Everything we need to succeed is here: 1. Agile creates visibility. Visibility in turn creates security and control. When I see where I’m supposed to go, I feel safe. Imagine you’re driving in the rain, at night. Now imagine you’re driving on a clear sunny day. Which one makes you feel safer? 2. Agile Kids enables you to clearly set challenges. Our children put up everything on the board. They see what they are up against. It isn’t a vague in their heads. It is there, and belongs to them. They can see what is more and less important, it gives them a sense of control, reduces the confusion and leads them to success. They can also see their progress. I will really ask my children, what do they intend to do tomorrow, next week or next month. And if you are planning a month in advance, what are you going to do? These tasks will go on the board, and we’ll see progress. Prioritize your tasks: This doesn’t mean that we’ll need a board every time we want to challenge ourselves - not at all. In the future, we won’t need the board at all. 3. Challenges according to age and ability Each child chooses their own tasks, and moves forwards at their own pace. The board belongs to the family, and we each have our own tasks. Danny has tasks that are suitable for a first grader, and 12 year old Lisa already has tasks such as babysitting her brother when Mom is late from work. This way, the success is relative and suitable for each age. On the other hand, we can also see where we can move forwards. We see others’ successes and failures, and the children talk to the parents during the daily or weekly meetings, and they learn from their experiences. 4. The key word here is trust I am training myself and my children to see what lies ahead. We are training to divide our tasks into doable actions. I am showing them the way. How a task is created, what happens during the progression, and how it ends. The training will make the board obsolete, but the principle remains the same. I experience successes (because I completed tasks), I saw the way, and I learned how to accomplish this. 5. Success is key I’ll say it again. Children aren’t born with the ability to manage projects. They have to learn how to. They don’t always know how to divide their assignments into tasks, and some learn slower and some learn faster. What’s important is the feeling of success. They don’t need large rewards to feel they were successful - all they need is a smile and to succeed at their homework. That’s enough for them. 6. Listening Listening to the children and listening to ourselves. It’s vital to succeed. Listening to what they have to say about their tasks during the daily meetings, giving them a place to be heard and to express themselves. When I speak, I’m learning and developing. When people listen to me and react to what I say, that strengthens the learning a thousand fold. 7. Empowerment Setting these small goals, even from a young age, and enabling the child to choose their own tasks, is the basis for empowerment (we’ve written more about it here). And empowerment is one of the best ways to succeed. 8. The daily family pulse The daily meetings and the order they bring to the house, send out a message. A message of doing, of support from others when I get stuck. I personally believe, that without these values, luck will be a major factor in our future successes, not our own actions or initiatives. 9. Initiative as a state of mind Initiative is part of empowerment. The children are encouraged to take the initiative. Think of tasks, ask for help from others, and make things move when they get stuck. This isn’t just encouraged - it becomes a state of mind. 10. The state of mind and messages that come from the family and the house affect your children outside as well For example, a singer’s son can become a singer with less effort than others. It’s not just the voice - you have to think like an artist as well, to know how to express your feelings, create, and so on, which is something that the child is immersed in at home every day. The same goes for doctors, or business people. Now, just imagine that you immerse your children in empowerment. Every day, things that come naturally to them, will affect them in the future. Everyone agrees that it doesn’t matter HOW you raise your kids, it affects them a whole lot more than any courses they might take in the future. So isn’t it in our best interests to make sure they get confidence, empowerment, and the ability to follow tasks through? Want to know how? Read the AgileKids book, and of course, get the latest updates from this blog.
Executive Functions serve as a command and control function. Think of your brain as a conductor directing an orchestra. Throughout the day we use these executive skills. For children, this could…
Achingly Relatable Memes And Tweets - Funny memes that "GET IT" and want you to too. Get the latest funniest memes and keep up what is going on in the meme-o-sphere.
Recently I've purchased the Executive Functions Test-Elementary (EFT-E) by Linguisystems and used it with a few clients in my private practice and outpatient hospital-based school program. The EFT-E is a test of language skills that affect executive functions of working memory, problem solving, inferring, predicting outcomes, and shifting tasks. For those of you not familiar with
This workbook focuses on understanding processing speed, learning compensatory strategies, developing routines for success, and practicing processing speed drills. The idea is to first explicitly teach about processing speed, provide techniques and supports, and then give them a variety of timed drill practice to see their growth over time. Important Notes About This Workbook: This workbook is intended to teach about processing speed, provide strategies, and help build confidence for learners. It is not designed to improve any specific processing speed test or assessment. The goal is to empower learners so they can feel and do their best in school and beyond. As unique learners, we all process and work at different speeds. Processing speed does not equal intelligence. This workbook is about helping learners understand processing speed and consider new strategies and techniques that can help them along the way, no matter where they are starting. What is Processing Speed? Processing speed is the rate at which our brains can take in external information, make sense of that information, and perform tasks, as needed. This processing speed workbook focuses on teaching and providing strategies for processing speed. Why Teach Processing Speed? Processing speed is critical to learning. The more efficiently and effectively we can process information, the better we can learn. Some learners struggle significantly with slower processing speeds. These students might struggle to keep up with the class during transitions, be the last to finish assignments, have trouble keeping up with conversations or lectures, struggle taking notes and listening at the same time, or become frustrated when expected to do certain assignments. Brain science has shown that our brains are capable of changing and improving over time. By learning compensatory strategies and practicing activities, kids and young adults can build confidence and learn new techniques. Additionally, learning these skills can help to motivate and empower young learners! Table of Contents Understanding Processing Speed • What is Processing Speed? • Processing Speed Self-Assessment • Brain Plasticity Activating Your Brain • Activating Your Brain • Assessing the Task • Consider Prior Knowledge • Turn Your Focus On • Practice: Activating Your Brain Routines for Success • Routines for Success • Developing Routines • Planning • Assignment Planner • Writing Down Assignments • Organizing Your Materials • Organizing Your Work Space Strategies & Supports • Strategies & Supports • Using Visuals • Finding the Most Important Information • Repeat It Back • Think Break • Make It Meaningful • Chunking Information • Reflecting on the Task Managing Frustration • Managing Frustration • Positive Self-Talk • Coping Strategies Processing Speed Drill Practice • Math Drills: Addition up to 10, up to 20, and multiplication facts • Decipher the Code • Find It! • Word Fluency Drills • Sequence It! • Write It Back! • Missing Letter • Reading Fluency Drills • Word Find • Fill in the Blank No Prep! This workbook requires absolutely no prep from the teacher. Just print, copy, and go at your group's individual pace! All the workbook pages include information and instructions, so you can save yourself the prep time. Note that upon download, you will receive both a black/white AND color version of the workbook! Timed and Untimed Version Included The second half of the workbook includes activities or "drills" to practice some of the skills they have learned. These include puzzles, word searches, and math problems. I have included two different versions. Please choose the one that works best for your learners! Timed Version - Use these for students who want to time themselves and try to beat their previous time. Untimed Version - Use these for students who need to work at their own pace without the pressure of time. Need More Executive Functioning Skills? { Executive Functioning MEGA BUNDLE } Target executive functioning and study skills necessary for academic success at the middle and high school level. The bundle includes over 300 pages full of lessons, templates, and workbook pages to teach study strategies and ways to improve executive functioning skills. It includes a HUGE selection of my executive functioning and study skills materials in one place. ***************************************************************************** Tips for Customers! { Click here to follow my store! } If you have questions or problems please contact me through Product Q & A and I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Disclaimer: These resources and materials are for supplementary support/education purposes and not intended as a replacement for counseling, education, or other necessary supports. Educators, parents, counselors, and others who utilize these materials are encouraged to seek out additional support, as needed. *****************************************************************************
