Suggestions for teaching executive functions to rising 3rd grader?

[Anonymous]

DD has difficulty with planning projects and having a sense or time. She is very bright but often takes on too much or has a hard time getting started. The amount of homework at her school jumps up substantially next year and I'd love to work on some of these skills over the summer. Any ideas of where to start? She has a bit of performance anxiety, so the more confident she is of her skils, the better. Anyone BTDT?

[Anonymous]

I would love to see the responses too. I have an 8 year old son with Aspergers who suffers the same issues. I plan to get him a tutor once a week for skill building over the summer but want to work with him as well over the summer to get ready for third grade.

[Anonymous]

Turn summer projects into "projects". Want to do some arts and crafts next week, let's plan it out. Want to go to the farm, let's plan when a good time to go is and what we need, and what we want to bake with afterward. Go to Kings Dominion next weekend? What rides should we go on?

Involve her in all the day to day planning.

[Anonymous]

One thing we did before our DD entered 3rd grade was to break down the steps in writing an essay (introductory paragraph, 3 supporting paragraphs, conclusion), and practice that so that it becomes routine. I've seen others in this forum recommend the workbook "Pattern Based Writing." Also work on how to attack a math word problem (do a search on the web for suggestions); also Kumon workbooks are helpful. We also worked out a system for keeping track of homework. Ensure your child has a clear, designated spot for doing homework, stocked with the materials she needs, and a checklist for listing and completing homework tasks. It also helps going into 3rd grade to have a good understanding of multiplication facts. If that's difficult for your child, do some research online regarding the different ways to learn these, then start working on this over the summer. (We used a combination of flashcards, Flashmaster, and the Schoolhouse Rock video Search on-line for other helpful tips for teaching executive function and organization skills. GL!

[Anonymous]

I'm do not have an ASD but I have ADHD and some of the same problems you listed.
I managed to graduate from college as a software engineer though the problems you listed were the problems that I had in college and throughout school. Even though I graduated, if I would have had a dx and guidance, I could have finished with a much higher GPA, etc.

If I could go back in time, I now realize what I needed:
More time!
It takes me longer, though my output is worth it.
For example, math always came easy to be.
I can do calculus, programming, etc. no problem.
I can also write great essays in English and History and do fine in almost any exam.
But I can't do it all AT THE SAME TIME!

I can do one course at a time, maybe two.
The system really isn't set up that way.
For example, my scholarship required that I take at least 4 courses.
I did and I always got A's in two of them and C's in the other two.
And it was stressful.
Eitherway, it took me 6 years instead of 4.

Anyways, thats just my two cents.
In HS it was the same. I took AP classes and IB classes.
And there was pressure to be "on the top"
I just wish they would have alleviated that pressure and had me do great in two college courses at a time.
I went to a state school, full scholarship.
Because I had a wide variety of interests, I wish someone would have narrowed down a path for me.

Anyways, that's my rant.

I hope the best for you parents and your kids.

Now that I'm a mom too with an aspie kid, I hope I can get him the help he needs.

[Anonymous]

NP here.
Thanks for all the responses so far, I have a quirky 7 year old with those issues (diagnosed as ADHD right now, but potentially Aspie too).

[Anonymous]

Read Smart But Scattered - great resource for parents seeking to improve their child's executive functioning!
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-but-Scattered-Revolutionary-Executive/dp/1593854455

[Anonymous]

Learning a foreign language can help improve executive function.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=foreign-language-improve-decisions&WT.mc_id=SA_MindFacebook

Also, games and creative play can improve executive function. We play a lot of board games with our son. He likes Survive!, Pandemic, Castle Panic, Hey That's My Fish!, and Agricoloa. These help with planning. We also enrolled him in creative drama/improv theater classes for kids.

[Anonymous]

Simplify everything, do less. For kids that are this bright but scattered everything can act as a deflection point.

Also checklists are very important. They help everyone agree on what the outcome should be (this can be very hard for kids) and when they get diverted they have a reference point to go back to. Use this for even morning, wake up, get dressed, breakfast, brush teeth... etc. Kids just sometimes need these type of supports.

[Anonymous]

OP, I found this good summary online:

http://www.csespta.org/Programs/DrChase.pdf

The author breaks interventions into three groups: change the brain, change the environment, and teach EF skills.

For "change the brain" he includes things like getting enough sleep, and interestingly, mentioned "outdoors/nature" but doesn't elaborate.

I say "interestingly" because my child with EF difficulties spent 2 weeks outside all day at a nature camp, and I swear it seems that his brain HAS changed. I have noticed a great deal more maturity, calmness, ability to handle frustration, ability to switch gears, and ability to plan ahead.

I would happily sign him up for a few more weeks if offered, because I see it as very enjoyable therapy for him!