Category: Teacher Resources
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What is “Executive Functioning Access”?
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in Accountability, Blog, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryExecutive function refers to a core set of cognitive skills that help us manage everyday tasks—skills like working memory, organization, planning and prioritization, time management, cognitive flexibility, task initiation, emotional regulation, perseverance, and more. For neurodivergent individuals, especially those with ADHD or autism, these skills can be more difficult to access or rely on consistently.…
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How to Reset Your Autonomic Nervous System: Quick Relief for Overwhelmed Minds
Have you ever felt like your mind is racing and you cannot calm down—no matter how hard you try? Or maybe the opposite: your brain just shuts off and everything feels foggy, numb, or stuck.These intense and uncomfortable states signal that your autonomic nervous system is sounding the alarm, and it’s time to stop and…
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Emotional Regulation Daily Log: A Simple but Powerful Tool for Neurodivergent Adults
We often talk about time management and productivity when it comes to executive function support, but what about emotional regulation? For neurodivergent adults, managing emotions isn’t just about staying calm—it’s also about navigating overwhelm, avoiding shutdown, identifying patterns, and staying grounded enough to do what matters most. This is where an emotional regulation daily log…
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Executive Function Tools for Neurodivergent Adults: ADHD Strategies That Work
If you’ve ever frustratedly told yourself, “I should be able to manage this like everyone else”—you’re not alone. Many neurodivergent adults have grown up using systems that weren’t built for their brains, trying to make traditional planners, routines, or strategies work, only to feel like they’re constantly falling behind. But the problem isn’t you—it’s that…
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![[Course Video] Tailoring the Wheel of Life for Neurodivergent Minds: A Life Coaching Tool That Actually Fits](https://executivefunctiontoolkit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/thumbnail.png)
[Course Video] Tailoring the Wheel of Life for Neurodivergent Minds: A Life Coaching Tool That Actually Fits
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in Accountability, Blog, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, PDF, Printable & Downloads, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryIf you’ve accepted the role of executive function challenges in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders, then you’ve come a long way from seeing missed deadlines and lost car keys as direct personal failures. Today, we know that these “careless” tendencies often stem from real, neurological differences—and are commonly tied to executive functioning. And yet, many…
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7 Subtle Signs of Emotional Dysregulation (and the EF Skills Behind Them)
In the previous blog post, we examined what emotional dysregulation is and isn’t, exposing how misunderstood and mischaracterized the related concepts are. The science also leaves something to be desired, considering the wide range of prevalence estimates for emotional dysregulation and adult ADHD (estimates suggest emotional dysregulation affects between 30% and 70% of ADHD adults).…
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Part I: The Invisible Struggle with Planners — “I was unsupported, not undisciplined.”
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in Accountability, Blog, Burnout & Overwhelm, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Neurodivergent-Friendly Planners, PDF, Printable & Downloads, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryWhen I got to the 6th grade back in the early 2000s, the school began providing planners at the very beginning of each academic year. I remember flipping through my new planner for the first time—I was so excited to hold it, flip through it, and think about all the things I’d write in it.…
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8 Ways a Brain Dump Supports Executive Function
Sometimes, there’s so much on your mind that you simply can’t manage it all—so you grab a paper and pen and begin jotting down as much as you can. As your stress level recedes some and you gain a little relief, you can be left wondering why that is, since you didn’t really do anything.…
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The Scaffold: Exploring Burnout Through Reflective Journaling
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Have you ever felt like you’re climbing a never-ending ladder, striving to meet expectations that don’t quite align with the core of who you are? If so, then perhaps you’ve also experienced the emotional toll of trying to fit into societal molds, often referred to as burnout. We hear the word “burnout” often enough, but…
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Executive Function Basics: Core Skills, Contributing Factors, and Practical Tips
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in Accountability, Blog, Burnout & Overwhelm, Cognitive Flexibility, Emotional Regulation, Environment and Sensory, Executive Function Coaching, Identity and Self Concept, Motivation & Reward, Strategies and Supports, Student Resources, Task Management, Teacher Resources, Teen Resources, Time Management, Transition, Working MemoryIn a recent essay in the Wall Street Journal, author Jenny Anderson highlights the growing demand for executive functioning support, particularly executive function coaches, amongst school age children. It’s one of the rare times we’ve seen the topic pop-up in the mainstream media. This is a welcome step towards exploring, as a society, the fundamental…