The Executive Function Coaching (EFC) guide was developed by MAIA Education Resource Center for professionals to use when working with students. It was also developed to help parents better understand EFC. The strategies and recommendations in this guide are time-tested and highly effective.

What is executive function coaching? Executive function (EF) is considered the “CEO of the brain.” These skills are critical to an individual’s capacity to organize, prioritize, plan, and follow through on tasks. EF skills are just as important — if not more — than pure ability in order to succeed in school. During EF coaching, the coach teaches strategies to develop executive function skills and practices these skills with the student so that they become routine. The strateg

Starting a new school year can create a substantial cognitive load for students as they transition back into routines and rules that they haven’t been practicing over the summer. The beginning weeks of the school year present specific opportunities for families to support their child through this transition and set them up for academic success. By proactively establishing and monitoring your child’s progress and goals, you can begin to create a strong foundation of collaborat

Summer is a time to embrace different rhythms and routines, to recharge a bit, and to enjoy family time, and we hope you are making the most of this season. Finding time for summer vacations and for your child to relax are important priorities. Amidst the summer fun, it’s well worth taking a look at some school-related goals before the next school year begins. Weaving in some educational activities can help your child begin the new school year feeling more confident and prepa

When families start the college admission process can vary based on each student, family and other considerations. Some begin the very early stages of college admissions in late middle or early high school, while others wait until a student’s junior or even senior year to get the ball rolling. There’s not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to this process or its timing, but at MAIA we tend to recommend rising juniors or rising seniors have college admissions on their

When a high school student is struggling in school – whether for academic, social-emotional, or other reasons – it could be time to consider other school options. This isn’t a decision to be made lightly since a school transition, even when it’s the right approach, is a big deal for a teenager. However, finding the right school environment could be the key to helping your child thrive during these critical years. When should you consider a transition to a different high schoo

The transition to college life can be exciting and rewarding, while at the same time stressful and nerve-wracking — for students and parents alike. For many teens, especially those with learning differences or struggling with mental health issues, the level of independence and responsibility required can feel overwhelming. We convened New York City-area medical, psychological and educational professionals for their insights on helping disorganized teens prepare for college .

Raising a teenager isn’t easy, and neither is being a teen in today’s world. Add in ADHD, learning differences and/or mental health conditions like anxiety, and the challenges on both sides can multiply exponentially. At MAIA Education Resource Center, we know how important it is for caregivers to have access to resources when their teens are struggling. In our recent panel, we brought together educational and child development experts who are invaluable to the conversation o

We would like to invite you to watch our latest webinar, Raising Complex Teens with ADHD/LD/Anxiety, an interdisciplinary panel discussion with educators, mental health and medical professionals, Kenny Creed, MSEd, Scott Quasha, PsyD, Scott Palyo, MD, and Sharon Thomas,MSc, MSEd. This dynamic and comprehensive discussion will address the medical, social/emotional, parenting and academic needs typically seen in teens that may not fit neatly into only one diagnostic criteria.

Getting ready for the new school year means more than just back-to-school shopping for backpacks, clothes and school supplies. For many children, this fall will mark the first time that they’re in a 5-day, in-person program since the start of the pandemic. Given this, supporting your child by preparing him or her physically, emotionally and mentally is even more important to reduce back-to-school jitters. As learning consultants, we’ve compiled our tips on how to truly get yo

The transition to college life can be both exciting and stressful for students. For teens who struggle with organization, the level of independence required for success in college can be particularly daunting. In high school, organizational supports are put in place for students if they need them. By contrast, in college, students needing support need to advocate for and arrange to receive services. Watch our last webinar, Helping Our Disorganized Teens Transition to College

One of the main concerns parents and educators have shared with us is how the dramatic rise in screen use due to virtual learning has resulted in screen addiction for many youngsters. In this webinar on the topic of screen addiction, we welcome neuropsychologist, Dr. Peter Pramataris, founder of Pramataris & Associates and longtime director of the Center for Attention and Learning at Northwell Health/Lenox Hill Hospital. In conversation with MAIA Education’s founder and di

This webinar is designed for parents who have children in grades K - 12 with an identified learning difference and/or ADHD. In addition, we welcome professionals who wish to learn more about the rights of youngsters who are in either private or public school and need support services. ● Did you know that if your child needs support services, he or she could be eligible for them through the Department of Education? These services could include individual tutoring, PT, OT and s

The Emotional Impact of the Pandemic on Learning and Social Development in Students K - 12 We are sharing the main takeaways from our recent webinar so that both participants and non-participants benefit from insights regarding the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and social/emotional development of children. The topics that were discussed included: ● Understanding typical versus atypical learning and emotional behavior ● How to assess our children’s em

As we face this current school year with a blend of different learning models including, in-person, fully virtual, and hybrid, it is more important than ever to give our students with executive functioning challenges strategies to stay engaged academically. During this webinar, learning specialist, Sharon Thomas, and neuropsychologist, Dana Suozzi, will provide practical recommendations and strategies to help navigate this complex learning landscape. Topics discussed were: •

Did you miss our last webinar on September 22nd? No problem! We are sharing the main takeaways from our Independent and Boarding School Admissions webinar on September 22, 2020 so that both participants and non-participants benefit from the most up-to-date information regarding this year’s school admissions process. The main areas of the process we reviewed were standardized testing, virtual visits, and interviews. We have shared the main takeaways below and provided helpful

This webinar will provide specific recommendations for how students can use the summer months to successfully complete their applications .