Happy Friday, Reader!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already the last week of June. While the days may be longer in June, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly the summer months fly by. I saw my first back-to-school display while shopping this week, and it certainly jolted me to think about my progress on summer projects (and tempted me to buy school supplies because one can never have too many happy writing utensils). Whether your summer is underway or just starting, I hope this week’s newsletter finds you well.

Tip of the Week: Never Draft the Same List Twice

These past two weeks, my family has been doing a lot of traveling — first, a beach trip to Tybee Island with friends and then to Michigan to visit family. In the past, such back-to-back travel would have stressed me out, but now that my kids are older, it’s fairly smooth sailing. One thing that helps the process tremendously is our standard packing list.

Our standard packing list is a Google Doc where I brainstormed a list of all the items we would need to pack for a trip. When we’re planning to travel, I simply open the doc, make a copy with any necessary updates (e.g., new medications), edit quantities for the number of days, and print two copies. I cut apart one copy and give each family member their section of the packing list, and then I use the other copy as my master list to check my kids’ work. While my girls are great at gathering the items on their list, they sometimes need help making sure their choices are weather-appropriate or consider various contingencies.

Once we get back from the trip, I do a quick scan of the packing list before archiving it to see if there were items we didn’t end up using or things we had to buy while on the trip because we’d forgotten to pack them. This final review is one thing that makes this process even more helpful for future trips. It’s how I remember, for example, that it’s helpful to bring a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper and some dishwasher pods when we’re staying at Airbnb’s or that I don’t need to pack toothpaste when visiting my parents. By saving a copy for each trip, I can reuse the one that most closely mirrors my travel plans (e.g., beach vs. mountains, flying vs. road trip, etc.). As I frequently tell students, improving a draft is always easier than starting from a blank page.

What are some strategies that help you navigate summer travel?

Executive Function Elsewhere in the World

Here are a few of my favorite articles and resources from this week:

• While the data is concerning, I was happy to see the Wall Street Journal/Houston Herald draw attention to the growing number of students qualifying for special education services and the shortage of resources available in public schools to serve them. This is an important issue that will need much more attention in the coming years.
• Teens and screen time are a particularly challenging combination when it comes to focus and executive functioning. This article in KQED gives 10 great tips for navigating those challenges — many of which I use when coaching students.
• A few of my coaching students are heading off to college this fall (yay!!!). The book Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities by Elizabeth Hamblet has been a very informative read. I highly recommend this book to parents with college decision-making on the horizon.

Last Chance for Early Bird Pricing on Small Group Classes!

Building Savvy Learners now offers virtual, in-person, and hybrid coaching options to students and families at 505 Medlock Rd., Decatur, GA 30030.

Starting in mid-August, we’ll offer the first of four six-week classes for middle and high school students. Together, these four six-week classes will build a year-long curriculum teaching important foundational skills for EF and academic success.

1. Achievement Unlocked: Building Savvy Habits for School Success (August/September)
2. Achievement Unleashed: Building Savvy Study Skills for Better Performance (October/November)
3. Achievement Unlimited: Building Savvy Strategies for Effective Time Management (January/February)
4. Achievement Unblocked: Building Savvy Writers through EF-based Strategies (March/April)

Visit the small group page on my website to learn more about these face-to-face courses and register for the inaugural cohort at a discounted rate through June 30.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. If this email content is valuable to you, would you please forward it to other parents who might benefit from it? I’m on a mission to build savvy learners who can develop and leverage tools that support executive functioning, and I’d love to connect with more parents. Your support in that endeavor means the world to me.