People often say to me, “I get why executive functioning is important, but when are you going to tell me how to work on it”? I wish I could jump right to the lesson plans and “here’s what you do in a perfect hierarchy to work on these skills”. But brains don’t work that way. That’s why I start with the framework before the lesson plan. The macro before the micro.  When you Google executive functioning, you often get a list of 8 or 9 skills, and a broad definition. This is important information, but it doesn’t tell you “the how”.  It also doesn’t explain how you’d scaffold. That’s why when I help clinicians design executive functioning interventions, I start with five broad areas that start to make those abstract cognitive skills more tangible.  In episode 268 of De Facto Leaders, I explain what those five skill areas are. I also explain why we can’t teach them in isolation, and why they have to be embedded into tasks students are already doing in their daily lives in order for intervention to be meaningful. In this episode, I mention the Task Execution and Planning Protocol, which gives school clinicians an intervention strategy that takes students from “demand avoidance” and prompt dependence to independence during daily academic and functional tasks.  You can learn more about the Task Execution and Planning Protocol here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/taskexecution In this episode, I mentioned School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers design scalable executive functioning interventions to ensure students get the scaffolding they need across the school day.  You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

In this episode of the Cresconova Global podcast, host Eric Makelky sits down with Katie Kelly and Sarah Merkt to explore how Cresconova Global's online enrichment program fits into a child's broader educational journey. Katie and Sarah dive into the personalized support parents receive—from initial learning consultations to ongoing communication and student-facing narrative feedback reports that put kids at the center of their own learning. The conversation covers common parent concerns (screen time, technology readiness, trial classes), how the program serves both traditional-school and homeschool families, and a deep dive into why conceptual, curiosity-driven math instruction beats worksheet-based enrichment. They close with an impressive 78% returning-student rate and practical first steps for curious parents, including free monthly "Sunday Sparks" webinars and low-commitment summer workshops.

Summary Instructional coaches are often treated as a school’s all-purpose backup: covering classes, managing testing logistics, joining extra committees, and handling whatever emergency appears next. In this episode of Better Teaching, Gene Tavernetti explains how those individually reasonable requests quietly dismantle a coaching program. Gene makes the case for protecting coaching time as carefully as instructional time. He recommends a clear job description, a schedule that protects observation and debriefing, explicit monthly expectations, and a target of spending 70–80 percent of the coach’s time in classrooms. The long-term choice is clear: covering a class solves today’s problem, while coaching improves instruction this year and the years that follow. Chapters 0:00 — Welcome to Better Teaching 0:46 — The all-purpose support trap 1:23 — How understaffing consumes the coaching calendar 3:12 — The message teachers receive when coaches are pulled 4:08 — Define and protect the coaching role 4:49 — Keep 70–80% of the coach’s time in classrooms 5:16 — Dr. Randy Olson and the “nothing is an emergency” rule 5:44 — Short-term convenience versus long-term improvement 6:42 — Closing thoughts and resources Show Notes **Host:** Gene Tavernetti **Core takeaway:** Protect the coaching calendar like instructional time. Define what coaches do—and what they do not do—and hold leadership accountable for preserving that work. **Recommended starting point:** Write a clear coaching job description, set a weekly schedule for observations and debriefs, and review the coach’s time allocation monthly. **Gene’s books:** *Teach Fast, Focus Adaptable Structure Teaching* and *Maximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles* **Website:** TESS Consulting Group **BlueSky:** @gtavarnetti **X/Twitter:** @gtavarnetti **BE Podcast Network:** bepodcastnetwork.com About Better Teaching Better Teaching is hosted by Gene Tavernetti and focuses on practical ideas for teachers, instructional coaches, administrators, and everyone who supports better work in classrooms—no clichés, no buzzwords, only stuff that works. Added/created/modified by Codex on 2026.09.22 13:22 PT on ombee

Summary What happens when two cousins turn a drawer full of lost socks into a graphic-story universe? Erin Bailey talks with Shidan and Roshan Youssefian, creators of Life Really Socks, a playful book series about mismatched socks, friendship, individuality, and belonging. Shidan and Roshan grew up in Italy in a culturally mixed family, followed different professional paths, and came together during the pandemic to build a creative world where lost socks become characters with their own stories. They explain why they chose graphic storytelling, how humor helps children engage with big ideas, and why celebrating difference can be both meaningful and genuinely fun. Chapters 00:00 — Meet the creators of Life Really Socks 01:44 — Growing up in Italy and finding a shared creative path 05:08 — The origin of the Life Really Socks idea 07:22 — Celebrating misfits, individuality, and belonging 10:33 — Creating during the pandemic 13:14 — Why graphic storytelling invites children into reading 16:00 — Building the Sockverse and its cast of characters 20:00 — Humor, empathy, and making big ideas approachable 24:00 — From books and socks to a larger creative universe 29:00 — Taking the risk to make something new 34:18 — A message for readers and families Show Notes Erin Bailey is joined by cousins Shidan and Roshan Youssefian, the creators of Life Really Socks. The series follows lost and mismatched socks in a world where characters learn to navigate difference, friendship, and community. In this conversation, they discuss: How a simple idea about mismatched socks became a story universe The influence of their multicultural family and international backgrounds Why the Sockverse uses humor and adventure to explore belonging How graphic novels can help children build confidence as readers The creative possibilities of combining books, characters, and physical products What the pandemic changed about their work and creative process Why taking a creative risk can lead to unexpected connections Learn more about Life Really Socks: Website: lifereallysocks.com YouTube: Life Really Socks Instagram: @lifereallysocks_official TikTok: @lifereallysocks Reading Inspires is presented by Reading Is Fundamental. Share this episode with a reader, family, or educator who would enjoy the Sockverse.

In this episode of The Principal’s Handbook, we explore the difference between management and leadership and why effective principals need both. You'll learn how management creates the systems, routines, and accountability that keep schools running smoothly, while leadership inspires growth, builds culture, and drives instructional improvement. The episode also includes reflection questions to help you identify whether you naturally lean more toward management or leadership and where you may need to strengthen your skills. If you're looking to lead your school more effectively, this episode will help you find the balance between being a strong manager and an inspiring leader. Get free resources at principalfreebies.com.