Developing the Skills for Success

Please note that each purchase for this executive functioning coaching course is for a single practitioner, teacher, or family.  Group or institutional discounts are available by contacting Dr. Warren: 

Dr. Warren's approach to teaching executive functions is a highly structured and concrete process that breaks cognitive processing into manageable skill sets. Through explicit, direct, systematic, and multisensory instruction, individuals learn to:

  • Develop self-awareness and regulate emotions 

  • Encode and retrieve information into and out of long-term memory

  • Inhibit distractions and focus attention

  • Shift tasks and perspectives

  • Apply active listening skills

 

Subsequently, students learn how to build on these core aptitudes so they can plan and manage their time, organize materials, and conduct other higher-level processing skills. Direct applications help students learn structured study habits, lifestyle hacks, and memory strategies that optimize capabilities and academic potential. 


Executive functioning (EF) continues to be a growing topic of interest and with students now being recognized as having EF problems or deficits, many schools and their teachers are scrambling to meet the needs of this increasingly recognized population of learners. As a result, a new question is emerging in education. Should teachers instruct executive functioning skills (implement executive function coaching) and help students learn how to manage and control their own minds and emotions? 

Research now shows that “executive functioning skills are crucial building blocks for the early development of both cognitive and social capacities” and they are vital to early math and literacy skills (Early Experiences Shape Executive Function, n.d.-a, p. 3; (Foundations of Mathematics and Literacy: The Role of Executive Functioning Components). Therefore, what’s needed now is academic resources to help teachers develop this important skill. What’s more, many teachers need support, training, and materials because when students exhibit weak executive function skills during a lesson, the whole class suffers. Instructional time is continually interrupted and sidetracked and teachers now report that this is a common source of anxiety, discouragement, and burnout (Brouwers & Tomic, 2000).  Clearly, many children, adolescents, and even adults need to be taught EF skills for improved cognitive functioning, behavior, focus, emotional control, and social interaction.            

What is Executive Functioning?

One can glean a general understanding of executive functioning, simply by reversing the two words to a functioning executive.  It is the part of the brain that consciously exercises administrative or managerial control.  Executive Functioning (EF) is the control center of the brain and it resides in the frontal lobes located directly behind the forehead.  The main purpose of EF is to communicate with and coordinate goal-directed activities with other parts of the brain. 

What Metaphor Can Best Describes EF?

Some like to use the metaphor of an air traffic controller to describe the duties of EF (InBrief: Executive function, 2021, Early experiences shape executive function, 2021, Hodgkinson & Parks, 2016). However, I prefer comparing EF to a conscious conductor that directs a multisensory orchestra of cognitive processes. Like a maestro or well-respected music director, EF unifies the different instruments of the brain, sets a tempo, executes plans, listens critically, shapes a composition, uses the senses to interpret the surroundings, and controls one’s pacing of thoughts. When EF is well conducted, the result is a united symphony of consciousness. 

Why This Course?

This course was created to provide the training and tools so teachers, practitioners, and parents can offer step-by-step, executive functioning coaching and study skills training. The resources can be used by learners on a one-to-one basis or with a whole classroom of students. The course will continue to grow and participants are encouraged to share their feedback, ideas, and wishes.

References are available in the course.

Cartoon-like Images and Videos Make Lessons Fun and Memorable

The images below help to illustrate the variety of age-appropriate materials from elementary school to college and beyond. Students receive black and white images of the illustrations and they can color and annotate the images as they listen to a lesson.  We can't strengthen skills we don't understand.  Therefore, an important part of the program is educating students about executive functions, so they can learn how to take control and develop this vital skill.

How Much Content is offered?

  • 34 videos totaling 6+ hours (new videos are added periodically)
  • 30+ podcasts averaging about 50 minutes each (two new podcasts added per month)
  • 16+ downloadable handouts (additional handouts are added periodically)
  • 6 usable PowerPoints
  • 10 Documents with information, links and references (additional information is added periodically)
  • Once or twice a year I also offer a free Zoom meeting that is recorded and added to the course.

🎁 A Free Gift with This Course!

When you purchase this course you will receive a coupon code for 50% off my Executive Functioning Activities Library!
Executive Functions

Certificate of Completion

If you would like to earn an executive functioning coach certificate, you can submit an assignment/evaluation to Dr. Warren after you have completed the course and used the content with at least 3 students.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    1) 🎁 A Special Gift

    • A Special Gift

  • 2

    2) 💪Developing Executive Functions and Study Strategies Introduction For Teachers and Parents

    • 🎥 Why Executive Functioning? START HERE

    • Thoughts on Executive Functioning (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • How to Use This Course (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • 🎥 Executive Functioning: The Internal and External Impact (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • InBrief: Executive Function Skills for Life and Learning: By The Center of the Developing Child: Harvard University (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • ✅ Practitioner Executive Functioning and Study Skills Curriculum Course Curriculum and Checklist (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • ✅ Student Executive Functioning and Study Skills Curriculum Course Curriculum and Checklist (keep track of students progress through the resources)

  • 3

    3)❓Executive Functions What is That?

    • 🎥 An introduction to Executive Functioning (for teachers, professionals, parents, and older students)

    • 🎥 Executive Functions: What is That? (for all students)

    • 🎥 The Symptoms and Myths of Executive Functioning Challenges (for teachers, professionals, parents, and all students)

    • 🎥 Higher Level Executive Functions: What is That? (for all students)

    • 🎥 More About Working Memory: A Deeper Dive (for all students)

    • 🎥 More About Inhibitory Control: A Deeper Dive (for teachers, professionals, parents, and al students)

    • 🎥 More About Cognitive Flexibility: A Deeper Dive (for teachers, professionals, parents, and all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Executive Functions What is That Elementary Comics and Scripts Lesson

    • 🖐🏾 Executive Functions What is That Secondary Comics and Scripts Lesson

    • 🖐🏾 Executive Functions Color Activity (Elementary)

    • 🖐🏾 Executive Functions Coloring Activity (Middle School+)

    • 🔎 Executive Functioning What is That Elementary Student Assessment

    • 🔎 Executive Functioning What is That Secondary Student Assessment

  • 4

    4) 🤔 Moving from Inactive/Passive Learning to Active Learning

    • 🔍 Assessing my Study Habits: Inactive, Passive, or Active (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 What Do Active Learners Look Like? (for all students)

  • 5

    5) 💬 Learn to Manage Your Mind

    • 🎥 Manage Your Mind Video (for all students)

    • 🔎 Manage Your Mind Assessment - post lesson (student assessment)

    • 🖐🏾 Manage Your Mind Activity (for all students)

    • 🎥 An Exploration of the Inner Voice (for all students)

    • 🖐🏽 Inner Voice Exploration Activity (4th grade+)

    • 🖐🏽 Inner Voice Drawing Activity (Elementary - middle school)

  • 6

    6) 📚Finding the Best Study Approach

    • 🔎 Study Skills Assessment (Late Elementary - high school +)

    • 🎥 Finding the Best Study Approach Video (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Define Your Study Approach (for all students)

  • 7

    7) 🔁 Understanding and Implementing Spaced Repetition

    • 🎥 Spaced Repetition A Study Approach (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Spaced Repetition: My Approach and Plan - post lesson (for all students)

    • References on Spaces Repetition (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

  • 8

    8) 🎒Getting Ready for Homework

    • 🎥 Getting Ready for Homework (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Improve Your Study Environment - post lesson (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Selecting Healthy Snacks - post lesson (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Keeping My Space Tidy and Organized - post lesson (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Managing My Worries - post lesson (for all students)

  • 9

    9) 🧠 Using Memory Strategies

    • 🔍 Memory Baseline-Growth Assessment (for all students)

    • 🎥 An Introduction to Memory Strategies (for all students)

    • 🎥 Visualization and Memory (for all students)

    • 🎥 Hooking Memory Strategy (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Hooking Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🎥 Rhymes to Remember Memory Strategy (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Rhymes to Remember Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🎥 Chain Linking Memory Strategy (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Chain Linking Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🎥 Memory Strategies Acronyms and Acrostics (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Acronyms and Acrostics Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🎥 Associations and The Pegword Method (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Associations and the Pegword Method Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🎥 Memory Palaces or the Method of Loci for Memory (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Memory Palaces or the Method of Loci Memory Strategy (also available as an interactive video)

    • 🖐🏾 Managing Memory Strategies - post lesson (for all students)

  • 10

    10) ⏰ Time Management and Test Prep

    • 📊 8 Ways to Managing Time

    • 🎥 Using the Time Management and Test Prep Handouts (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • 🖐🏾 Time Management and Test Prep Handouts - post lesson (for all students)

  • 11

    11) 📝 Note-taking Strategies

    • 🎥 Note-taking Strategies for Students (for all students)

    • 📊 DIY Presentation: Note Taking Strategy Presentation (also available as a video).pdf

    • 🎥 Note-taking Strategies: A Comprehensive Approach for Teachers - Interview with Darius Namdaran (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • 🖐🏾 Choosing My Notetaking Approach - post lesson (for all students)

    • GoodNotes vs. Notability & OneNotes vs. Evernote: Visual Comparisons (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as 5th grade and above)

    • Other Great Note-taking Resources (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as 5th grade and above)

  • 12

    12) 🧠 Secret Strategies to Supercharge Your Brain

    • 🎥 What Can Your Brain Do? (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as 5th grade and above)

    • 🎥 Integrate the Brain Activity (for all students)

    • 🎥 Video Based Breathing Exercise for students (for all students)

    • 🖐🏾 Sample Breath Handouts from Dr. Warren's Multisensory Brain Break Meditations (for elementary and middle school students)

    • 🎥 The Amygdala: Tips and Tricks (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as 3rd grade and above)

    • 🎥 The Four Breaths that Can Improve our brain (for Elementary and Middle School)

    • 🎥 Strategies to Manage the Mind (for all students)

    • 🎥 Take Control with Your Inner Voice (for all students)

    • 🎥 Visualization for Improved Learning (for all students)

  • 13

    13) 👍🏼 Keeping Organized

    • 🎥 Using the Getting Organized Handouts (for teachers, professionals, and parents)

    • 🖐🏾 Getting Organized Handouts (for all students)

  • 14

    14) 🎤 Podcasts with Dr. Warren on Executive Functioning (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as older students)

    • 🎤 An Introduction to the Personal Brain Trainer Podcast: Embodying Executive Functions

    • 🎤 #1 What is Visualization and How Can it Help Struggling Learners?

    • 🎤 #2 How Can We Exercise and Improve Visualization Skills?

    • 🎤 #3 Learning to Automaticity: The Only Way to Multitask

    • 🎤 #4 What is Working Memory and How Can We Strengthen This Skill?

    • 🎤 #5 Overview of Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #6 How Inhibitory Control is Essential to Executive Function

    • 🎤 #7 Exploring Cognitive Flexibility

    • 🎤 #8 What are Higher Level Executive Functions?

    • 🎤 #9 Strategies to Help Improve Executive Function Skills

    • 🎤 #10 Building a Routine for Improved Executive Functions and Memory

    • 🎤 #11 How Do You Teach Executive Functioning?

    • 🎤 #12 How Executive Functions, Dyslexia and ADHD Relate

    • 🎤 #13 How to Motivate Students to Do Their Homework

    • 🎤 #14 How Do You Teach Writing Skills?

    • 🎤 #15 Learned Helplessness

    • 🎤 #16 Executive Function and Memory

    • 🎤 #17 What is Visual Processing?

    • 🎤 #18 Related Areas to Visual Processing

    • 🎤 #19 The Impact of Vision on Learning

    • 🎤 #20 What is Auditory Processing?

    • 🎤 #21 Do I Have ADHD and Does it Impact Executive Functions?

    • 🎤 #22 Our Personal EF Hacks Working Memory

    • 🎤 #23 Our Personal EF Hacks Inhibitory Control

    • 🎤 #24 Zoom and Executive Function

    • 🎤 #25 Our Personal EF Hacks: Cognitive Flexibility

    • 🎤 #26 Parental Support When Kids have EF Problems

    • 🎤 #27 Executive Functions at Work

    • 🎤 #28 Expedition Planning: Lessons in Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #29 Executive Functioning Offers Tools to Access Your Best Self

    • 🎤 #30 Creating a Daily Practice to Aid Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #31 Goal Setting and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #32 COVID and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #33 Executive Functioning and Apple Apps

    • 🎤 #34 Executive Functioning and Google Apps

    • 🎤 #35 Artificial Intelligence and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #36 Time Management and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #37 Organization and Executive Functions

    • 🎤 #38 Neurodiversity and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤#39 Metacognition and Executive Functioning

    • 🎤 #40 Memory Strategies Improve Executive Functions

    • 🎤 #41 Exploring Visual, Auditory, Tactile and Kinesthetic Ways of Processing

  • 15

    15) 📗 Other Resources for Improving Executive Functioning Skills

    • List of Resources That Help to Develop Executive Functioning Skills

  • 16

    16) Course References

    • Course References

  • 17

    17) 🎓 Executive Functioning Coach Certificate and Provider Directory for Referrals

    • ⭐️ Assignment/Evaluation

  • 18

    18) Course Zooms with Dr. Warren

    • 🎥 8/22/22 Zoom with Dr. Warren (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as older students)

    • 🎥 4/11/23 Zoom with Dr. Warren (for teachers, professionals, and parents as well as older students)

  • 19

    🙏🏻 Course Feedback and Review

    • Let's make this course the best it can be! Share your ideas!

    • Leave a Written Review

    • Send a Video Review and Receive a $30.00 Coupon

  • 20

    Billing Management and Credit Card Information

    • Course Billing and Subscriptions

Checklist

Include a list of items to support the central theme of your page. Bulleted lists are a great way to parse information into digestible pieces.

  • Many videos, assessments, presentations, pdf handouts, and other resources for your participants.

  • Trainer videos as well as lesson videos can be shared with students.

  • Support & guidance – Ask Dr. Warren anything.

  • Recommended resources.

  • Community Facebook page and access to interact with fellow practitioners.

  • Evergreen site with new updates and resources.

  • Once or twice a year, Dr. Warren will offer a free Zoom consultation for the course participants to answer questions, share new insights, and ask for future content suggestions.

  • Upon completion of the course and submitting an assignment, you can receive an "executive functioning coach" course completion certificate.

FAQ

  • Can more than one person use this account?

    Please note that each purchase of this course is for a single practitioner, teacher, or family. Group or institutional discounts are available by contacting Dr. Warren: erica@learningtolearn.biz. Please note: If login information is shared with others, multiple IP addresses will be apparent and the subscription will be discontinued.

  • Is the course a single payment?

    This course offers a yearly fee. However, if you just want to take the course and learn all the content, you can discontinue your subscription and keep the assessment and handout downloads. However, if you would like to access the videos, new content, free Zooms with Dr. Warren, and the community, then you can continue with the yearly subscription.

  • Can I meet Dr. Warren?

    Yes, Dr. Warren will be offering at least one free Zoom for the participants of the course each calendar year. If you miss this opportunity, the Zoom call will be recorded and added to the course.

  • Is this course for students or professionals?

    The course was designed for anyone that wants to offer executive functioning coaching and study skills training. There are introductory videos for teachers, professionals, and parents. Then the rest of the course offers videos, presentations, assessments, and handouts that should be reviewed. These resources can then be used directly with students in a one-to-one situation or as a group/class.

  • Will you be adding more content?

    Yes. I plan on updating and adding additional content to the course. If there is content that you would like to see, let me know and I will try to accommodate!

  • Are you available if I have questions?

    Yes. You can ask questions in the course and I'm here to help!

  • Can I get a refund?

    Sign up for a year. If you decide that it is not for you, you can discontinue your subscription and keep all pdf assessments and handouts that you downloaded as a gift. If you have a bigger concern, reach out to Dr. Warren and she will work out a special arrangement with you.

  • Do you offer financial aid?

    If you love this course and can't afford it, send a personal note to Dr. Warren to explain your situation and she will try to accommodate you. You can send her an email at erica@learningtolearn.biz.

  • How do I cancel my subscription?

    Your subscription will be active and will assess a yearly fee until you cancel it. You can cancel your own membership, from "My Account Billing." Just select "Cancel" for that subscription. When you cancel a membership, you will have access to the content until the next renewal or billing date.

Social proof: reviews

5 star rating

Outstanding!

Stephanie Doshier

As a certified dyslexia tutor, I daily pour myself into the task of providing excellent remediation for my students. I happened upon this course recently aft...

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As a certified dyslexia tutor, I daily pour myself into the task of providing excellent remediation for my students. I happened upon this course recently after watching Dr. Warren speak at an Orton-Gillingham conference. Dr. Warren's Executive Functioning Course has revolutionized my dyslexia tutoring! I now understand why so many of my students struggle in the areas of Executive Functioning, and Dr. Warren provides not only a well-organized approach to understanding this complex issue, but she also provides practical activities and games that my students (and I) absolutely love! My students beg for the activities, and they never want our tutoring sessions to end. I am reaching out to friends and colleagues in the field of dyslexia and telling them that they must take this course so we can provide absolutely everything our students need to be successful. Thank you, Dr. Warren, for shining a light on this challenging area that affects so many of our precious students. I will be forever grateful that I found you and this course! Stephanie Doshier

Read Less
5 star rating

Excellent

Ioanna Dimitriadou

It is an excellent training course for executive fuctioning skills! I strongly recommend it to all the people who educate students with dyslexia, learning di...

Read More

It is an excellent training course for executive fuctioning skills! I strongly recommend it to all the people who educate students with dyslexia, learning difficulties and ADHD!!! Ioanna Dimitriadou

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5 star rating

Getting Organized

Deborah Brown

I loved the handouts! I will be using these with my students. Thank you!

I loved the handouts! I will be using these with my students. Thank you!

Read Less

Video Testimonials


Social proof: testimonials

Mark Weston

Erica Warren is singularly focused on bringing forth groundbreaking educational practices through which student of all ages readily utilize their full potential. Her tireless and heartfelt efforts are fueling the emergence of an educational paradigm that better serves all students.

Renee Smith

At a somewhat advanced point in my life, I returned to school and earned my MA in education. My intent was to return to teaching, but soon realized it was not what it used to be! I had no idea what I was going to do with my newly minted educational credentials. Almost by accident a longtime friend and I determined that there was a need for tutoring. We both had been in business previously, but neither had been in the business of providing educational needs to children. Boy did we stumble out of the gate! Fortunately, Dr. Warren's program came to the rescue! By following the very well outlined steps, we have been able to redefine our program, better identify the needs of our students, and provide them with the support and guidance they need to succeed. Our business continues to grow and we couldn't be happier!

Instructor

Learning Specialist, Educational Therapist, Author of Educational Materials and Course Creator

Dr. Erica Warren

Dr. Erica Warren is an educational therapist, learning specialist, and executive functioning coach, but tells her students that she is much like a personal trainer for the brain and a magician because she offers fun exercises and tricks to make learning both fun and memorable. She is an avid blogger, vlogger, and podcaster and offers over 150 popular educational publications at Good Sensory Learning that include multisensory lessons, games, and activities for professionals and parents that help learners strengthen areas of weak cognition or academics while kindling a love for learning. She also presents teacher training courses and has a full-time practice in New York, Learning to Learn, where she empowers students of all ages to maximize their learning potential. Aspiring to empower “out of the box” learners, Dr. Warren created a degree program that united coursework and research in the fields of School Psychology, Special Education, Psychology, and Adult Education. With a full assistantship at the UGA Learning Disability Center in neuropsychological assessments, she pursued a doctorate that focused on life-long issues in learning, special education, the impact of learning difficulties across the lifespan, and comprehensive diagnostic evaluations. In addition, she earned a full assistantship with the National Science Foundation while working towards a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Dr. Warren often refers to her bachelor’s degree in fine arts, “as my secret weapon, as it brings joy, color, and creativity into my sessions.”

Executive Functioning Activities Library

  • $149.00 / year

    $149.00 / yearExecutive Functioning Activities Library

    This extensive resource library provides over 650 activities that teachers, practitioners, and therapists can use in online and in-person sessions.
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