Teach to the Child

Self-Monitoring Check-ins
Teach your child to become a detective of their own work through Self-Monitoring Check-ins! ✔️ Instead of waiting for you to find an error, teach them to pause mid-task and ask: "Am I on track?" "Is this making sense?" "Did I follow all the steps?" This fosters metacognition and independence. Develop metacognitive skills with strategies from Teach to the Child.

The Power of Routines
Routines are the backbone of strong Executive Functioning! ⚙️ When tasks are routine (morning routine, homework routine, bedtime routine), the brain uses less energy to start and manage them. Automation through predictability frees up mental space for learning complex tasks. Build effective, flexible routines with simple steps from Teach to the Child.

Flexible Thinking
Flexible Thinking is a crucial Executive Functioning skill—the ability to pivot when a plan fails or a rule changes. 🔄 For kids who struggle, transitions and unexpected events can cause meltdowns. Practice "what-if" scenarios and model calm when your own plans go awry. Teach your child to adapt with resources on cognitive flexibility from Teach to the Child.

Does your child underestimate how long a task will take (or overestimate their ability to finish quickly)? That’s a challenge with Time Estimation. 🕰️ Teach them to track time: Have them guess how long an assignment will take, then time it. Comparing the guess to the reality builds better self-awareness and planning skills. Master time management with support from Teach to the Child.

Task Initiation

One of the hardest EF skills is Task Initiation—just getting started! 🚦

If your child struggles, try a small "on-ramp" strategy: "Do the first two problems," or "Just open the textbook."

The hardest part is often starting; momentum builds after that.

Learn techniques to conquer procrastination and task initiation challenges with Teach to the Child.

A Collaborative Team

Supporting a 2e child takes a village! 🤝 Parents, educators, therapists, and the child themselves must form a Collaborative Team.

Open, respectful communication between all parties is key to creating a unified and effective support plan that addresses both their strengths and needs.

Build your team effectively with guidance from Teach to the Child.

Finding the "Fit"

When a 2e child is struggling, the problem is often a poor environment-to-learner fit, not a problem with the child. 🧐

The curriculum might be too rigid, too slow, or fail to engage their deep interests. Look to change the environment before you assume the child must change.

Teach to the Child helps assess and advocate for a better fit.

Executive Functioning and 2e

Executive Functioning challenges (organization, planning, time management) are highly common in 2e kids, especially those with ADHD.

It’s not a matter of will, but of skill. 💪🏻

We need to explicitly teach and scaffold these skills, not punish the lack of them.

Teach to the Child provides practical tools for building EF skills in 2e learners.

Sensory needs come in two main forms! 👂

Overload (too much input—loud noises, bright lights) can cause meltdowns or avoidance. Underload (not enough input) can lead to seeking behaviors like chewing, fidgeting, or spinning. Recognizing whether your child needs less or more input is the first step to effective regulation. Teach to the Child helps you read your child’s sensory signals.

Accommodations vs. Modifications

For 2e learners, it's vital to know the difference: Accommodations (changes in how they learn, like extended time) support their disability, while Modifications (changes in what they learn, like reducing content) often limit their giftedness.

Focus on accommodations to remove barriers without lowering the intellectual bar!

Teach to the Child provides clear guides on effective support plans.