Neurodivergent Learners

Neurodivergent Learners
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All students learn differently and have unique learning styles. We take in new information through one of three modalities: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Everyone has a unique learning profile and absorbs material through a combination of these modalities. Sometimes students have trouble in specific areas due to a learning disability. A learning disability is a processing problem caused by genetic or neurobiological factors which modify how our brains function. These modifications can impede our ability to process information and impact our lives beyond the classroom. We can support students with the following learning differences: ADD, ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Nonverbal learning disorders, Executive Functioning Deficits, Memory and Processing Deficits. 
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What is Executive Functioning?
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Executive Functioning encompasses the cognitive and mental processes necessary to initiate and sustain goal-directed behavior. These skills include planning, organizing, prioritizing, strategizing, paying attention, and storing information in our working memory. It also encompasses metacognition, our ability to understand our learning processes, an essential puzzle piece. This aptitude helps us to figure out how we learn best and what we need to be successful. These neuropsychological processes enable us to monitor and control our behavior to stay focused and complete tasks on time. 
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Executive Functioning Skills Training
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We teach EF skills by creating healthy routines for students. We start by finding a daily planner, paper or digital, where they can regularly write down all their homework to track when things are due. Frequently, schools post assignments online on websites (such as Schoology). We determine which specific skills the student needs to focus on and target these skills. We emphasize the development of these abilities and the creation of a weekly routine to reinforce them. Our lessons revolve around helping the student strengthen these cognitive muscles and slowly learn how to do these things independently. As they improve and become more competent, we fade the assistance to the point where the student operates entirely autonomously.
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