Weekly Recap: Why School is Hard For Neurodivergent Students
Weekly Recap: Why School is Hard For Neurodivergent Students
+ Where I've been this week + Q&A video!
On the blog…
Why School is Hard For Neurodivergent Students
For many neurodivergent students, school is the hardest part of their life. For some, school is a traumatic experience filled with too much noise, too little interest, and not enough people who “get them.”
So why is this so hard?
It’s hard because we are trying to teach an increasingly neurodiverse generation of learners within a standardized system of expectations. What we really need is a system that flexes with the neurodiverse needs of our children.
But systems take time to change. Why?
Because we change systems by changing mindsets
The good news here is that we actually don’t have to wait for the “system” to change, because we are the system…
Where has Dr. Emily been this week?
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with the amazing faculty and staff at Sprague School, St. Timothy’s School, Lincoln Heights Elementary, and North Ridge Elementary!
Topics we covered ranged from how anxiety impacts learning, responding to behavior, understanding neurodiversity, and building an inclusive classroom!
Want to bring me to your school this year?
School Administrators: If you’re excited about the opportunity to create a school culture where your entire staff feels confident to support the neurodivergent learning needs and social emotional wellness of all students, you’re in the right place!
Parents: If you know of a school who would like to host me for professional development, you can learn more and contact my team below!
In case you missed it…
A few times a month I’m going to answer the questions you send me on video for all to hear. I know that many of you have similar questions so why not share the love!
This week’s question:
We are getting ready to start the school year, and we really struggle with getting out the door in the morning. The only time my son has been ready is when he is really excited about traveling or Disneyland. Never for school or even camp. His twin sister is type A and gets really upset with him in the morning when he is behind and makes her late. I have tried several timers, lists, schedules, and nothing seems to stick. I was researching reminder watches to see if that would help, and they did not have great reviews. He is 10 years old and doesn't currently wear a watch. We have tried a few different ones, and he isn't a big fan.
Resource for teachers….
FREE Regulation Roster to help you get to know your students!
If you are struggling to understand your students’ neurodiverse needs, I have a FREE tool for you!
The Regulation Roster will help you:
Identify how students regulate themselves: Learn what to look for when observing how a student moves, communicates, and socializes with others.
Organize your observations: The Regulation Roster checklist format keeps your student list (and your brain) organized!
Brainstorm what your students need: You know your students first need be regulated to learn. But what does that mean? I’ll explain more and help you know what to look for in student stress responses that interfere with student success.
Connect with each student’s spark for learning: You will have an organized list of student interests and sensory-motor needs all in one class roster, which will help you help your students get ready to learn!