Synopses & Reviews
From struggling students to academic all-stars, everyone can do better in school. Research shows that executive functions such as focus and organization are more valuable to school performance than intelligence or talent. Fortunately, these functions are skills, so students can learn them. This book provides ten tools to improve executive functioning, described as andldquo;mental appsandrdquo; that will appeal to digital natives. Featuring plenty of examples, practice assignments, and a playful tone, this book can provide an academic boost to any student.
About the Author
Ron Shumsky, Psy.D., is a U.S.-trained and licensed clinical psychologist and child neuropsychologist. He specializes in child development and learning as well as converting psychology-education principles into meaningful and practical use. Ron lives in Tokyo with his wife, two kids, and their dog Pickles.
Susan M. Islascox, M.A., is a learning support teacher at the American School in Japan, charged with the often daunting task of helping high school students get focused, organized, and motivated. Her successes and failures in that endeavor inform just about everything in this book. Susan lives in Tokyo with her husband and son.
Rob Bell, M.Ed., is an elementary school teacher with teaching experience that spans fifteen years and three continents. He currently lives and works in Santiago, Chile, with his wife and two kids.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction: Whatandrsquo;s Stupid and Whoandrsquo;s Not
Attention Apps
The Payoff: Ruling at Schoolandmdash;and Beyond
How to Use this Book
Menu of Attention Apps
App 1: Your Mindandrsquo;s Channel Changer
Paying attention when bored to tears
App 2: Your Mindandrsquo;s Pizza Cutter
Slicing work down to size
App 3: Your Mindandrsquo;s Video Screen
Picturing yourself atop Mt. Work
App 4: Your Mindandrsquo;s Cheerleader
Feeling great about yourself (instead of down on yourself)
App 5: Your Mindandrsquo;s Piggy Bank
Why to choose work over play (and what a marshmallow has to do with it)
App 6: Your Mindandrsquo;s Activator
Cease Candrsquo;s and attain Aandrsquo;s
App 7: Your Mental Workbench
Just what was I supposed to do next?
App 8: Your Mindandrsquo;s Speedometer
Going 80 down the highway and 8 down the alley (not vice versa)
App 9: Your Mindandrsquo;s Calendar
Linking what to do with when to do it (without double-booking)
App 10: Your Mindandrsquo;s Observer
How not to act clueless
Index
About the Authors