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Nearly 1 in 10 children are diagnosed with ADHD, yet most educators receive no formal training in supporting executive function deficits. This gap creates challenges for teachers, frustration for parents, and academic struggles for students who are often mislabeled as unmotivated or lazy.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Hassler speaks with Ann Dolin M.Ed., founder of Educational Connections and author of "Homework Made Simple," about the critical role of executive function in student success and practical strategies for supporting ADHD learners.

Topics Covered:

• Executive function skills and their impact on academic performance
• Distinguishing between motivation deficits and executive function challenges
• The cycle of negative feedback and declining student confidence
• Evidence-based classroom accommodations and visual organization techniques
• Homework modification strategies that maintain academic rigor
• Metacognitive questioning approaches that promote student agency
• Appropriate integration of AI tools in learning
• When to implement executive function coaching versus subject-specific tutoring

About Our Guest:

Ann Dolin, M.Ed., has 30+ years of experience in education. She founded Educational Connections 27 years ago and is the author of "Homework Made Simple" and "Getting Past Procrastination." Her work focuses on executive function coaching and academic support for students with ADHD and learning differences.

Resources: Educational Connections: ectutoring.com

💡 This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:

1. Listen to the full episode
2. Visit https://thecpd.group/podcast
3. Enter code 800146 to check in and download your certificate

Listen. Learn. Earn.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited! 

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

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If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.