Note: This SOS article is a must read for all parents of struggling students. It's DENSE, so only read it when you have 10 minutes to soak it in. By the time you're done, you'll see your kid in a new light. Oh, and please leave your comment when you're done. One day I had an epiphany I had been working with kids for many years, reading everything I could get my hands on about learning, the brain, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, sensitivities, social emotional issues, etc... And it hit me. Now, … [Read more...]
Search Results for: advocacy
12 Big Mistakes Students Make in September
It's early in the school year, the buzz of the first couple weeks has worn off, and habits begin to set in. Some are good, some not so good. The habits a student practices in September set the tone for the rest of the semester (and often the rest of the school year). The Pattern Unfortunately many students follow this pattern: Strong out of the gates, even excited about school, teachers, friends. Positive attitude, desire to do well. Skate. Things go along "fine" for a few weeks, no … [Read more...]
“What do you do if your child’s school wants the parent to stay out of it?”
A parent sent me this... "What do you do if your child's school wants the parent to stay out of it? I find myself trying really hard to stay out of it, and let my child contact the teacher directly. I will help him remember to do so, and help him formulate an email, but I've found push back if I contact the teacher for clarification." This is SO frustrating and I see it all too often. Don't stay out of it! That teacher does not get it. You care about your kid, so do anything you have to in … [Read more...]
How to bring up grades in a crunch
Note: The vid is 17 minutes long, but trust me, it'll save you so much time and energy, it's absolutely worth it. And... it's pretty good! Download and Print PDF here: Daily habit questions cheat sheet By Seth Perler It's the end of the semester again... It's the end of the semester again, and the predictable pattern for many outside-the-box students rears it's ugly head again. It goes like this... Suddenly, someone, usually a parent, notices that grades have plummeted (even though … [Read more...]
Parent HW
schedules Parent advocacy hw, proactive office hours, QnA, fishbowl fb group mastermind homework journaliing … [Read more...]
The Email You Should Definitely Send Your Teachers This Week
The end of the semester is always a time to be cautious, because, as far as grades are concerned, it's a make-it-or-break-it time for many right brained students. In my years of working with these students, I've noticed a very predictable pattern throughout the semester: Student starts the semester off strong, they are often excited for the fresh start. A few weeks in, things seem to be going "fine," but you may have a sense that something is off. "The Dip" happens 6-8 weeks into … [Read more...]
3 Quick ways to boost grades
First of all, you should know that I don't even believe in letter grades. They are generally an archaic and ineffective way of communicating useful information about our children's education. They are subject to much interpretation, which is often very misleading. We don't even question the validity of letter grades, instead we blindly continue to accept them as a fact of life. Fortunately, more and more schools are getting creative about developing more authentic and qualitative methods … [Read more...]
What is Executive Functioning? How Does it Affect My Child? (In Plain English + Free PDF cheatsheet)
Click here take the Executive Function Quiz Why is an article about Executive Function so critical? If your child struggles with school (homework, trouble staying on-task, disorganized, problems with time management, avoidant, resistant, forgetful, overwhelmed, etc.), they probably struggle with Executive Function, and this article is literally the most important article I've written for you. You see, Executive Function is the #1 term parents and teachers must understand in order to help … [Read more...]
Advice from a professional 7th grader
Please CLICK above to share. One of my favorite questions to ask students of any age is, "what advice would you give yo your younger self?" It's the type of open-ended question that empowers people to get really introspective really fast. It helps people come up with their own answers, to gain clarity, to take ownership of their own growth. In this video I am speaking with Diego, a 7th grader I work with. Brilliant kid, uber-creative, outside-the-box thinker, and funny. He has a lot … [Read more...]
SSST #5/5 “The Systems Check”
Here's the 15 minute video... Seth’s Student Success Toolkit mini-course (SSST) Tool 5/5 "The Systems Check" Summary The "Systems Check" is something I designed in order to take a quick temperature of all the systems students need to manage. I wanted it to be simple, quick and thorough enough so I could pinpoint problem areas that need to be addressed. Originally I used it to guide conversations with my students, then I started teaching it to my students who were ready for more … [Read more...]
Events & Workshops
(If you want to learn about how to hire me to speak or run a workshop, click here) Upcoming events Executive Function Workshop for Parents of Gifted Learners Walk away with actionable solutions and ideas! Learn about your gifted child’s brain and how to help with struggles around homework, organization, time management, priorities, self-regulation, overwhelm, and more. Enroll now for free by hitting REPLY. There are only 30 seats, so SIGN UP TODAY. Who: Seth Perler, Education … [Read more...]
Down to the wire: How to pull it together at the end of a semester
Watch out! It's the end of the semester, a few weeks before break, and it's not uncommon for things to fall apart seemingly at the last minute. Unfortunately, many students fail classes they could have passed if they took certain actions. The end of the semester arrives before you know it, and sometimes it's too little too late. Next thing you know you're signing up for summer school or retaking classes... Not fun and very discouraging. Usually this happens with students who feel overwhelmed … [Read more...]
Advocating via email
Please CLICK above to share. Unfortunately, many advocacy efforts have little effect, so it's important to make every step count as much as possible. In this post I will explain how I help families write advocacy emails at the beginning of the school year. This is mainly for elementary through high school but can be applied to college students as well (see the end of the video, go to min. 9). How to write the email: Note: These are just my recommendations. Take what you like and leave … [Read more...]
Start Here: How My Blog Helps You
Please *CLICK* above if you want to share my work. Thanks! -Seth The super-quick version of how my site helps you: If you're a parent, educator or professional who wants better strategies for helping struggling students, so they can have better lives, I made this site for you. Sign up below and I email you new strategies every Sunday plus a free Executive Function Toolkit to help you understand and implement my approach to helping kids. Click To Get Free Student Success Toolkit A more … [Read more...]
Search My Free Resources
Executive Function videos, blogs, podcasts, and PDF resources for parents and students. MAIN INDEX - Includes: Videos I made for STUDENTS Videos for PARENTS & TEACHERS Podcasts Blog articles Printable PDFs I made for you New to my site? Start with these... My True Story - Bio: My struggles as a student and how I overcame them. Executive Function - Why EF is the most important thing parents and teachers must understand, but don't. 2e / Twice-exceptional - Find … [Read more...]