ResearchILD

One of the major underpinnings of the SMARTS Online program is teaching students effective self-awareness and metacognition. But what is metacognition and how do you teach self-awareness? This video provides an overview of these concepts along with tips for fostering a self-aware approach to learning in your classroom. This video is one in a series of videos outlining the major concepts of the SM…

Working memory is the ability to hold information in one’s mind and to mentally manipulate this information (e.g., mental math). It’s helpful to think of your working memory as your brain’s bandwidth. If you have poor internet, and you try to watch three tv shows simultaneously, your computer will slow down and may even crash. The same is true when a student’s working memory is overloaded. Test t…

“Don’t forget to edit your work before you hand it in!” No matter how often we remind our students to check their work — whether on a paper, a test, or a project — it seems like the message just does not get through. Papers are turned in with glaring spelling and formatting errors. Tests returned without a name on top. It’s enough to make a teacher crazy. But do not worry, help is on the way! Sel…

Working memory is the ability to hold information in one’s mind and to mentally manipulate this information (e.g., mental math). It’s helpful to think of your working memory as your brain’s bandwidth. If you have poor Internet service and you try to watch three TV shows simultaneously, your computer will slow down and may even crash. The same is true when a student’s working memory is overloaded.…

ResearchILD intern, Acadia Connor, is a recent high school graduate who has dyslexia and is a college-bound honors student. Acadia recently addressed a State of Massachusetts Education Committee on dyslexia advocacy through Learning Ally. Here is part one of her inspiring talk: Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life thinking it’s…

We know the holiday season is supposed to be full of jolly cheer and magic, but let’s be honest: for brains navigating the world of executive function (EF) challenges, this time of year often can sometimes feel like trying to sled down a hill with a 400 pound bag of presents on your back (without the flying reindeer). If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or just plain stuck, take…

It is only natural to want your child to be able to handle the inevitable conflicts that arise in family gatherings and other high-emotion large-group settings. The best time to start building those conflict resolution techniques was months ago. The second-best time is right now. Importantly, kids can’t advocate for themselves when they don’t clearly understand the family expectations, the schedu…

What do “I can’t hear you, I am mewing”, “6-7”, and “What the skibbiddi?” have in common? Correct answers include: being practically incomprehensible to anyone over the age of twenty, […] The post Brainrot, Executive Function, and Cognitive Flexibility appeared first on ResearchILD .

You’re on the hunt for a late night glass of water, but when you get to the kitchen you are met with the sight of your child – in tears, […] The post How to Help Homework Stress appeared first on ResearchILD .

Every teacher has witnessed this scenario: two students with similar academic abilities tackle the same assignment, but only one struggles. The difference often isn’t intelligence or effort, but something far […] The post The Key to Student Agency: Metacognition appeared first on ResearchILD .

Chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest and most concerning problems facing our schools today. Although many individuals point to the Covid-19 pandemic as a major root cause, the answer […] The post Why Absenteeism Is A Problem in Schools appeared first on ResearchILD .

When your student is unorganized, you feel it. Everyone feels it. Of all the executive function processes (the cognitive processes that help us enact our goal-directed behavior), organization is one […] The post 4 Examples of Organizing Skills for Students appeared first on ResearchILD .

Self-understanding and metacognition are both crucial for personal growth, effective learning, and navigating life. Self-understanding is the ongoing process of gaining insight into who you are as a person. Metacognition is the […] The post Reflection Writing Prompts for Self-Understanding appeared first on ResearchILD .

You can have the best ideas and plans in the world, but without organization, it is almost impossible to bring them to life. This is why best practices for student […] The post Best Practices for Student Organization: The 4 C’s Strategy appeared first on ResearchILD .

Before SMARTS, executive function was a hidden aspect of the school curriculum. In some ways, schools implicitly expect students to adhere to certain classroom norms and values, such as communicating with teachers […] The post Teaching Lesson Plan for Struggling Students appeared first on ResearchILD .

As the school year winds down, many of us look forward to summer break. However, for parents and school counselors, the summer can also bring a bit of worry about […] The post Literacy, Executive Function, and The Summer Slide appeared first on ResearchILD .

Have you ever noticed how some students seem to naturally organize their homework, manage their time, and confidently advocate for themselves, while others struggle with even the smallest tasks? This […] The post Equity, Education, Executive Function: Stories from our Fellowship appeared first on ResearchILD .