you can have screen time.” This helps them understand expectations and build perseverance.
Mindfulness Exercises: Simple mindfulness activities (like focusing on breath for a minute or doing a quick body scan) can help children learn to regulate their attention and emotions.
Delayed Gratification: Practice waiting for desired outcomes. This could be waiting for dessert or saving up for a toy. These small acts build impulse control over time.

Working Memory: Remembering and Applying Information

Working memory is about holding information in mind to use it for a task.

Active Recall: Instead of just re-reading notes, encourage your child to explain concepts in their own words or quiz them on material.
Visual Aids: Use graphic organizers, mind maps, or drawings to help children visualize and connect information.
Break Down Instructions: Give instructions in smaller chunks. For multi-step directions, have your child repeat them back to you to ensure understanding.
Games that Boost Memory: Incorporate games like “Simon Says,” “Memory,” or “I Spy” to playfully strengthen working memory.

Remember, building executive function skills isn’t a one-and-done deal—it’s a journey that grows over time with practice and patience. Involve your child in the process whenever you can. Let them help craft their routines, test out different ways to stay organized, and come up with creative solutions when things don’t go as planned. When kids feel ownership, they’re far more likely to stick with the strategies that work for them.

These skills aren’t just for school—they’re for life. By starting now, you’re giving your child a head start on navigating challenges, staying focused, and becoming a confident, independent problem-solver in an ever-changing world. So here’s to progress, partnership, and a fantastic school year ahead!

Beyond Backpacks: Setting Up for School Success (Part 1)

As a special education teacher, I know that school success isn’t just about what kids know—it’s about how they use what they know. That’s where executive function skills come in. Think of them as the brain’s “CEO”—they help kids plan, stay organized, manage their time, stay on task, handle emotions, and roll with the punches when things change. These skills are a huge part of how kids do in school, with friends, and even at home. And here’s the best part: they’re not set in stone. We can help kids build and strengthen these skills with the right support and practice.

With the start of a new school year upon us, now is the perfect time to intentionally cultivate these vital abilities. Here’s how you can support your child’s executive function skills for a smoother, more successful academic journey.

The Power of Planning: Establishing Routines and Organization

A predictable routine provides a sense of security and significantly reduces mental load, freeing up brainpower for learning.

Create a Centralized “Command Center”: Dedicate a visible spot in your home (a bulletin board, a whiteboard in the kitchen) for a family calendar. Mark school holidays, extracurricular activities, project due dates, and even family appointments. For older students, encourage them to maintain their own digital or physical planner.
Morning and Evening Rituals: Establish consistent routines for before and after school. This isn’t just about brushing teeth; it includes packing lunches, laying out clothes, organizing backpacks, and deciding on a consistent homework time. Write these routines down for younger children using pictures, or a checklist for older ones.
Designated Study Space: Help your child set up a clutter-free, consistent workspace. This doesn’t need to be elaborate; it could be a corner of their room or a specific spot at the kitchen table. The key is that it’s reliably available and conducive to focus, equipped with necessary supplies.

Time Management: Making Time Tangible

Time is an abstract concept, especially for elementary students. Making it concrete helps them manage tasks effectively.

Visual Timers: For younger children, use sand timers or visual timers that show time ticking down. This helps them understand how long 10 or 20 minutes really is for a task.

“Chunking” Tasks: Large assignments can feel overwhelming. Help your child break down big projects into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of “Write a report,” suggest “First, research topic. Next, create an outline. Then, write introduction.”
Estimating Time: Practice estimating how long tasks will take. “How long do you think it will take to clean your room? Let’s set a timer and see!” This builds self-awareness and improves future planning.
The Pomodoro Technique (for older students): Encourage focused work sessions ( 25 minutes) followed by short breaks (5 minutes). This can dramatically improve focus and prevent burnout. Check out your phone’s app store and grab a timer for free.

These executive function skills are not just helpful for school. They are critical for life. My next blog will describe the power of planning, how to sustain attention, and increase our child’s working memory.

Summer Boundaries for Kids!

It is summer and children are filled with enthusiasm and passion for adventure and wanting to try new experiences. Many parents struggle with how to keep their children healthy and happy during long summer days. Some families schedule many summertime activities and camps for their children. Others reinforce a more relaxed lifestyle with some special family planned activities and lots of free time for exploring. Some children are busy with sports activities while others spend endless hours playing online games and watching television. Summarized below are five considerations for family fun with a balance of structure and free play activities.

Keeping Balance in Daily Life

It is difficult to balance each child’s daily schedule when planning camps, sports activities, and family play. Some children thrive with lots of scheduled activities while others are overwhelmed and need lots of free time to relax and decompress from daily life. When our kids are overscheduled or bored, they fight more and are more anxious about daily life. Identifying an appropriate balance of activities for each child’s temperament and personality can be challenging for parents. Some helpful strategies include:

Help each child identify 1 to 3 activities for summer play and make a plan to complete each activity.
Adjust the daily schedule when activities are exhausting to allow time to relax and rest.
Keep family life simple and relaxed during days of busy schedules.

Reinforcing Healthy Growth and Behaviors

During the summer parents can help their children develop healthy growth and behaviors by setting limits and consequences for positive behaviors and misbehaviors. For example, parents and their children can create a list of healthy behaviors that can be rewarded weekly with a special activity. Another list can be created for identifying misbehaviors that can result in timeouts or the loss of a daily privilege. For example, if a child acts aggressively towards his siblings, he may lose his screen time privilege for a day. The consequences for positive and negative behaviors should be reinforced by both parents to be fully effective and rewarding.

Maintaining Adult Supervision with Daily Adventures

Summertime offers abundant opportunities for children to explore nature with their family. Although children will not be formally learning academic subjects, many family outings can include science discovery and historical site visits. Camping, hiking, picnics, beach days, and visiting local and national parks offer extraordinary opportunities for children to learn more about their communities. When older children venture out into their communities to meet up with friends, it is important to have them check in with parents and caregivers on a predetermined schedule to ensure they are O.K. It is important for parents and caregivers to be accountable to their children as they begin to explore their neighborhood and community. Parents and caregivers’ responsible actions and availability can encourage children’s healthy development and confident independence.

Managing Screen Time and Summer Learning Opportunities

Children need a healthy mix of outside play, exploration, and learning throughout the summer. Learning should be fun and can include learning new hobbies, art projects, sports, academic subjects, and visiting family historical sites. These activities provide opportunities for reading and applying mathematical concepts. One child may create a vending machine mockup toy while another may create a masterful watercolor. Other children may spend their time practicing a sport, planning the family vacation, or learning how to cook a meal. Screen time can be educational but must be limited to ensure the children live balanced and engaging lives with their families and friends.

Honoring Sleep Schedules and Bedtimes

Many children’s sleep schedules are very relaxed during the summer. Some kids will stay up most of the night playing on phones or laptops. It is important to set a healthy sleep schedule for all family members to ensure that all can function in a productive way throughout the day. The added benefit is that children are more rested to tolerate stress and conflicts with parents, siblings, and friends. Additionally, children are able to adjust easily to getting up early for the new school year in the next few weeks. For example, we have our children leave their electronics charging in the kitchen at night after we go to bed to ensure none of us are interrupted from a restful sleep.

May the last weeks of summer be filled with wonderful memories of new adventures, play, and loving relationships with family and friends.

Summer Learning for Kids!

The sun is shining, the days are longer, and summer adventures are calling! While this season brings plenty of excitement for families, it can also stir up a familiar concern for many parents: the “summer slide.” You’ve probably heard the term—it refers to the learning loss that can happen over the extended school break. But what if we looked at it from a different angle? Instead of viewing summer as a setback, we can embrace it as a valuable opportunity—a chance to spark curiosity, encourage growth, and nurture a love of learning, all while still soaking up the joy and freedom that summer brings.

The key is to shift our perspective from academic drills to engaging, experiential learning. Summer is a time for exploration, and learning can be seamlessly woven into almost any activity.

Embrace the Great Outdoors

Nature offers an incredible playground for learning. A trip to the local park isn’t just about swinging; it’s a chance to observe insects, identify trees, or even calculate the trajectory of a frisbee. A hike can become a lesson in local plants and animals, navigation, or simply the joy of discovery.

Become Backyard Biologists: Invest in a magnifying glass and a simple bug identification book. Encourage your child to observe the creatures in your garden or a nearby park.
Stargazing Scientists: On a clear night, spread a blanket and look up! Download a stargazing app to identify constellations and planets. Talk about the vastness of space and the wonders of the universe.
Nature Journaling: Encourage your child to draw or write about what they see and experience in nature. This fosters observation skills and creative expression.

Turn Everyday Activities into Learning Adventures

Learning doesn’t have to be done during the school year. Many daily routines provide opportunities to build skills that children need throughout life.

Kitchen Chemistry: Cooking and baking are fantastic ways to practice math (measuring, fractions), reading (recipes), and even science (chemical reactions!). Let your child help plan a meal, follow the recipe, and discuss the changes they observe.
Financial Literacy Fun: Give your child a small allowance for chores and encourage them to save for a desired item. Take them grocery shopping and let them help compare prices and calculate the best deals.
Board Game Brain Boosts: Many classic board games are stealthily educational. Chess and checkers enhance strategic thinking, while Scrabble boosts vocabulary and spelling. Even simple card games can improve number recognition and basic math skills.

Nourish a Love for Reading (Without Making It a Chore)

The summer slide often impacts reading skills. The goal isn’t to force reading, but to make it an enjoyable and natural part of their day.

Library Explorers: Regular trips to the library are a must! Let your child choose books that genuinely interest them, regardless of genre or perceived academic level. Many libraries have summer reading programs with fun incentives.
Audiobook Adventures: For reluctant readers or during long car rides, audiobooks are a fantastic option. They expose children to new vocabulary and storytelling, keeping their minds engaged.
Reading Nooks: Create a cozy and inviting reading space at home or outside, complete with blankets, pillows, and a stack of appealing books.

Remember Fun Is Key

Summer is a precious time for children to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories. By thoughtfully integrating learning into their joyful experiences, we can turn the “summer slide” into a launching pad for new interests, stronger skills, and a deeper appreciation for the world around them. So, embrace the sunshine, unleash your creativity, and make this summer an unforgettable season of growth and laughter!

Focusing on Your Child’s Learning Progress and Not Perfection

“Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget the journey.” by Michael Josephson

We knew the school year would end when the year started, but never realized how fast it would come. It’s hard to stop, step back, and just look at how far we’ve come. The mountains we have climbed or the forever-long valleys that we thought would never end, but we did it. We all did hard things. We grew.

As a special education teacher, I’ve had the privilege of watching hundreds of students grow academically, socially, emotionally, and personally. Some students leap ahead quickly, others take smaller steps, and a few struggle quietly in the shadows. But one thing I’ve learned is this: progress looks different for every child, and it all matters. Every small victory, no matter how tiny it may seem, deserves to be celebrated at the end of the year or whenever they happen.

As parents, getting caught up in benchmarks, grades, comparisons, or even the long road ahead is easy. We worry if our child is reading at grade level, keeping up in math, or getting along with others. We scroll through social media and see other kids’ achievements and start wondering, “Are we doing enough? Is my child falling even further behind with everything we’re doing?” But I want to remind you: Your child’s journey is their own. And every bit of progress counts.

Why Focusing on Progress Matters

Children are not machines—they don’t develop at the same pace or in the same way. Some kids take off in reading in kindergarten, while others might not find their rhythm until second or third grade. Some struggle with reading or math for years, then suddenly it comes together. The path isn’t linear. It’s full of dips, turns, plateaus, and bursts.

When we celebrate only the big moments—the awards, the perfect test scores, the standout performances—we unintentionally send a message that only perfection is worthy of praise. But when we recognize the small wins—completing a book, staying focused for 10 minutes, asking for help, using kind words—we help our children build confidence and resilience.

Progress is what leads to success. And acknowledging it fuels motivation.

What Small Victories Look Like

Small victories aren’t always flashy. They often happen quietly, in moments you might miss if you aren’t watching closely. Here are just a few examples I’ve seen:

A student who used to avoid reading time finally picks a book on their own
A child who struggles with handwriting writes a whole sentence without giving up
A student with anxiety raises their hand to answer a question in front of the class
A child who’s been impulsive takes a deep breath and uses a strategy to stay calm
A third grader remembers their math facts with just a little less prompting

These are real, meaningful steps forward. They’re often the result of hard work, perseverance, and support—both at school and at home. And they’re worth celebrating. And perhaps a very loud cheerleader in your corner, never giving up and always moving the needle forward no matter the time of year.

Shifting the Focus at Home

So, how can you, as a parent, help your child focus on progress rather than perfection? Here are a few ideas that come straight from my experience in the classroom and conversations with other families:

Notice the Effort: Instead of asking, “Did you get 100%?” try asking, “What did you learn today?” or “What felt easier than it used to?” Celebrate the effort your child puts into their work, even if the result isn’t perfect. Praise things like persistence, creativity, courage, and problem-solving.
“Last Day” Shout-Out: Take a picture of your child holding a sign that celebrates a specific win (“I mastered my multiplication facts!” or “I learned to ask for help when I need it!”).
Special Treat or Activity: Let them pick a fun, low-cost way to celebrate: a walk to the park, popsicles after dinner, or staying up 15 minutes later.
Create a Victory Journal or Jar: Start a family habit of writing down “wins” in a notebook or dropping notes in a jar. They can be school-related or personal: “I stood up for a friend today.” “I tried broccoli again.” “I spelled ‘because’ right without looking.” Review these wins regularly. They become a tangible reminder of growth.
Reframe Comparison: When your child says, “Everyone else is better than me,” gently remind them that every learner is on their own path. You can say, “Let’s talk about how far you’ve come,” and point to specific examples. Try using “then and now” language: “You used to need help to read that page. Now you can do it on your own!”

A Word of Encouragement

If your child is struggling, whether it’s with schoolwork, behavior, or friendships, please know this: their struggles do not define them. They are growing every day in ways that may not show up on a report card. And you, as their parent, are making a difference, just by cheering them on.

You don’t need to wait for perfect moments to celebrate your child. Celebrate when they keep trying. Celebrate when they show kindness. Celebrate when they bounce back from disappointment and when they take those first steps down the stairs on their own. These are the victories that shape character and build lifelong learners.

End of the School Year Growth Reflections

As we wrap up the school year, it’s the perfect time to reflect not only on report card grades but also on the many layers of growth that might not show up in traditional ways. Whether your child is in kindergarten or high school, every grade level presents unique challenges, and every child makes progress in their own time. Maybe your first grader finally mastered those tricky sight words, or your middle schooler became more independent with homework. Maybe your high schooler stepped up with better time management, stronger self-advocacy or learned how to cook. These are the wins that build confidence and maturity, and they deserve recognition just as much as academic scores.

For families of students with IEPs, this time of year can bring both pride and questions. You may be reviewing progress reports and wondering how your child did on their goals. While some IEP goals may be fully met, others might still be in progress, and that’s okay. IEPs are living documents meant to grow with your child. Progress on goals, even if it’s not complete, often reflects significant growth: increased independence, improved focus, or stronger communication skills. When you look at the progress, try to see the full picture of effort, support, and resilience. Celebrate what your child has accomplished—and know that every step forward, no matter how small, is a step toward greater success next year.

Tell Students How Much They Have Accomplished

In my classroom, I make it a point to recognize progress out loud. I say things like, “I know that was hard for you. I love how you persevered through it.” I invite you to do the same at home.

Ultimately, education is a marathon, not a sprint. By shifting our focus from the idea of perfection to the tangible reality of progress, we empower our children and uplift ourselves. Let’s choose to see the beauty in each small victory, for it is in these moments that we truly see the strength, resilience, and spirit of our children.

Education is about celebrating the little things as we climb the mountain to graduation. Celebrate every tiny victory. Those things matter.

As the year comes to a close, from learning to walk up or down the stairs to taking the first steps to learning to read or making it to all your classes to graduate–those little things matter. What can you help your child celebrate?