A Glimpse Into the Process of Indentification & Supports

Dr. Christine Powell, Education Therapist & ADHD Coach ( and published education researcher) 🧩

Look, we’ve all been there: you notice the missed assignments, the frantic morning searches for cleats, and the “zoning out” long before a report card ever shows a problem. As a parent, you’re usually the first to know something is off, but, let’s be honest with ourselves, often the last to move. It’s easy to hope they’ll just “grow out of it,” but the science tells a different story.

The “Air Traffic Control” of the Brain

We spend a lot of time worrying about IQ, but research from Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child shows us that IQ isn’t actually the best crystal ball. It turns out that Executive Functioning (EF) skills are a much better predictor of academic success and career prospects than IQ or early reading scores.

Think of EF as the brain’s “air traffic control system.” It’s what allows a kid to filter distractions, prioritize a to-do list, and switch gears when things change. In today’s world, the ability to manage your own brain is far more valuable than just being “smart.” Without a solid master engine, even the brightest kids hit a wall in high school or college when the workload finally outpaces their ability to “wing it.”

What’s Really Going On?

Before we label a kid as “disorganized,” we have to look under the hood. Sometimes, what looks like a messy desk is actually something else:

The Avoidance Loop: A kid might “lose” their math book because they have a learning disability and feel defeated by the work.

The Noise: Anxiety and depression create so much internal noise that there’s no room left for external instructions.

The Stress Response: If a child has experienced trauma, their brain is stuck in “survival mode,” which physically shuts down the parts of the brain responsible for planning and organization.

If you’ve ruled those out, you’re likely looking at a gap in executive function. This isn’t about “laziness” or a lack of willpower; it’s a developmental lag in the brain’s management system.

Why “Working With the School” Isn’t Always Enough

You can, and should, work with your child’s school. However, you have to be realistic: a teacher’s impact is limited by their specific training and bandwidth. Most teachers are dedicated, but they’ll be the first to tell you they feel unequipped to handle students with unique neurodivergent challenges. They are managing a crowd; they aren’t trained to fine-tune your child’s individual cognitive engine.

This is where specialists like Dr. Christine Powell and other educational therapists come in. They act as the “translators” who take the dry data from neuropsychological reports and turn it into a real-life game plan.

“Educational therapy is the bridge between what a student is learning and how they are learning it,” says Dr. Christine Powell. “We don’t just look at the grade; we look at the process. We connect the data to the way a student moves through their entire day — at school, at home, and everywhere in between.”

Why Is Learning Any Different?

We need to stop the stigma. If your kid wants to improve their batting average, you hire a hitting coach. If they want to play the piano, you find a music instructor. We see these as investments in excellence.

So why is learning any different?

Supporting a child’s executive function isn’t “remedial” help; it’s high-level coaching for the most important organ they own. By getting them the right support, you’re giving them the tools Harvard researchers have proven will dictate their success long after they’ve left the classroom.

Two Ways to Help Right Now

Externalize Time: Use an analog clock or a visual timer. Kids with EF challenges often “clocksblind.” Seeing the red wedge of a timer disappear helps them feel the passage of time.

The “Rule of Three”: Never give more than three instructions at once. Have them repeat the steps back to you. If they can’t say it, they can’t do it.

Ready to stop guessing?

The first step to fixing the problem is knowing exactly where the “engine” is stalling. Visit my website at www.LearningByConnecting.com for a free questionnaire. You’ll get individual feedback on your child’s specific EF strengths and challenges so you can start moving forward today.

Hope you found this helpful. Share with others you think may benefit. 🧩