Does your child have trouble planning ahead for projects?
Do they have difficulty knowing where to begin on large assignments?
Do they lack effective study skills?
Do they have good ideas but trouble getting them on paper?
Do they frequently lose school materials or assignments?
Do they appear unmotivated?
Are their grades suffering because of these issues?
What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning refers to the mental process associated with setting goals, initiating plans of action, sequencing or organizing steps, self-monitoring and revising plans, and executing or following through to accomplish the original goal. It enables children to:
Executive functioning skills are also critical for managing life outside of school, including holding a job, scheduling appointments, and budgeting money.
Many children suffer with executive functioning difficulties, including those with ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s, or the typical “smart but scattered” teenager. All too often, they are misunderstood as “lazy” or “unmotivated,” which can lead to further problems with self-esteem and mood.
How does an Executive Function Tutor or Coach work?
Executive function coaching is a hands-on process that involves the teaching and guided practice of executive functioning skills with the end goal of independence and self-mastery. Coaching sessions typically occur in the home and may include helping the child learn how to study more efficiently, brainstorm and construct outlines for written assignments, read in ways to improve comprehension, break down large assignments into smaller chunks, utilize schedulers and daily planners, or create time management routines. Dr. Rosenthal draws on his expertise in neuropsychological assessment in order to build tailored interventions, and relies on the principle of “instructional scaffolding,” a technique where higher levels of initial support are gradually removed as learned strategies are practiced and eventually mastered. The coaching sessions are intended to equip the child with a toolkit of systems and solutions to use when approaching new problems in the future.
About Dr. Rosenthal
Dr. Rosenthal is a licensed clinical psychologist and pediatric neuropsychologist with over seven years of experience in assessing and treating children and adolescents with executive functioning difficulties, including those with ADHD, learning disabilities, Asperger’s, high-functioning autism, and other behavioral, learning, and neurological conditions. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Psychology from University of Maryland, earned his Ph.D. from University of Connecticut, fulfilled internship training at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and is completing a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He has also received advanced training in neuropsychological assessment at Yale-New Haven School of Medicine. Dr. Rosenthal has co-authored several journal articles on executive functioning and presented original research internationally on the topic.
Specialties:
Dr. Rosenthal provides executive function coaching for:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD)
- Asperger’s Disorder
- High Functioning Autism (HFA)
- PDD-NOS
- Learning Disability (LD)
- “Smart but Scattered” children and adolescents
