I break down two research-based study skills for you to try. These strategies are excellent in studying smarter and not harder. They will save you time and energy, while helping you to retain the information.

A full calendar is not always a balanced one. Using the Three Buckets—Growth, Recovery, and Connection—can help us notice where our energy is going and make intentional space for rest, relationships, and responsibilities.

Getting started is often the hardest part, especially when a task feels overwhelming, confusing, or exhausting. In this article, I share how I used two simple task-initiation strategies—taking the first step and removing friction—to make a demanding task easier to begin. These practical, research-based tools can help students and adults move from feeling stuck to making progress, one small step at a time.

Planning ahead is the skill that helps children think beyond the moment. It allows them to anticipate what they will need, prepare before a task begins, and take more ownership of their responsibilities.

Many student challenges are not caused by a lack of ability. Often, children simply have not learned how to plan ahead. They may forget materials, wait until the last minute to study, leave homework at home, or feel overwhelmed by long-term assignments. These moments can be frustrating for both children and parents, but they are also opportunities to build executive function skills.

Instead of gathering everything for your child, try asking:

“What do you need to bring?”
“What might you need while you’re there?”
“Is there anything you should pack now?”

As a parent, I completely understand that it can feel easier to handle these things for your child. But when we pause and let them think it through, we give them a chance to build independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence for the long run.

As a teacher, I've learned that many student struggles can be traced back to one surprisingly simple skill: understanding time. In this first post of my summer executive function series, I'll share why time awareness matters and how families can build this skill through everyday routines, chores, and activities—no worksheets required.

Students have everything at their fingertips, from Google Classroom to apps and reminders, yet many still wait until the last minute to start. This article explores why digital tools are not enough and what students actually need instead.

If you have ever asked your child, “Do you have homework?” and still ended up in a last-minute scramble, you are not alone. The better question is not what they have, but what their plan is.

It All Begins Here…