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Focusing more on the WHY a strategy or tool is helpful or not helpful.

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Focusing more on the WHY a strategy or tool is helpful or not helpful.

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helping my students figure out what helps them focus or when they work best to help them make decisions that will help them learn  

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helping my students figure out what helps them focus or when they work best to help them make decisions that will help them learn  

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I like the color-coded sticky notes to organize tasks by priority

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I like the color-coded sticky notes to organize tasks by priority

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Pause & Reflect.. please share:
-Something new you learned
-What resonated most for you
-How you plan to integrate what you learned

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EF has a big impact on conversational skills

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EF has a big impact on conversational skills

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Executive functioning develops differently based on environment, abilities, etc.

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It is dependent upon emotional regulation

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It is dependent upon emotional regulation

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It is foundational to learning and applicable to all of us.

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Executive functioning skills are crucial for planning/completing tasks

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The importance of knowing that emotions greatly impact EF

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EF is imperative to academic progress.

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It is required for successful learning and producing skills learned.

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I am realizing more and more that wait time and pauses are essential for many of my students.

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I am realizing more and more that wait time and pauses are essential for many of my students.

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Supporting Strategic Learning with Executive Functioning

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How To Multiply Your Time | Rory Vaden | TEDxDouglasville

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Chunking helps students approach challenging texts by breaking down content into manageable pieces.

English & Language Arts

History

Social Studies

Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.

- Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY

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Chunking helps students approach challenging texts by breaking down content into manageable pieces.

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No one wants to hang out with me. I'm a failure at school. All my other friends seem happy. What's wrong with me?
These kinds of negative thoughts are becoming more common in our homes and schools. Teens are experiencing increased anxiety, and studies indicate that college students in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States are becoming more perfectionistic over time, measuring themselves against unrealistic standards.

Why is this happening? We can't say for sure-but we do know there are steps teens can take to improve their mental health.

A 2018 study of early adolescents suggests that self-concept (your perception of self) plays a central role in emotional well-being. According to the study, a supportive classroom environment and positive social relationships also affect teen well-being-but the impact is indirect. Positive self-concept seems to be the key variable in the well-being equation. If a student feels good about herself, then she may be more likely to connect with others and benefit from the supports provided at school.

So, how can we influence how students think about themselves? This may feel like a very tall order; yet there is a lot of research out there that provides some clues for supporting the teens in your life. Here are five ways to help tweens and teens move toward a more positive self-concept.

1. Get physical

Although you may have heard this before, kids really can benefit from regular exercise (especially when their tendency is to sit in front of a screen). A recent review of 38 international studies indicates that physical activity alone can improve self-esteem and self-concept in children and adolescents.

Apparently, the exercise setting also matters. Students who participated in supervised activities in schools or gymnasiums reported more significant growth in self-esteem than those who exercised at home and in other settings.

Adolescents' self-concept is most strongly linked to their sense of physical attractiveness and body image, an area where many people struggle. So, encourage more regular exercise programs during and after school, and support team sports, strength training, running, yoga, and swimming-not just for their effects on the body but on the mind, as well. Getting out and engaging in some form of exercise can make us feel stronger, healthier, and more empowered.

2. Focus on self-compassion (not self-esteem)

Because self-esteem is a global evaluation of your overall worth, it has its dangers. What am I achieving? Am I good enough? How do I compare with my peers?

What would happen if we could stop judging ourselves? Researcher Kristen Neff claims that self-compassion-treating yourself with kindness, openness, and acceptance-is a healthy alternative to the incessant striving and performance orientation often tied up with self-esteem.

In her study of adolescents and young adults, she found that participants with higher self-compassion demonstrated greater well-being. Why? They were okay with their flaws, acknowledged that they struggled just like those around them ("Everybody makes mistakes; you are not alone"), and treated themselves with the same kindness they would extend to a friend ("It's okay; you did your best").

Participants with higher self-compassion demonstrated greater well-being. Why? They were okay with their flaws, acknowledged that they struggled just like those around them ("Everybody makes mistakes; you are not alone"), and treated themselves with the same kindness they would extend to a friend

If you are interested in specific techniques and strategies for enhancing self-compassion in teens, take a look at the work of psychologist Karen Bluth. She recently developed a program called Making Friends with Yourself. Youth participating in this eight-week program reported greater resilience, less depression, and less stress at the end of it. However, if there isn't a program near you, consider sharing this self-compassion workbook with the teens in your life.

3. Avoid social comparison

When we focus on self-esteem, we tend to get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. Teens, in particular, often sense an " imaginary audience " (i.e., "Everyone is looking at me!") and can become highly sensitized to who they are relative to everyone around them.

Instagram and other social media platforms don't necessarily help. Some research suggests an association between social media and depression, anxiety, loneliness, and FoMO (fear of missing out) among teens. Their posts may not rack up the number of "likes" that their friends' posts do, or they may feel excluded when they see pictures of classmates happily spending time together without them.

A new app for teen girls called Maverick may be a healthier option than Snapchat or Instagram. On this social media platform, teens can connect with role models (called "Catalysts") and explore their creativity (such as designing their own superhero or choosing a personal mantra). Of course, there is always the option of taking a break from social media, as well.

Regardless of what teens choose to do online, many of our schools are also structured for social comparison. Grading, labeling, and tracking practices (grouping students based on their academic performance) don't necessarily honor the stops, starts, and inevitable mistakes that are a natural part of the learning process.

Here are some school-based alternatives designed to reduce social comparison:

Don't make grades public.

Provide opportunities to revise and redo assignments.

Avoid ability grouping as much as possible.

Focus on individual growth and improvement.

Acknowledge students' small successes.

4. Capitalize on specific skills

If you keep your eye out for teens' talents and interests, you can support them in cultivating their strengths. Your son may think he is a terrible athlete, but he lights up when he works on school science projects. Then there's that quiet, disheveled ninth-grade girl who sits in the back of your class. She may feel socially awkward, but she wows you with her poetry.

Researcher Susan Harter has studied adolescent self-esteem and self-concept for years. She claims that self-concept is domain-specific. Our overall self-esteem or sense of worth tends to be rooted in eight distinct areas: athletic competence, scholastic competence, behavioral conduct, social acceptance, close friendship, romantic appeal, job satisfaction, and physical attractiveness.

Talk to the teens in your life. What are their personal values and priorities? Share surveys with them like the VIA (which identifies character strengths like bravery, honesty, and leadership) or have them take a multiple intelligences quiz. Celebrate their talents and tailor activities and instruction around their abilities as much as possible.

It may not be easy to shift teens' global sense of self-worth, but we can certainly highlight and encourage areas of interest and particular skill sets so that they feel more confident, capable, and inspired.

5. Help others (especially strangers)

Finally, when teens reach out to others, they are more likely to feel better about themselves. A 2017 study of 681 U.S. adolescents (ages 11-14) examined their kind and helpful behavior over a four-year period. Researchers found that adolescents who were kind and helpful in general had higher self-esteem, but those who directed their generosity toward strangers (not friends and family) tended to grow in self-esteem.

Last Friday, I joined my daughter and her peers during the "action" phase of their " Change the World" project. Their social studies teacher, Tim Owens, tasked the eighth graders with choosing a sustainability issue, researching the problem and possible solutions, planning action, and implementing the action.

These middle schoolers spent a full day canvasing their neighborhoods to advocate for policies that protected people they don't know, like local refugees and homeless youth-as well as animals used for product testing. I've never seen my daughter and her friends more energized, confident, and engaged with their community.

As adults, we can actively support service learning projects in our schools and our teens' interests in advocacy and civil engagement. Adolescents around the world can also work remotely with non-profit organizations like DoSomething, "a digital platform promoting offline action" in 131 countries. On this site, young people can choose a cause, the amount of time they want to commit to it, and the type of help they would like to provide (e.g., face-to-face, improving a space, making something, sharing something, etc.)

When teens regularly contribute to a larger cause, they learn to think beyond themselves, which may ultimately help them to be more positive, empowered, and purposeful.

As many teens struggle with anxiety and perfectionism, our urge may be to jump in and fix their problems, whatever we perceive them to be. But a better approach, one that will hopefully help reverse these worrying trends, is to cheer them on as they develop the mental habits and strengths that will support them throughout their lives.
This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, one of Mindful's partners. View the original article.

Teens Are Better Off When Parents Practice Self-Compassion (Study)

School's Out for the Summer. Why Aren't Teens More Chill?

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Five Ways to Help Teens Build a Sense of Self-Worth

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Teens are experiencing increased levels of anxiety and perfectionism. Encouraging them to develop their strengths and see beyond themselves can help boost their self-esteem.

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Seemingly overnight, a new learning vocabulary has invaded the popular lexicon.

Before March 2020, terms like homeschooling, unschooling, road schooling, remote learning, distance learning, and virtual learning belonged to a subset of families who, for various reasons, choose to educate their children at home. This subset is not small - 1.7 million students between the ages of 5 and 17 are being homeschooled, according to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics ( NCES) - and it's steadily growing. Between 1999 and 2012, the percentage of students who were homeschooled doubled from 1.7 percent to 3.4 percent.

But earlier this month, the population of students educated at home ballooned considerably to more than 55 million - children and teens enrolled at the nearly 125,000 public and private schools across the U.S. that have temporarily closed to stem the tide of a global pandemic. Today, teachers are connecting to their students using digital platforms like Google Classroom and Zoom, but also using worksheets and chapter assignments to keep academics progressing for students without reliable access to computers or the Internet. Meanwhile, parents are working hard to support their children and fill in knowledge gaps at home while juggling their own professional demands. Everyone is learning on the job.

What's become clear fairly quickly is that this new reality does not meet the definition of " homeschool." Though children are learning at home, they are not truly homeschooling, which typically includes regular field trips, group classes, and time spent in the community. Some experts have coined the phrase " crisis schooling " to fill the gap. Here, veteran homeschoolers and unschoolers explain the distinctions, and share their strategies for educating children with ADHD and learning disabilities outside of a traditional classroom.

What is Homeschooling?

Renown anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, " My grandmother wanted me to have an education, so she kept me out of school."

Homeschool can take many forms, but essentially it's built on the premise that parents accept total responsibility for their child's education.
[Read This Next: Scheduling Advice for Families Who are Crisis Schooling]
Religious families seeking faith-based education embraced homeschooling nearly 50 years ago, but homeschoolers today cite many motivations including stopping bullying, introducing less homework and more flexibility, allowing more sleep, tailoring teaching to their child's interests and learning style, and addressing special needs - learning or attention difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, etc.

The term homeschooling is somewhat misleading, as many families that make this educational choice enroll their children in group learning classes and activities at local museums, libraries, and learning centers. They foster learning outside of the home and encourage their children to form social connections with peers on sports teams, in homeschool collectives, and elsewhere.

What is Unschooling?

Unschooling is often described as a type of homeschooling, however the approach to learning is notably different. Unschooling is dictated by the child's interests and is less structured than is homeschooling. Homeschoolers are guided by state and national standards - parents plan lessons, assign homework, and grade assignments. Unschooling is whatever the student wants it to be. To some degree, both unconventional approaches to learning are driven by the individual child; unschooling takes this to the extreme.

Unschooling families look for opportunities to make learning opportunities out of everyday visits to the grocery store or the veterinarian or household tasks like replacing the smoke alarm batteries or the car air filter. Children are encouraged to pursue their interests - like dinosaurs or fashion or farming - with books, videos, hands-on activities, games, experiments, and even internships.
[Get This Free Resource: Brain-Boosting Video Games Kids (and Parents) Love]
The trend to educate children at home began growing in the 1970s. John Holt, an educator, and author of several books including How Children Fail (1982), is considered the father of unschooling and the person who coined the term. Researchers and authors Dorothy Moore, Ph.D., and her husband Raymond Moore, Ph.D., are credited with advancing the homeschool movement; homeschooling has been legal in all 50 states since 1993.

Peggy Ployhar is the founder of spedhomeschool.com, a website that offers support and resources for homeschooling parents of children with special needs. She homeschooled her three children, who share among them diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Ployhar says most of the families with whom she works homeschool because their children learn differently. She is quick to point out that her audience doesn't distinguish between homeschooling and unschooling. "In the special education realm, it's whatever works best for your child," she says.

Her advice to parents during this unusual time is simple: slow down. "We're all doing the best we can right now. Your kids will be all right," she says, explaining that she knows children who received no formal education for an entire year due to family crises. "And guess what? It made no difference to their academic progress. The kids caught up to their peers eventually."

Children are learning how to cope with stress and manage time through our daily example, and these are important life lessons, too, Ployhar says. "It's critical to be flexible and remain as positive as you can. Kids pick up on their parents' energy. An optimistic, can-do attitude is often contagious!"

How Can You Help Your Child with ADHD Thrive at Home?

Crisis schooling isn't unschooling or homeschooling - it's an unanticipated response to forces beyond our control. But, as Ployhar and her team have found, children can learn in all sorts of unconventional ways. If your child has an IEP, take solace in knowing that many accommodations (one-on-one time, extra time to complete assignments, shorter work periods to improve focus, and plenty of movement) happen with regularity at home.

Yes, parents should expect a period of adjustment as learning at home is a logistical shock for many. "Being successful at home has very little to do with replicating a regular school day," Ployhar says. "Learning for seven hours at school is not the same as learning for seven hours at home."

Many families new to homeschooling are surprised to discover that at home learning takes less time. "If the time you devote to learning at home is focused, you don't need to spend seven hours every day on school work. More is accomplished when teaching happens one-on-one, so learning goals can be met more quickly. Plus, there are fewer interruptions at home and transitions require less time."

11 Ways to Support Learning at Home

#1. Focus learning on your child's natural interests. "My son with ASD (now 23) always loved dressing up, so we did a lot of re-enacting and costume creating in our homeschool," Ployhar says, citing one unforgettable history lesson on Russia between the two World Wars. "My son dressed as a Russian soldier and acted out their habit of combing through dead bodies for guns after battles. The country was poor and that's what they did to survive. Neither of us will ever forget that gruesome chapter of history."

#2. If your child gets stressed, take a break. "Don't get into panic mode and push them until they're frustrated and give up," Ployhar advises. "It's easy to see when your child is losing interest and kicking feet under the table, fidgeting, or generally not paying attention. Give them a break. If you see your child becoming stressed and not 'getting it,' stop and do something else. You can return to the task at hand later. They'll get it eventually but not when they're stressed."

#3. Make learning a game. Children are motivated to learn when they're having fun, so if your child is crazy for board and card games, run with it, Ployhar suggests. "Learning can be incorporated into almost any game or favorite activity hiding in your closet." Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, puzzles, LEGOS, and Jenga all work well to motivate learners. Tell your child they can add five pieces to a puzzle when they answer five questions. "When the lesson is complete, the puzzle will be finished."

#4. Embrace Minecraft. Homeschool Community Member Carina Ramos says her son learns math, science and history using Minecraft. "I write out my son's problems, then he goes onto Minecraft and uses squares to work out the problem," she writes on Ployhar's website. "It's amazing how well he has learned multiplication through the use of blocks in Minecraft. He can take math word problems and use Minecraft to help him understand them and come up with the right answer."

And there's more good news for fans of Minecraft: As a public service, the maker of the popular game is offering some of its favorite educational lessons free now through June 30. Ten new educational modules - available to play alone or with others - now appear in the Minecraft Marketplace. Kids can explore the inside of the human eye, learn about Greek history, learn how to code a robot, and even visit the International Space Station.

#5. Add movement to promote learning. Ployhar's middle son, now 21, has ADHD. "His mind slows down when his body is moving and that's when he learns best," she explains. "We did very little learning seated quietly at a desk or table. I got down on the floor with him. We crawled under the table and took lots of breaks that included jumping up and down." Other families that homeschool students with ADHD report sitting on a beanbag chair, yoga ball, or under a tree to promote learning.

#6. Build focus with busy hands and feet. Allow your child to use Play-Doh or a hula hoop while answering flashcard questions, for example. "Kicking a goal outside or throwing bean bags across the room are other options homeschoolers have tried," Ployhar says.

#7. Tap into online tutors. Bad at math? Foreign language not your thing? "Don't sweat it," says Ployhar. "Many of our homeschool learning partners are open to helping anyone now." Check out Academic Warriors and True North Homeschool Academy. For additional options, see " curriculum picks."

#8. Ditch the worksheets. Use educational videos, phone apps, educational podcasts, or other media to introduce or expand on a subject. (Use search terms such as "educational videos for teens"). Teach math using a neurodevelopmental approach. Rapid recall is a spiraling, multi-sensory input system for learning math facts in less than ten minutes a day. Visit brainsprints.com for videos and downloads.

#9. Take things one day at a time. Celebrate a learning victory, reward progress - even if it's small- and resist the urge to compare what your child is learning to what others are doing. "And never, ever stop dreaming for your child or yourself," says Ployhar.

#10. Follow your child's lead. Every child is unique and you don't want to squelch that individuality. "My son with ADHD always enjoyed cooking. He eventually learned to make craft beer - it became his passion project," Ployhar explains. "During his gap year after high school, he learned how to play guitar, worked at a grocery store, and got a bartender's license. Being exposed to so many different experiences helped him figure out where he shines. He's happy today working as a bartender but is also exploring working for a brewery."

#11. Accept that homeschooling may not work for you. Online learning isn't the best option for students who struggle, but many families right now have no other choice. If homeschooling is simply too stressful given your work demands, other family obligations, and learning difficulties, then focus on happiness instead and just aim to get through this time together as a family.

For more information and special education resources, visit spedhomeschool.com
[You Might Also Like: How to Explain the Pandemic to An Anxious Child]
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Under the Table and Teaching: 11 Expert Tips for Schooling Kids with ADHD from Home

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Unschooling. Homeschooling. Crisis schooling. What is the difference? And what are the best learning strategies for your child with ADHD at this stressful time? Here are tips and strategies from education experts who understand the distinctions and today's inescapable realities.

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Q: "My first-grader's mind and body are voracious. Her energy and creativity are non-stop. It's tough to keep her focused and busy - without meltdowns or disastrous messes - while she is home from school. By dinner time, her most challenging 'wild evening hours' are underway and I'm wiped out. How can I keep my young child motivated and productive, while providing healthy activities in between her assignments that don't cause a backlash like screen time so often does."

A: In the torrent of homeschooling resources flooding our feeds over the last week, we noticed a great collection of 5-, 10-, and 15-minute activity ideas compiled by the F.D. Titus Elementary School in Warrington, Penn. - a public school in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Below, we have augmented that list with additional suggestions from educators and ADHD experts who understand how movement can spur greater focus and learning.

GoNoodle Videos on YouTube

Jump rope

Create Play-Doh sculptures

Color a picture

Dance to your favorite song

Try Kid's Yoga YouTube videos

Do 5 different exercises for 1 minute each

Build a paper airplane and fly it down the hallway or outside

Draw with sidewalk chalk

Paint with watercolors

Ride a bike

Play hide and seek with a sibling or parent

Build a LEGO sculpture

Play a sport outside (baseball, basketball, soccer, football)

Take pictures of nature in your yard

Take turns telling silly jokes with your family

Bake a special sweet treat

Make a fort using sheets and pillows

Play a card game (Go Fish, Old Maid, War, Uno, etc.)

Create and complete a nature scavenger hunt

Make a craft from recycled materials

Make an obstacle course with simple toys and complete it

Play a board game with your family

Play dress up and put on a show

These movement breaks dovetail perfectly with the Pomodoro Technique, a time-management system built on the premise that the best way to accomplish goals is to work with time instead of struggle against it. Specifically, it contends that humans are most productive when working in 25-minute increments, broken up by 5-minute activity breaks that help to maintain energy and focus. Every hour and a half, a longer 30-minute break helps the brain and body reset for more work. This intuitively makes sense to many parents managing a homeschool schedule for the first time, but the challenge quickly becomes finding and introducing short activities that kids will love and do independently - away from their screens, in most cases.

First and foremost, we recommend getting your child dancing, stretching, and jumping by checking out the GoNoodle channel or YouTube exercise videos for kids. Here are some more ideas for getting bodies in motion and minds recharged.
[Need More Daily Exercise Ideas? 10 More Ways to Improve Focus with Movement]
5-Minute Transition Smoothers

These are quick ideas most school-age children can do without interrupting mom and dad.

#1. Access a library of free, 5-minute exercise videos from The Body Coach TV, a P.E. teacher offering fun physical activities for kids, via YouTube.

#2. Jump rope inside or out. Jumping rope improves cardiovascular fitness, is great for coordination, and strengthens the arms, calves, and back muscles, too. If it's raining and slippery outside, jump rope in your empty garage or basement.

#3. Have a ball with a tennis ball or other lightweight ball. Toss and catch a ball overhead several times. Continue tossing the ball and add leg lifts to the routine. Stand upright and hold the ball over your head with both hands on the ball. Lift your leg the waist level and lower the ball to touch your toes one leg at a time. Repeat these movements for 5 minutes.
[Read This Next: Are You Home Schooling? Advice for Parents-Turned-Educators]
#4. Staircase fun run. Run up and down the staircase until you're exhausted. See if you can go up and down 20 times in 5 minutes.

#5. Play indoor sock ball or balloon volleyball. Transform the largest pair of socks in your drawer into a soccer "ball" that won't damage furniture or break delicate indoor objects. You can also play a quick game of volleyball by blowing up a balloon and lining up plastic cups or rolls of toilet paper for the net.

#6. Shake, rattle, and roll. Tell your children to stand side-by-side and run in place as fast as they can for a minute. Then shake, shake, shake their bodies moving from top to bottom. Instruct them to shake their heads, wiggle their shoulders, move their torsos side to side, shake each hand, then each arm. Shake the right leg then the left leg. Shake each foot and then reverse direction and go from the bottom of the body to the head. Finally, drop to the floor and roll - without rattling anyone else in the process!

#7. Be still. Grab a pillow from the couch, plop it on the carpet, and have your child sit with legs crossed, allowing their mind to wander and daydream. Take note of any interesting thoughts or ideas that come up when the time is up. Brilliance can be born out of boredom.

#8. Make a rabbit, an eagle, or a face with your hands. Grab a flashlight and find a wall. Show your kids how to make shadow puppets with their hands. Talk about good, old-fashioned fun.

#9. Have a musical moment. Demonstrate the mood-altering impact of music by playing a soft tune and asking your child to close their eyes and place a hand on their chest to feel their heart rate slow. Then play a lively tune and dance. Your child will quickly understand how music naturally inspires movement. You can also play a favorite song and ask your kids to name the type of instrument being played: percussion, brass, woodwind, string, or keyboard. Learn more at study.com

#10. Play a quick and silly game of "Simon Says." When mom and dad play along, this game never gets old.

#11. Practice good posture. Have your child stand against the wall with their heels pressed to the baseboard. Tell them to stand up straight, press their shoulder blades against the wall, lift their chin and look straight ahead. Place a book on top of their head and see if they can keep it balanced while walking across the room.

15-Minute Focus Sharpeners

During the Victorian period, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle coined this wise phrase: "A change is as good as a rest." When family members start to feel restless, change it up with these 15-minute break ideas.

#12. Tabletop fun with cards. A deck of cards can be used for more than just "Go Fish," "War," and "Old Maid." Cards can be a source of entertainment and simple construction projects. Plenty of quick, easy card trick tutorials are available online, and kids of all ages love to build a house of cards. Your child can also test their telepathic powers by pulling a card from the deck, hiding its face, and seeing if they can use their innate "powers" to name the card.

#13. Learn math by singing. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and even fractions may be easier to understand and execute through song. Songs for Teaching uses music to promote learning. See if adding some jingles to your day makes a difference.

#14. Divide and conquer. Speed clean your house - one spot or room at a time - with a little help from your kids. Come up with a list of household chores that can be completed in 15 minutes (collect and empty trash cans in bedrooms and bathrooms, clean a sink and a toilet, dust the furniture in the family room, etc.) You can set a timer and turn the task into a contest to see who finishes their chore first. Chances are they will embrace the challenge if you also tie completion to a reward like extra screen time or their favorite dessert.

#15. Surprise grandma or grandpa (or another elderly loved one who could use a boost). Social distancing is leaving many senior citizens feeling lonely. Encourage your child to write a handwritten note or carve out time for an unexpected FaceTime call. Doing something kind for someone else has another benefit - it makes you feel good, too.

#16. Do the 7-minute workout twice! This high-intensity workout was developed by exercise experts to encourage optimum fitness in a short-period of time. It consists of 12 easy moves that require no special equipment (unless you count a sturdy chair as special equipment) and is scientifically backed.

#17. Exercise using a deck of cards. Here's a fun way to get them moving using a simple card deck. The card you draw dictates the type of exercise you do and the number of repetitions for each exercise. Ace, king, queen, or jacks equal 10 moves. Draw a joker, do 10 burpees. Clubs are jumping jacks; hearts are squats, diamonds are mountain climbers and spades are pushups. Ready, set, go!

#18. Break out the coloring books. If your kids haven't spent time with coloring books lately, they might enjoy the quiet, soothing change of pace.

30-Minute Resets

Use these ideas for those longer breaks throughout the day, like 'recess period' after lunch.

#19. Build an indoor fort from cardboard, couch cushions, or blankets. If you're anything like us, you've accumulated a fair number of cardboard boxes in the basement or garage. Put these to good use by challenging your child to cut, duct tape, and assemble them into a fort they can use for reading or hiding from siblings.

#20. Build an outdoor fort with a sheet, a hula-hoop, and some string. Kids can hang it from a backyard tree or the swing set and have their own private picnic or just a quiet, outdoor space to curl up with a book.

#21. Take a nature walk. Nothing restores the mind and body like a brisk walk outside. Take in the fresh air and sunshine together. To keep ADHD attention rapt, create a scavenger hunt for your child that includes a squirrel, a red-breasted robin, a bicycle, a mail truck, daffodils, and other neighborhood sights they might otherwise overlook. Don't forget the binoculars.

#22. Hone your child's culinary skills. Even young kids can learn to safely make a batch of cookies with minimal supervision. For more adventurous and eager chefs, work on basic kitchen lessons like how to peel veggies, slice fruit, and measure wet and dry ingredients. Get inspired by scrolling through recipes online and plan a fun recipe or menu from there. You will find plenty of how-to cook videos on YouTube. For other inspiration, consider your family's heritage and plan what you need to make a traditional dish. Look through some options together and see where your child's curiosity takes you. Bon appetite!

#23. Button up. Teach your child how to sew a button onto a piece of fabric. Buttons have a fascinating history (they date back to the 13th century) and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Some are pretty enough to pass as jewelry! An endless number of kid craft projects can be created with buttons and some folks enjoy collecting them.

#24. Put on a show. Challenge your kids to create a skirt or short show based on something in one of the day's lesson plans. Act out a scene from a book they're reading or a chapter of history they're learning. If your child is a music lover, have them choreograph a dance to one or two of their favorite songs.
[Struggling with Anxiety? Find Expert Tips and Strategies Here]
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Kids Bouncing Off the Walls? These Boredom Busters Fill Time Gaps with Activity

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Many ADHD experts swear by the Pomodoro Technique for time management, which organizes the day into 25-minute increments separated by 5 minutes of activity and blood flow, plus a few larger gaps in the day. Use these recommended boredom busters to keep your child moving during their 5-, 15-, and 30-minute breaks while learning at home.

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As the new school year begins, parents and educators are taking stock of the tools and techniques that worked during the last six months of distance learning. ADDitude asked them to share the most effective approaches that caregivers can use to help children excel this year.

Are you the parent of a child with ADHD who is exhausted by the past several months and stressed about the school year to come?

Try:

reordering the day to match your child's energy

creating distinct home work spaces in the house or outside.

asking the teacher for a daily checklist

If you are a teacher overwhelmed by distance learning, consider increasing engagement with:

hands on projects

tools like audiobooks and YouTube

recording classroom lessons

sharing resources with parents

Download the free guide to distance learning to gain access to the rest of the strategies!
NOTE: This resource is for personal use only.

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Free Guide: Distance Learning Strategies for Children with ADHD

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Distance learning is difficult, unpopular, and returning for many students with ADHD this Fall. Here, caregivers and educators share their most effective strategies for teaching and keeping students organized and focused while learning remotely. Download this guide to lay the groundwork for a successful school year.

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“Keeping Kids with ADHD in ‘Study Mode’ While Home from School” [Video Replay & Podcast #292]

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Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#292), and download the slide presentation for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on March 19, 2020.

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What are executive functioning skills? What are examples of executive function skills? Learn about different executive skills, and the three areas of executive function.

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Executive function skills are like an air-traffic-control system for the brain. Planning, controlling impulses, and focusing attention are some of the important executive-function skills that help children learn, hold information in their minds, control their actions, and follow a task through to the end. They help with success in school and in life. You can share the information below with parents.

0-24 months: As little ones follow objects with their eyes, and get fussy or cry when activities don't change quickly enough, they're showing signs that they are thinking and learning. Babies may begin to create pictures in their minds and make decisions about those pictures (for example, starting to remember that unseen objects are still there, such as a toy hidden under a blanket). Recognizing familiar faces and sounds is a sign of their working memory in action, as their brains become able to hold on to information for longer periods of time.

You can:

Play peek-a-boo to help develop skills for remembering.

Practice problem solving by playing with toys like shape sorters, blocks, and simple (2-3 piece) puzzles.

2 years: Children are beginning to hold information in their minds and may be able to follow two-step instructions ("Pick up the toy and put it in the box"). They're also getting better at self-control (not touching a fragile object when told not to). They may also understand other peoples' plans or goals (bringing over a diaper when they see a parent changing their sibling).

You can:

Practice persistence by building block towers, knocking them down, and rebuilding!

Play games like "Simon Says," in which children need to follow rules, and "Freeze Dance" to give them practice controlling their movements and following directions.

3 years: Figuring out how to open doors or play with toys that involve moving parts are signs that children are beginning to solve simple problems on their own. They may be able to remember directions with two or more steps ("Please wash your hands, then come sit down at the table and eat dinner") and resist temptations to do things such as jump into a muddy puddle when it is raining.

You can:

Play matching games to help with memory. Ask children to find objects in books or around the house that are the same.

Help children feel good about their efforts, not just the outcome: "You are working so hard on that puzzle, really thinking through where each piece fits."

4 years: Children can hold even more information in their minds as they show that they're able to remember directions with multiple steps, and remember two rules at the same time (wipe your feet off on the mat outside, and then take your shoes and socks off at the door). Children may also start to think ahead. You might notice this as you read together, when your child tells you what she thinks is going to happen next in the book.

You can:

Help with making predictions and thinking ahead when you read together by asking children what happened and what they think might happen next.

Play simple board or card games to help develop critical-thinking skills.

5 and 6 years: When you see kids do things like wait 15 minutes for cookies to cool off from the oven instead of reaching for a readily available snack, it's a sign that they're able to delay gratification for longer periods of time. They may also be getting better at remembering rules where one thing depends on the other: "If you're not feeling well tomorrow, we'll go to the doctor. If you're feeling better, you'll go to school."

You can:

Engage in child-development activities that encourage trial and error, such as stacking objects or doing puzzles (with less than six pieces).

Play games in which rules switch (such as "Follow the Leader") to help children learn to think flexibly.

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Executive Function Milestones | Sesame Street in Communities

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Executive function skills are like an air-traffic-control system for the brain. Planning, controlling impulses, and focusing attention are some of the important executive-function skills that help children learn, hold information in their minds, control their actions, and follow a task through to the end. They help with success in school and in life.

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Executive functions (EF) are a set of higher order cognitive skills that are necessary for academic success. They include inhibitory control, working memory, and flexible thinking. Just like other skills, EF can be learned and strengthened. Alexis Reed of the Boston Child Study Center gave us some tips for scaffolding EF skills as learners gain mastery of these important skills.
How is scaffolding for executive function (EF) different than scaffolding for content?

Learning doesn't occur in isolation, rather it happens in context, through interactions with the environment and others. Because of this, I conceptualize scaffolding based on Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). Providing scaffolds or "assists" can help an individual attain a new skill that may be just outside of their developmental zone.

A scaffold is meant to be a stepping-stone used to introduce and support a new skill to allow for practice. In terms of ZPD, I tend to imagine a ladder that a learner is climbing. Each rung is just a bit further to reach for than the next, but is not too far out of reach for the individual. Sometimes a temporary assist may be necessary to reach the next rung.

Scaffolding for EF and scaffolding for content tend to go hand in hand, because you need skills like inhibitory control, working memory, and flexible thinking in order to complete academic tasks. For students struggling with EF, we can break academic tasks down, or chunk them, to help with skills such as prioritizing, organizing, and problem solving. We can think of breaking these tasks into the "what" of learning and the "how" of learning. Students who struggle with EF need help with the "how" of learning. For example, scaffolding can be helpful with EF skills such as problem solving. By approaching a problem-solving task through guidance or collaboration from peers, adults, or supports in the environment, students can develop better problem solving skills.

What are some of the barriers to scaffolding for EF?

Scaffolds must be used appropriately, monitored, and adjusted overtime, with the goal of establishing mastery of a skill. Sometimes we allow students to become overly reliant on EF scaffolds because we forgot to fade the supports in order to work on skill mastery. For example, if an individual only uses self-monitoring strategies when another person or system alerts them, the learner may not have the opportunity to develop. EF scaffolds are not intended to create substitutes for learning skills, they should work in conjunction with explicit modeling and practice of a skill until an individual is ready to independently practice and show mastery.

A "one-size-fits all" approach can also present barriers. Learners are variable and using the same scaffolding strategy for all students may not explicitly target and train skills in the way that benefits everyone. As educators, we need to be intentional with how we choose scaffolds and strategies. We need to remember that the goal is to develop learners who advocate for and use scaffolds appropriately with autonomy.

What are some strategies you use to scaffold for EF?

Individuals with executive dysfunction often don't realize they may not have a strategic approach to accomplishing a task. They may think that their way is the only way. In order to help teach new approaches I suggest the following:

Explicitly teach the EF skill and expose individuals to options for increasing efficiency.

Work with the individual to determine a path to accomplish the goal.

Model key EF skills while engaging with the individual in the task.

Demonstrate and prompt for self-monitoring toward the goal.

Ask guiding questions and provide prompting to assist with flexible thinking and problem solving.

Teaching learners to use tools and strategies can also be helpful. I suggest using the following:

Task lists and timers for support with time management.

Using a calendar to schedule accountability check-ins for longer projects.

Apps and digital devices for setting reminders.

Chunking, or breaking assignments into smaller pieces. "When in doubt, chunk it out!"

Don't forget to reinforce moves toward mastery! When you see a strategic, efficient, and intentional approach happening, be sure to acknowledge and specifically praise the behavior. The more frequently a learner has external feedback to shape their approach, the more frequently efficient approaches will be replicated and thus, skills strengthened.

Do you have any additional tips or things to keep in mind when scaffolding for EF?

Always start with an assessment. From there, you can determine the level of scaffolding that may be helpful. Again, what one learner needs in any given situation may not be the same thing that others may need at that same stuck point- one size does not fit all.

Determine where both strengths and weaknesses lie for each learner. This will allow for the increased awareness of strengths to bolster or support EF vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or skill deficits. Remember, EF skills can be supported, trained, and strengthened over time with appropriate interventions and consistency in reinforcement over time.

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Ask an Expert: Scaffolding for Executive Function Skills

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Executive functions (EF) are a set of higher order cognitive skills that are necessary for academic success. They include inhibitory control, working memory, and flexible thinking. Just like other skills, EF can be learned and strengthened. Alexis Reed of the Boston Child Study Center gave us some tips for scaffolding EF skills as learners gain mastery of these important skills.

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Alexis@ReidConnect.com
@AlexisAnnReid
@ReidConnectEd
@ReidConnect

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MindNode has many use cases. It can be used for brainstorming, learning, project management and much more. Learn directly from our users how MindNode helps them. If you don't know what mind mapping is or want to learn more about the best practices, take a look at our dedicated page.

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Smart break is an intelligent mindfulness program that helps prevent eye strain and mental stress by reminding and enforcing you to take regular breaks.

Unlike similar reminder tools which prompt you to take breaks at fixed intervals, SmartBreak actively analyses the way you spend time on your computer and then prompts you to rest at the appropriate time, overall reducing screen time for adults and kids alike.

Your breaks are more effective at preventing stress related health hazards like Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). SmartBreak is the only RSI prevention program that not just reminds you to take breaks but can also enforce users to take a break, which is especially useful for children when combined with the child lock option.

Key features

Prevent eye strain and mental stress from constant computer use

Intelligent breaks based on the amount of work you do

Ability to lock the display and enforce breaks

On screen stress bar to monitor your stress level

Child-lock feature to ensure that kids can't disable SmartBreak

Turn off the monitor or hide the break window for use in offices

Cross-platform support for Windows PC and Mac OS X

Works even when you are inside a virtual machine or on a remote desktop

Your browser does not support the HTML video.

Version history

What's new in version 2.76 What's new in version 2.75 What's new in version 2.5.5

Initial launch for Mac OS X

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Smart Break - limit screen time and prevent eye strain

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Unlike similar reminder tools which prompt you to take breaks at fixed intervals, SmartBreak actively analyses the way you spend time on your computer and then prompts you to rest at the appropriate time, overall reducing screen time for adults and kids alike.

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Website & App Blocker for Mac

Focus is a website blocker that can block websites with precision in all major web browsers (like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox).

This makes it easy to block sites like an entire domain or just the homepage. You can even use the powerful allowed sites (whitelist) feature to block the entire Internet (or just allow a few pages).

Focus is also a powerful application blocker and can block applications on your computer like Slack, Skype or distracting games like Fortnite.

Blocklists work at the operating system level don't require a browser extension to work-blocking even works in Incognito mode!

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Website Blocker and App Blocker for Mac - Focus

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Focus is a website blocker that can block websites with precision in all major web browsers (like Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox). This makes it easy to block sites like an entire domain or just the homepage. You can even use the powerful allowed sites (whitelist) feature to block the entire Internet (or just allow a few pages).

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The best
productivity tools all in one place

Noisli offers high-quality ambient noises such as rain, ocean, birds, wind, leaves, stream, lake, crickets, bonfire, thunder, and waterfall sounds, as well as white, pink, and brown noise, fan, coffee shop, cityscape, train, airplane, and washing machine sounds that you can mix and match as you like. Noisli also offers curated playlists for noise masking, focus and concentration, study, writing, sleep, and relaxation as well as an online timer to help work in sessions and a distraction-free text editor.

Discover more

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Noisli - Background Noise and Ambient Sounds for Focus, Sleep and Relaxation

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Listen to soothing nature ambient noise like rain, ocean, brown and white noise sounds and create relaxing soundscapes. Plus online timer and text editor.

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Use Brain.fm’s functional music to help you focus relax and sleep better, using cutting edge neuroscience to get results.

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Ever notice how people texting at night have that eerie blue glow?

Or wake up ready to write down the Next Great Idea, and get blinded by your computer screen?

During the day, computer screens look good-they're designed to look like the sun. But, at 9PM, 10PM, or 3AM, you probably shouldn't be looking at the sun.

f.lux

f.lux fixes this: it makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day.

It's even possible that you're staying up too late because of your computer. You could use f.lux because it makes you sleep better, or you could just use it just because it makes your computer look better.

f.lux makes your computer screen look like the room you're in, all the time. When the sun sets, it makes your computer look like your indoor lights. In the morning, it makes things look like sunlight again.

Tell f.lux what kind of lighting you have, and where you live. Then forget about it. f.lux will do the rest, automatically.

The Sleep Revolution

Arianna Huffington shares her sleep secrets

Internal Time: Chronotypes, Social Jet Lag, and Why You're So Tired

Answers about life and sleep from chronobiologist Till Roenneberg

Himalayan Salt Lamps are just about the best night-time lights there are.

Want to support f.lux?

Here's our Paypal link

Support f.lux today

All contributions go to equipment, research, and development.

Give f.lux five bucks!

f.luxometer: the easiest way to measure spectrum and non-visual effects of light, including melanopic responses
Measure your own lights, eyewear, and devices

See how f.lux changes your screen

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Is your computer keeping you up late? f.lux is a free download that warms up your computer display at night, to match your indoor lighting.

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Zearn Math | Top-rated Math Learning Platform

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Learning with Zearn helps math make sense. Students explore math through pictures, visual models, and real-life examples. Log in to your Zearn account.

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Hello, Daily Gamer!

Spot the Difference, Up and Down Words, Unolingo, and Daily Ken Ken are no longer available on our site due to the game publisher changing their policies. But don't worry, these classics aren't going anywhere:

We've also got a new lineup of Daily Games for you to puzzle through:

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Hello, Daily Gamer! Spot the Difference, Up and Down Words, Unolingo, and Daily Ken Ken are no longer available on our site due to the game publisher changing their policies.

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Duolingo is the world's most popular way to learn a language. It's 100% free, fun and science-based. Practice online on duolingo.com or on the apps!

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One family shares their struggle to spend less time on devices at home

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A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.

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Math learning that gets you.

Our step-by-step explanations help you master math from arithmetic to calculus, so you can continue building on your skills.

SCAN

Use the Photomath app to scan a tricky problem. You can also manually input problems using our smart calculator!

SOLVE

Get instant solution steps for your exact problem, vetted by our team of math teachers.

LEARN

Use those steps to dig into the nitty-gritty and learn at your own pace!

What can we explain?

Photomath covers a wide range of math topics, so we can be your study buddy from second grade to senior year!

Elementary math

Algebra

Geometry

Calculus

Trigonometry

Statistics

Word problems

and more!

Start Learning

Problem-solving from day one

A dad was struggling to help his children with math homework. The solution he created has now helped millions of students around the world.

More For Parents

Damir Sabol

Founder

More than just an app

In school, one teacher is devoted to dozens of students. At Photomath, dozens of teachers are devoted to one student.

Photomath in the classroom

We help millions learn every month, and we can help you.

Get Photomath

Scan QR code to download app

We have a blog!

While we're usually busy helping students learn how to solve their trickiest math problems, we've also been working behind the scenes on a blog that shares stories, tips, and musings about our favorite topic: math!

Whether you're a teacher who's after tips for using tech in the classroom, a parent wondering how Photomath can help your child learn, or a student in need of study motivation, you can count 😉 on us to have it covered. Check it out, and follow along for more stories (and math puns) coming your way.

Start reading

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Our step-by-step explanations help you master math from arithmetic to calculus, so you can continue building on your skills. SCAN Use the Photomath app to scan a tricky problem. You can also manually input problems using our smart calculator! SOLVE Get instant solution steps for your exact problem, vetted by our team of math teachers.

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history biology literature learning education science humanities school "world history" ap tests smart fun chemistry psychology apush whap study "crash cours...

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At Crash Course, we believe that high-quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free! Subscribe for weekly videos from our current courses! The Crash Course team has produced more than 45 courses on a wide variety of subjects, including organic chemistry, literature, world history, biology, philosophy, theater, ecology, and many more!

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BrainPOP - Animated Educational Site for Kids - Science, Social Studies, English, Math, Arts & Music, Health, and Technology

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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"Kirsten Olson portrays the realities of modern schooling more vividly and convincingly than anyone since the prophetic school critic John Holt."

-Ron Miller, editor of Education Revolution and author of What Are Schools For? and Educational Freedom for a Democratic Society

This controversial book says that the way we educate millions of American children alienates students from a fundamental pleasure in learning, and that pleasure in learning is essential to real engagement, creativity, intellectual entrepreneurship, and a well-lived life.

Based on almost a decade of intensive autobiographical interviews with over 100 "ordinary" students, teachers, and parents, Wounded By School describes some of the dilemmas of those in school now. Students talk about intensive boredom and daily disengagement, while knowing that school "matters" more than ever. Students and teachers describe a grinding lack of meaning in their work, combined with intensive labeling, tracking and shrink-wrapping of learners based on cursory tests and poor understanding of many kinds of minds.

Wounded By School identifies seven kinds of common school wounds, and tells the stories of those who have experienced them...

Wounds of Creativity

Wounds of Compliance

Wounds of Rebelliousness

Wounds That Numb

Wounds of Underestimation

Wounds of Perfectionism

Wounds of the Average

These stories show that while reformers and policymakers tinker with accountability plans and annual yearly progress measures, millions of learners are intellectually and spiritually checking out-and gifted teachers depart the field by thousands-due to inhospitable conditions for learning and teaching.

In addition to exploring seven types of common school wounds, Wounded By School also portrays a few individuals who have healed their learning lives and reclaimed their intellectual territory and self-possession. These stories of healing show that those who have been lacerated must be much more vocal and active in pressuring our educational system for change.

Fundamentally hopeful, Wounded By School finds much energy for reform, and an alignment with the larger business community that says American schools are not producing the kinds of attributes most needed in young adults and future employees.

An old-fashioned, outmoded institution, the American schoolhouse and concepts of learning and teaching were designed for an earlier time. These ideas no longer serve us well. This is a critical moment for individuals to band together to create change and reclaim our learning lives.

A Learner's Bill of Rights

Every learner has the right to know why they are learning something, why it is important now, or may be important to them someday.
Every learner has the right to engage in questioning or interrogating the idea of "importance" above.
Every learner has the right to be confused and to express this confusion openly, honestly, and without shame.
Every learner has the right to multiple paths to understanding a concept, an idea, a set of facts, or a series of constructs.
Every learner has the right to understand his or her own mind, brain wiring, and intellectual inclinations as completely as possible.
Every learner has the right to interrogate and question the means through which his or her learning is assessed.
Every learner is entitled to some privacy in their imagination and thoughts.
Every learner has the right to take their own imagination and thinking seriously.

-From Wounded By School

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"Kirsten Olson portrays the realities of modern schooling more vividly and convincingly than anyone since the prophetic school critic John Holt." -Ron Miller, editor of Education Revolution and author of What Are Schools For?

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best weekly & monthly student planner for keeping students on track

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2018-2019 Academic Planner, A Tool for Time Management, Best Weekly & Monthly Student Planner for Keeping Students On Track, On Task, On Time, Size 8.5x11, Orange, Family Choice Award Winner

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WHY IT WORKS! - It's Easy To Use. This student planner's patented design allows students to see when homework and tests are scheduled ALONGSIDE school commitments and free blocks of time. - It's Functional. Seeing both scheduled and available blocks of time creates an easy and natural method for ...

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Executive Function Disorder: A Day in the Life of a Child

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What’s it like to struggle with executive function, or executive dysfunction? See how problems with executive function can affect a child’s daily life.

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Trello allows you to create to-do lists, organize and prioritize tasks and projects, customize workflows, and collaborate with others.

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Capture, organize, and tackle your to-dos from anywhere | Trello

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Make the impossible, possible with Trello. The ultimate tool to boost your productivity. Escape the clutter and chaos—stay efficient with Inbox, Boards, and Planner from anywhere, even on mobile.

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Strides helps you create and track SMART goals and habits. The app can also help you work towards long-term projects by creating and tracking short-term milestones.

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Progress Reports

Each tracker has its own charts so you can appreciate the progress you're making. Reports shows all your goals & habits in one place.

Get deeper insights

See how you're doing across all your goals & habits by week, month, year, or all-time, and your top-ranked trackers by streak.

Filter reports

Tag your trackers by area of life, routines, etc. to run reports across all your health goals, your morning routine habits, and more.

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Strides: Goal & Habit Tracker + SMART Goal Setting App

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Each tracker has its own charts so you can appreciate the progress you're making. Reports shows all your goals & habits in one place. Get deeper insights See how you're doing across all your goals & habits by week, month, year, or all-time, and your top-ranked trackers by streak.

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Freedom boosts productivity by allowing you to block distracting websites and apps on both your computer and phone.

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Freedom: Internet, App and Website Blocker

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Easily block distracting websites and apps on any device. The original and best distraction blocker, Freedom helps you be more focused and productive.

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Stay Focused helps boost productivity and focus while you are working on the computer.  It limits the time that you are able to spend on websites that you find yourself wasting time on (such as Facebook, Reddit, etc.).

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Boost your productivity by limiting the amount of time you spend on time-wasting websites.

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Forest is rated #1 in productivity on iTunes.  It helps you focus by bringing you away from your phone.

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Forest is an app helping you stay away from your smartphone and stay focused on your work.

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This app allows you to schedule regular breaks from your computer to avoid over-working.  You can customize the types of breaks you take and how often you take them - from a 15 second pause to a 15 minute break to walk around.

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It is very easy to fall into bad habits when using a computer for hours on end. You care about what you are doing, so can sometimes push yourself too far, or over-strain yourself. The human body isn't built to sit in one position for endless hours, gripping a mouse or typing on the keyboard. Dejal Time Out is here to help. It will gently remind you to take a break on a regular basis.

Time Out comes with two kinds of breaks: a "Normal" break, typically for 10 minutes every hour, so you can move about and relax, plus a "Micro" break: a very brief pause of typically 15 seconds every 15 minutes, so you can remember not to tense up too much for long periods. You can change, disable or remove either kind of break if desired, and add new kinds of breaks, e.g. fixed lunch or afternoon breaks.

You can configure how long each kind of break lasts, and how long between breaks, and the breaks can be set to count backwards when you take a natural break, e.g. when you go away from your computer.

When a break starts, the screen slowly dims, and a break theme appears. When the break is complete, it fades out again. Version 2 includes several break themes to choose from. The themes use web standards like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and can be local web apps or remote websites. So if you're comfortable editing web sites, you could edit the existing themes, or make your own. Or check out the Time Out Extras page for contributions from others.

While in a break, a progress bar shows how long till it is over, and optional buttons are available to postpone or skip the break if you can't be interrupted right then.

If you wish, you can have Time Out perform various actions before, during or after a break. For example, display a notification, speak some text, play a sound, and even run an Automator workflow or AppleScript. So you can have it notify you shortly before the break is due, then pause Music and play a short soothing piece of music or repeating sound at the start of a break, then fade it out and resume Music when the break is over. Some useful scripts are provided built-in, plus updates and user-submitted ones available on the Time Out Extras page.

Time Out can optionally track breaks and/or app usage via the Activity feature. Get a feel for how busy you are via a chart of breaks you've taken, apps you've used, and time away from the Mac. Zoom in to see more detail, or out for the big picture.

Download and try Time Out for free! You're welcome to continue using it at no cost, if you wish. But if you find it helpful, you can become a supporter to assist with future development, and get permanent access to the advanced features. A supporter purchase is not a subscription, and does not automatically renew.

Version 2.9.1 is currently the latest release. Read the Time Out 2.9.1 release notes to see what has changed in this version, or read the Time Out Help to find out more about it.

Also Available via the Mac App Store

Time Out is also available via the Mac App Store. This edition is essentially the same as the one available here, so you can choose which one you prefer.

Would you prefer a subscription? Time Out is also included as one of the apps on Setapp, a popular third-party service where you can get many excellent apps for one low monthly price - and you can try it free for a week. Learn more....

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Dejal Time Out: break timer with micro-breaks for macOS.

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This meditation app teaches you how to meditate and offers daily guided meditations.  You can choose from hundreds of themed meditation sessions - from reducing stress to promoting sleep.

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Unlock hundreds of mood-boosting meditations, relaxing sleep exercises, focus music, and more with our biggest offer of the year.

It's the healthiest, happiest deal you'll find this Black Friday, and it won't last long.

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Meditation and Sleep Made Simple - Headspace

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Live a healthier, happier, more well-rested life in just a few minutes a day with the Headspace app.

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Every day, our lives are governed by habits. These habits consist of little routines, as well as small ways you do things. What's surprising is that many people are unaware of what their habits are.

Some habits such as smoking can even have detrimental effects on your health. Meanwhile, other habits like procrastination can impact your work and career in a negative way.

Therefore it's important to take back control of your life. Doing this can be hard because most habits are so ingrained that in people's lives that they do it even without thinking.

Luckily there are tons of habits tracking apps available that are designed to help you to set goals, help you keep track of your habits, and solve your bad habits for free.

The best habit tracker website or app can help you in your journey to ensure you stay on track with your goals. It can also help you visualize your progress, and be aware of how much you've come.

Whether you want to use an app that has tons of features, or you prefer a productive habit tracker with a simple interface, you'll find it here.

Habit Tracking Apps You Need to Try

Here's a list of the 22 best habit trackers you can use.

1. Momentum Habit Tracker

This app has tons of helpful features which makes it great for people who want to monitor their habits and routines.

One of the most interesting features is that with Momentum, you can import your data into an Excel document, which allows for cross platform viewing of your progress. On top of this you're able to set weekly targets and take notes allowing you to easily take control of your habits.

But unlike many apps on this list, Momentum is optimized exclusively for Apple devices and as such, you won't find it on Android which is unfortunate. However a benefit of this exclusivity is that your profile on Momentum can be easily integrated on the iCloud.

2. Habitica

Habitica is extremely creative in its approach to tracking and maintaining good habits. It is inspired by RPG video games, each task you complete will level up your customized avatar giving you an extra incentive to stay motivated.

Its unique video game inspired design makes keeping track of your habits and goals fun.

The app isn't limited to just habit tracking, but with it you can join your friends and complete quests and missions. It's not just video game inspired, but is a game in itself.

But those who aren't interested in video games may not prefer Habitica.

3. Productive Habit Tracker

Wondering how to track habit? This app is for you. Productive's straightforward yet thoughtfully-designed interface makes watching over your habits simple. It offers an intuitive design so you'll be able to start planning in seconds.

Although its design looks very simple, this app is packed with effective features. This app also helps you to keep an eye on your successes. This way, you'll be able to measure your progress and improvement. This will help you stay motivated.

4. StickK

StickK was developed by behavioral economists at the prestigious Yale University. On signing up, you create a commitment contract with yourself and the app to reach your goals, you can even bet money on yourself.

For added motivation, you can assign a friend or family member to check your data to ensure you're on your way to reaching your goals.

The unique commitment contract idea could be a brilliant way to stay motivated. This aspect is backed by great research, the app is based on the principles of Thaler's nudge theory

On top of everything, the app has an eye-catching and interesting layout.

5. Habitshare

Habitshare is the ultimate combination of a social networking site and an effective habit tracker. Therefore, it allows you to grow habits with friends. This is what makes it stand out as one of the best habit tracking apps.

The social options in this platform are relatively uncommon, and unlike others with social networking options, this app has messaging options that enable you to talk and communicate with people you know. This way, you can motivate your friends, or vice versa. With it, your individual goals transform into meaningful team efforts. Users also have the choice to disable this app's social aspect if they want to be more private.

However, Habitshare doesn't feature scheduling tasks on a monthly basis. This can be a deal-breaker for people who schedule monthly bills.

6. Streaks

This Apple design award winner is built around encouraging you to maintain a 12 day streak of a good habit, as such it is a great way to stay motivated.

The interface is extremely customizable, as such, you can make it suit you and your tastes.What's more it can be easily integrated with the Health app, one of the most popular apps on the IOS. Used together, you'll be able to develop healthy habits with ease. If you're falling behind, the app will send you a reminder, and keep you on target.

7. Habit List

Habit List is all about developing and maintaining a streak of beneficial habits.

This productive habit tracker is great at tracking your habits over a long period of time, enabling you to easily make sense of your progress in a way that is easy to read and understand.

If you have a complicated schedule, or want to complete specific tasks on specific days, you can easily set a calendar of activities to complete, and view them accordingly.

8. Balanced

Balanced is designed to help you keep track and measure your sleeping patterns, your exercise, and time you spend sitting, encouraging you to develop healthier habits.

Unlike many apps, Balanced is completely focused on healthy habits. It helps you stay concentrated on only three activities at a time so you won't be overwhelmed.

9. Simple Habit Tracker

Don't be fooled by its name, simple habit tracker is one of the more interesting habit trackers and is packed with interesting features.

If you're looking for inspiration, the app comes with over 200 pre-designed habits to get you started. One of the most appealing things about this app is its beautifully designed and eye-catching interface.

10. Habitbull

Habit-bull is one of the most feature-rich habit tracker apps and it's detailed recording system means you'll be able to get detailed information about your progress.

If you're aiming to increase your fitness, Habitbull can be integrated with GoogleFit.

If you're worried about losing your data, don't worry it can all be backed up on the cloud, meaning you'll never need to worry about losing track of your data.

But anyone who's looking for a more simple habit tracker may find this best habit tracker complicated.

11. Strides Habit Tracker

Strides Habit Tracker is a good all rounder, with all you expect from a great habit tracker and more.

The app is quick and easy to use, so you'll be able to start developing great habits right away. If you plan to complete a set number of tasks for a specific date, the app calculates if you're on track to complete it on time, enabling you to tailor your habits around your goals.

12. Coach.me

Coach.me comes with all you might expect from a quality habit tracking app, with the extra unique feature of being able to hire either a habit coach or even a leadership coach for extra costs.

The coach hiring feature, if you can afford it, has the potential of having a radical impact on your goals and productivity. There are two options, leadership coaching and habit coaching, so you'll be able to get the training you need.

13. 42 Goals

42 Goals is quite simple in its design, but comes with many of the features you'd expect. Unlike many similar apps, it is optimized mostly for web browsers. The website has an online community allowing you to share your progress with friends.

Currently, it is neither on IOS or Android, but they are in development, so stay tuned!
Get started: 42goals.com
14. Habit - 21 day routine

Habit - 21 day routine is built around the principle that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, as such, it encourages you to maintain a new habit over 21 consecutive days.

The app's layout is beautifully designed. The idea that it takes 21 days to form a new habit is supported by research, as such it is possible you'll find it extremely beneficial.

The app limits you to one habit at a time, with extra costs attached to additional habits. And at the moment there seems to be no free version

15. Chains.cc

Chains.cc is fairly unique in its approach, each time you stick to your habit, your chain grows, helping you stay motivated.

The app has a beautiful and intuitive interface. Most importantly, it can be used both online and off, allowing you to keep track of your habits wherever you are

This is not a free app but it is relatively inexpensive.

16. Done

Done gives you the ability to track an activity multiple times a day, on top of this, the app is full of the features you'd expect from a great habit tracker.

With the app, you can easily track habits you want to build up, and ones you want to slowly eliminate. Unlike many other apps, it features a number of customization options making it suit your tastes.

The Premium version (paid) even allows you to export your habit data as a CSV file or on Dropbox.

Unless you upgrade to premium, you can only track 3 habits on the basic version.

17. Good Habits

Good Habits offers many great ways to track the progress of your habits thanks to its smart design.

The app enables you to look at the precise data of your habits and chains. Enabling you to check your progress with ease (paid version).

It can be used with Apple Watch and the Today Widget for extra usability.

Unfortunately, there ultimately is not too much to set it apart from other apps. But if you like the way it looks, you might have a great time.

18. Habitify

Habitify is bold in its design, and is both sleek and easy to use, and complicated and detailed.

Habitify allows you to keep focused by showing you the habits and jobs needed to do sooner first, making it ideal for busy people. Detailed graphs and statistics show you all you need to know about your progress and your habits.

It can also be seamlessly synchronized across all your iOS devices.

It is relatively low on customization options, but if this isn't a problem for you, you'll find a lot to love

19. Sessions

Sessions is an everyday habit tracker that is great for timing your activities and habits.

It is visually pleasing to look at thanks to its uncluttered interface. It allows you to set specific amounts of time to perform each activity, you'll be able to carefully structure your day and even plan your routines. You can also track your progress as you develop your habits and routines for maximum efficiency.

20. Morning Routine Habit Planner

Morning Routine allows you to focus on one habit at a time, ensuring you stay focused.

It can be used in conjunction with Siri, for hands free use, a rare and useful feature.

The app includes inspiring advice from influential and successful people, which is a great motivator.

21. Persistence

Want to stay motivated? Persistence is the answer. This app lets you know if you are on track to achieve your goals.

With this app, you can tell whether you are on or off target. This will ensure you'll always know when and where to strive hard to push your limits, and most especially, you'll know when to relax. This app also offers numerous options and methods to monitor your goals.

It also allows you to enter notes about your progress and habits to ensure you remember all you need.
It has a $1.99 price tag with no free version. But it's still less than a cup of coffee!

22. Way of Life

Way of Life markets itself as an "ultimate habit building app" and you can see why. This everyday habit tracker comes loaded with many features for people who want to take control of their habits and routines.

On first use, users are presented with an interactive tutorial, to ensure they quickly know how to understand and use all the key features, including: the ability to share your progress on your social media profiles, export your data as an Excel file or CSV file, archive your completed goals for a full record of your success.

Some may find the layout complicated, however this is mitigated thanks to the tutorial.

Key Takeaways

Now that you know the best habit tracking apps, you can finally become more productive. However, keep in mind that making good habits last takes more than just relying on the best habit tracker. You must also cultivate the right mindset to maximize the results.

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22 Best Habit Tracking Apps You Need in 2022

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Every day, our lives are governed by habits. These habits consist of little routines, as well as small ways you do things. What's surprising is that many people are unaware of what their habits are. Some habits such as smoking can even have detrimental effects on your health.

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Reid Connect, LLC & Dr. Gerald M. Reid, LLC

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About The Hosts

Connecting you with information and ideas relative to learning, mental health, wellness, executive function, and so much more!

Educational therapist, executive function coach, learning consultant, author, speaker, educator, professional development facilitator, and life-long learner.

Clinical psychologist, sport and performance psychologist, neuropsychologist, author, speaker, professor, and songwriter.

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Reid Connect, LLC & Dr. Gerald M. Reid, LLC

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Connecting you with information and ideas relative to learning, mental health, wellness, executive function, and so much more! Educational therapist, executive function coach, learning consultant, author, speaker, educator, professional development facilitator, and life-long learner. Clinical psychologist, sport and performance psychologist, neuropsychologist, author, speaker, professor, and songwriter.

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Harvard University Center on the Developing Child

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Harvard University Center on the Developing Child

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Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

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Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember, and juggle multiple tasks.

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Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture 

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Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture 

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While reformers and policymakers focus on achievement gaps, testing, and accountability, millions of students mentally and emotionally disengage from learning and many gifted teachers leave the field. Ironically, today's schooling is damaging the single most essential component to education-the joy of learning

How do we recognize the "wounds" caused by outdated schooling policies? How do we heal them? In her controversial new book, education writer and critic Kirsten Olson brings to light the devastating consequences of an educational approach that values conformity over creativity, flattens students' interests, and dampens down differences among learners. Drawing on deeply emotional stories, Olson shows that current institutional structures do not produce the kinds of minds and thinking that society really needs. Instead, the system tends to shame, disable, and bore many learners. Most importantly, she presents the experiences of wounded learners who have healed and shows what teachers, parents, and students can do right now to help themselves stay healthy.

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Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture

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Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture [Kirsten Olson, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Parker J. Palmer] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Wounded by School: Recapturing the Joy in Learning and Standing Up to Old School Culture

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

Reenvisioning the UDL Guidelines

Because the UDL Guidelines are meant to be informed by feedback from the field as well as new research, they have been updated several times in the past. We are in the process of updating the Guidelines once again in our UDL Rising to Equity initiative.

This update will focus specifically on addressing systemic barriers that result in inequitable learning opportunities and outcomes. CAST aims to develop a transparent, inclusive, and community-driven process. If you are interested in collaborating and staying updated on our progress, we invite you to complete a brief survey.

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

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With stories from East LA to the jungles of Peru, this honest and no-jargon collection by a rising young star of mindfulness focuses on compassion as the toughest and fiercest response of all.

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Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning That Taps into the Power of Emotion

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Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning That Taps into the Power of Emotion [Posey, Allison] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning That Taps into the Power of Emotion

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Search Institute has identified 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. Half of the assets focus on the relationships and opportunities they need in their families, schools, and communities (external assets). The remaining assets focus on the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments that are nurtured within young people (internal assets).

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The Developmental Assets Framework - Search Institute

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Search Institute has identified 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed, called the Developmental Assets Framework.

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When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in uncomfortable positions.)

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7 Things That Happen When Students Own Their Learning

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What does it feel like to learn and think differently? Watch these videos to see the world through your child's eyes. Kids of different ages talk about how it feels to learn and think differently - and what helps them thrive.

Hear how hard it is to complete a task when you have trouble focusing. Or how frustrating it is when your hand won't write what your brain is telling it to write.

Reading challenges: Videos of kids

Hear from kids about what it feels like to struggle with reading - and get insights from expert Julie Washington on how to help.

Math challenges: Videos of kids

Hear from kids about what it feels like to struggle with math - and get insights from expert Michèle Mazzocco on how to help.

Writing challenges: Videos of kids

Hear from kids about what it feels like to struggle with writing - and get expert insights on how to help.

Attention challenges: Videos of kids

Hear from kids about what it feels like to struggle with focus - and get insights from expert Ned Hallowell on how to help.

Organization challenges: Videos of kids

Hear from kids about what it feels like to struggle with organization - and get expert insights on how to help.

What causes these challenges, and how can you help if your child is struggling? Choose from the following skills to learn more:

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Through Your Child's Eyes Tool | Learning Disabilities

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Through Your Child's Eyes tool from Understood: Interactive media to understand what your child with a learning disability or attention issue goes through.

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To learn more about the theory of constructed emotion and the work of neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, check out her book How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.

Special thanks to the following musicians:

Helena Ahlbäck (formerly of The Broken Assembly) - "Emotional"

Jon Luc Hefferman - "Upbeat"

Note: A previous version of this story stated that Tommy Jarrett had received $50,000 from the court. He actually received $50,000 in an out-of-court settlement.

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To learn more about the theory of constructed emotion and the work of neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, check out her book How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain. Special thanks to the following musicians: Helena Ahlbäck (formerly of The Broken Assembly) - "Emotional" Jon Luc Hefferman - "Upbeat" Note: A previous version of this story stated that Tommy Jarrett had received $50,000 from the court.

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FreshGrade

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The Portfolio & Assessment Platform | FreshGrade

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FreshGrade is the digital portfolio & assessment platform that makes learning visible for leaders, teachers, parents, and students. Available on any device.

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Opinion | Students Learn From People They Love (Published 2019)

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Putting relationship quality at the center of education.

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design discussions
no-schedule meetings
professional development
collaborate with clients
sales and marketing

replace text-only discussions
interactive lectures
support UDL principles
no-schedule office hours
professional development

student presentations
conversational practice
professional development
rich assessment
safe and accountable

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Transforming media into collaborative spaces with video, voice, and text commenting.

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Before she became a neuroscientist, Mary Helen Immordino-Yang was a seventh-grade science teacher at a school outside Boston. One year, during a period of significant racial and ethnic tension at the school, she struggled to engage her students in a unit on human evolution. After days of apathy and outright resistance to Ms. Immordino-Yang's teaching, a student finally asked the question that altered her teaching - and her career path - forever: "Why are early hominids always shown with dark skin?"

With that question, one that connected the abstract concepts of human evolution and the very concrete, personal experiences of racial tension in the school, her students' resistance gave way to interest. As she explained the connection between the effects of equatorial sunlight, melanin and skin color and went on to explain how evolutionary change and geography result in various human characteristics, interest blossomed into engagement, and something magical happened: Her students began to learn.

Dr. Immordino-Yang's eyes light up as she recounts this story in her office at the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California. Now an associate professor of education, psychology and neuroscience, she understands the reason behind her students' shift from apathy to engagement and, finally, to deep, meaningful learning.

Her students learned because they became emotionally engaged in material that had personal relevance to them.

Emotion is essential to learning, Dr. Immordino-Yang said, and should not be underestimated or misunderstood as a trend, or as merely the "E" in "SEL," or social-emotional learning. Emotion is where learning begins, or, as is often the case, where it ends. Put simply, "It is literally neurobiologically impossible to think deeply about things that you don't care about," she said.

This rule holds true even across subjects and disciplines, Dr. Immordino-Yang writes in her book, " Emotions, Learning, and the Brain." "Even in academic subjects that are traditionally considered unemotional, such as physics, engineering or math, deep understanding depends on making emotional connections between concepts."

As a teacher, I know what an emotionally engaged student looks like on the outside, but Dr. Immordino-Yang showed me what that student looks like on the inside using a functional M.R.I., a scanner that reveals brain function in real time.

"When students are emotionally engaged," she said, "we see activations all around the cortex, in regions involved in cognition, memory and meaning-making, and even all the way down into the brain stem."

As she went on to explain why emotion is vital to high-quality learning, Ms. Immordino-Yang's cheeks flushed pink, her eyes brightened, and her hands became animated and expressive. While she'd provided me with pages of quotes, studies and images meant to illustrate all she wanted to teach me during those two hours in her office, her enthusiasm for the topic served as the most powerful exhibit.

Great teachers understand that the best, most durable learning happens when content sparks interest, when it is relevant to a child's life, and when the students form an emotional bond with either the subject at hand or the teacher in front of them. Meaningful learning happens when teachers are able to create an emotional connection to what might otherwise remain abstract concepts, ideas or skills.

Creating this emotional connection might sound like a daunting task, but research has shown that the investment reaps huge dividends in the form of increased learning and better grades. When teachers take the time to learn about their students' likes, dislikes and personal interests, whether it's racial issues brewing at their school, their after-school job, or their dreams and goals, learning improves.

I experienced this a few years ago, with a parent who asked me how to get her daughter interested in school. The girl dreamed of becoming a dairy farmer like her father and grandfather, and felt that her classes were irrelevant.

And yet, given a few moments to think and some creativity, we both realized that dairy farming is a perfect laboratory for everything from biology to math, chemistry to geometry, history to government; all of these subjects are relevant and important in the life of a dairy farmer. When the catalog for I.V.F.-ready bull semen arrives in the mail, she'll need to know about dominant and recessive genetic traits. She'll need to understand soil chemistry, microbiology, botany, the geometry of herd rotation as it relates to land use, and the political and financial realities of keeping dairy farming viable as an industry.

The emotional connection that can result when teachers make learning personally relevant to students is what differentiates superficial, rote, topical assimilation of material from a superlative education marked by deep mastery and durable learning. While there are no silver bullets in education, emotional engagement and personal relevance is the tool that has the potential to improve the educational experience of every child, in every school in America.

Jessica Lahey is an educator, writer and speaker and the author of "The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed." Interested in more Well Family? Sign up to get the latest news on parenting, child health and relationships with advice from our experts to help every family live well.

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To Help Students Learn, Engage the Emotions

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Before she became a neuroscientist, Mary Helen Immordino-Yang was a seventh-grade science teacher at a school outside Boston. One year, during a period of significant racial and ethnic tension at the school, she struggled to engage her students in a unit on human evolution.

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Empathy and Resilience, Responsibility and Self-Care: Resources for Social and Emotional Learning From The New York Times (Published 2019)

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Over 100 Times articles and essays from across sections — and ideas for how to use them in a school setting. What would you add?

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*Free access when you create a login
Based on new insights from the learning sciences and creative uses of digital technologies. UDL can help educators improve and optimize learning experiences for all individuals. In this book, Meyer and Rose, along with David Gordon, provide the a comprehensive presentation of UDL principles and practices.

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Read Universal Design for Learning: Theory and Practice for Free in Clusive! - CAST

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Our flagship publication is now available at no cost on our flexible and customizable digital reading tool.

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RULER Approach - Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

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Attending a RULER training is the first step for schools (preK-12) looking to implement RULER. Our training institutes focus on building a growth mindset and common language around emotions, skill development in emotional intelligence, and the building and sustaining of positive social and emotional climates where all stakeholders in the school feel empowered to learn, work, and achieve.

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AEM Center - National Center on Accessible Educational Materials at CAST

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The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning at CAST provides technical assistance, coaching, and resources to increase the availability and use of accessible educational materials and technologies for learners with disabilities across the lifespan.

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Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.

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Practical Tools to Help You Implement Universal Design for Learning, including facilitation tools, assessment tools, planning tools, and infographics and posters.

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UDL Resources to give you practical guidelines on Universal Design for Learning and to help you implement UDL in your school and/or classroom.

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A conversation about how to confront anxiety - not accommodate or avoid it

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST. The UDL Guidelines can be used by educators, curriculum developers, researchers, parents, and anyone else who wants to implement the UDL framework in a learning environment. These guidelines offer a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

UDL Rising to Equity

Because the UDL Guidelines are meant to be informed by feedback from the field as well as new research, they have been updated several times in the past. We are in the process of updating the Guidelines once again in our UDL Rising to Equity initiative.

This update will focus specifically on addressing systemic barriers that result in inequitable learning opportunities and outcomes. CAST aims to develop a transparent, inclusive, and community-driven process. If you are interested in collaborating and staying updated on our progress, we invite you to complete a brief survey. Do you use social media? Join the conversation happening now in the #UDLrising hashtag.
Meet the UDL Rising to Equity Advisory Board Meet the UDL Rising to Equity Stakeholder Council

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The UDL Guidelines are a tool used in the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Learn more about the Universal Design for Learning framework from CAST.

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What is Social Emotional Learning?

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CAST Professional Publishing - Until learning has no limits®

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CAST Professional Publishing produces books that help educators at all levels improve their practice—and change students’ lives—through Universal Design for Learning (UDL).