Neurodivergent teens are intelligent, creative, out of the box thinkers, but can have trouble thriving due to challenges with executive function skills like organization, planning, prioritizing, and working memory.  This class is designed to help teens strengthen these skills and give them tools to better navigate academic settings and life in general.  Learners with challenges in reading and writing due to dyslexia or dysgraphia, often also have trouble with task initiation and working memory due to the intense effort it takes to read and write.  This class is designed to give learners tools and techniques to record their ideas using as few words as possible, set up their writing for success,  encourage them to use technology to support their reading and writing efforts, and use notes and templates to study for tests or complete writing assignments.  I call this class my "Fundamentals" class because it encompasses the many areas in which I support learners here on Outschool (executive function, writing, and note taking).  For this class, I am highlighting the lessons that I think are most fundamental to learner success.  Each lesson stands alone, learners are welcome to join at any time of the year.

Each class session will focus on a different element of executive function, note taking strategy, study strategy, or writing strategy.  The goal is to give students some concrete tools and brainstorm strategies that will make navigating academic environments and life in general a little easier.  Each class will include discussion, a short mini lesson on the strategy of the day, and a chance to apply what we learned through some form of practice.  Copies of my presentation, a study guide, template or all three will be provided after each class session so families and students can take what they learned and use it outside the classroom.  During note taking skill sessions students will be taking notes on a presentation about unique real world people, animals, events, etc. then doing a Kahoot! to review what they learned.

***This class covers many of the fundamental concepts and uses lessons that I teach in my executive function, note taking, and writing camps here on Outschool.  I also cover these topics in my ongoing executive function support classes in a different format.  If your learner has taken classes with me before, much of this material will be a review.  Please reach out to me with questions to determine if this class is a right fit for your learner.  It is designed to give new families an introduction to executive function, writing, and note taking skills that will help learners to be more successful in academic environments and in life.  Families who have joined me for similar classes before can choose to drop in for a stand alone lesson or two on fundamental concepts that their learner may have missed because they missed a day of camp or joined my ongoing support class in the middle of the year.  This class will reset once a year.  

Week of August 27:  Mind Mapping

Week of September 3: Visual Note Taking (Sunday and Monday classes do not meet due to the Labor Day Weekend)

Week of September 10: Persuasion Map (Some classes do not meet due to teacher commitments)

Week of September 17: Time Management: Getting out the Door

Week of September 24: No class due to teacher commitments.

Week of October 1:  Pro and Con Table:  Argumentative Essay or Debate

Week of October 8: Planning and Project Management

Week of October 15: Venn Diagram Note Taking

Week of October 22: Impulse Control

Week of October 29:  Prioritizing

Class is on winter break from the week of November 5 -week of December 24.  We resume the first week in January.

Week of December 31:  Working Memory (Monday classes do not meet due to New Year's Day)

Week of January 7: Two Column Study Question Note Taking

Week of January 14: Mind Mapping Your Goals for the New Year

Week of January 21: Time Management: Time Blocking and More!

Week of January 28: Annotation Part 1 (M-F classes held before 3pm PST will not meet)

Week of February 4: Emotional Control

Week of February 11: KWL Research 

Week of February 18:  Task Initiation

Week of February 25: Taking Notes on What You Read (classes before 3 pm PST will not meet)

Week of March 3: Organization

Week of March 10: Following Directions

Week of March 17: Creating study questions with your notes. (Classes before 3pm Pacific Time do not meet)

Week of March 24: Feed Your Brain

Week of March 31: Why do visual notes work?/ Visual Note Taking Practice

Week of April 7: Self Monitoring 

Week of April 14: Decision Making and Pro and Con sheet- Using tables to organize thoughts and information

Week of April 21: Key Words+ Main Ideas in your Notes

Week of April 28: KWL Note Taking (Classes before 3pm Pacific Time do not meet)

Week of May 5: Why do visual notes work?/ Visual Note Taking Practice

Week of May 12: Class does not meet due to teacher commitments

Week of May 19: Cornell Notes for Lecture/ Reading

Week of May 26: Prioritizing

Week of June 3: Annotation

Week of June 10: Mind Mapping Your Summer Plans

Week of June 17: Smart Goal for Summer

****My Refund Policy ****

Ongoing: No refunds will be offered for missed classes.  Parents, if you don’t wish to pay to hold your spot, please use the pause feature by at least the Saturday before your learner will be missing class. Transfer to a same week section is offered  upon request when possible. (I recommend that you plan ahead) Videos of most class sessions will be available for review. A PDF of my slides or study guide always available after the session is over.