The TGD

The TGD When Ed is struggling to grade lab reports, he remembers his identity as a supportive Dad! Trusted Tip: Take 60 seconds this evening to help your student name three "Non-Academic Wins" from their week. It could be a great rehearsal, a kind word to a friend, or even just keeping their cool during a long bus ride. Grow Your Mindset:  When a student ties their self-worth strictly to achievement, a missing assignment feels like a broken soul. By protecting their passions

The Fragile Identity of the EF Student For many parents of students with Executive Function (EF) challenges, the emotional landscape of the school year can be baffling. A missing homework assignment or a B- on a test does not just result in disappointment; it often triggers a total emotional meltdown or a complete shutdown. It is crucial to understand that for these students, these reactions are not merely behavioral outbursts—they are identity crises. To understand why this

Reclaiming focus by anchoring to what matters most! When Interesting Competes with Important Aloha! Team TGD is soaking up some inspiration this week while Tabitha enjoys the Hawaiian sunshine. We are all feeling that high-vibe energy as the days get longer and the extra daylight starts to peek through our windows. Lately, we’ve been reflecting on how easily a "quick task" turns into a three-hour rabbit hole. Tabitha fell into these rabbit holes leading up to her trip — exper

A visual blueprint to help with working memory! The Brain's Blueprint We are officially deep into February, and Tabitha is currently fueled by the countdown to Hawaii! She is already dreaming of the sunshine and the sound of the ocean as a reset from the winter gray. Thank you to the rest of the TGD Team for holding down the fort! We’ve also been reflecting on how much easier it is to navigate a new place when you have a map. For our students, trying to hold a complex task in

A brain-based way to offload decisions while strengthening autonomy! We’ve been leaning into the lingering pace of winter this week! With the two-hour delays from the snow and ice, Team TGD has been enjoying the rare luxury of sleeping in and actually finishing a cup of coffee while it’s still hot. We’ve been reflecting on how "extra space" in the morning preserves the energy teens need to build their own identity. While they love the luxury of a lazy morning, the return to r

When the snow piles up, we shovel. When the homework piles up, we shut down. Here is how to automate the "start" button using the science of If-Then rules. TRUSTED TIP Between the snow shoveling and the icy commutes, everyone’s mental battery is running a bit low. When we tell a student to "just start your homework," we are asking their Prefrontal Cortex —the brain's CEO—to do a lot of heavy lifting. Think of the Prefrontal Cortex like a Manual Snow Shovel ; it’s effective, b

If you are entering the new year caught between a flicker of optimism and the sheer fatigue of being a constant "task manager," we understand the science behind that exhaustion—and we are here to help you replace that stress with evidence-based clarity. Maybe your mornings feel rushed and tense. Maybe homework turns into tears, shutdowns, or power struggles. You might be constantly prompting and reminding, wondering why your child—who you know is capable—still can’t seem to f

We’re trying out a newsletter format this month: The TGD! Each week, we’ll send you a TIP , a way to GROW  your mindset, and a link to our blog where you can DIVE  deep into the science behind the topic. This month, Hannah takes us on a deep dive into the science of learning with a brief literature review on the value of spaced practice for memory consolidation. As we grow our coaching practice, we'd love your help - the end of this message has 3 quick ways you can help. Than