Children with ADHD receive significantly more negative messages in their lifetime than their neurotypical peers. Today's episode of the Soaring Child Podcast is going to explore how teachers, educators, and parents can help overcome that. 

Lisa Navarra is a special education teacher and behavioral specialist with over 20 years’ experience. She's also an author and a parent herself. Lisa has taught and consulted with students and parents from preschool all the way up to high school. She's the founder of the Student Success Beyond Expectations Podcast and Child Behavior Consulting. She empowers professionals and parents to help children find success inside and outside of the classroom. 

Lisa's children's book series, Henry's Tools, serve as a platform for adults to understand self-regulation and executive functioning and for students and children to learn to focus, reach their potential, and be the very best they can be as they learn to self-regulate and believe in themselves.

In this episode, discover strategies that parents and educators alike can implement to help students build their working memory, close achievement gaps at school, develop a growth mindset, and more. 

 

Key Takeaways:

[3:30] How we can help children be successful at school

[5:42] Why children with ADHD often develop negative mindsets and how parents & educators can help 

[7:32] Behavior Specific Praise - what is it and some examples

[9:11]  How to close the achievement gap at school

[12:35] How a parent can approach a teacher to discuss challenges in the classroom 

[16:50] What a parent can do when a teacher is willing to adjust their teaching styles for a student 

[19:01] Additional strategies to help children develop that growth mindset 

[21:41] Tips to help build working memory 

[23:29] Tools for older children’ working memory 

[27:18] Lisa’s book series 

[31:42] Lisa’s top tip to help children soar

 

Memorable Quotes:

“We need to really pay attention to the way in which we 1) speak to these children - and all children - as well as how we teach them.” 

“We really need to understand executive functioning and self-regulation.” 

“To prevent them from failing, we really need to focus on 1) their growth mindset and 2) reading.” 

“Before we even know it, we are pigeonholing these children into thinking they are not good and to having a fixed mindset.” 

“I’m a big advocate for what’s called Behavior Specific Praise. Behavior Specific Praise helps to shape self talk.” 

“A lot of our kids compare themselves to others so they end up thinking, ‘Okay, well, I can’t do it,' OR they start thinking, 'Okay, I’m not only going to get it right, but I’m going to perfect with it.’”

“Really identifying how the student or the child is feeling, modeling ourselves that growth mindset and saying, ‘Okay, I made a mistake. What’s the lesson in this?” 

“Asking a lot of questions to your child is super important. We have to make sure our children are hearing what we’re saying with the message we intend.”

“Working memory has 3 parts: the ability to acquire to learn, access to remember, and then to apply.”

“Just having a cute visual or having a checklist on the binder is not enough. You have to tie in the action with the outcome." 

“Believe in your child. Let them know you believe in them. Have them say it so they can hear it."

 

How to Connect with Lisa Navarra

Website: https://childbehaviorconsulting.com/lisa-navarra/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisanavarraedu/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisanavarraedu?lang=en 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/60vi5zx5hzHyknlTmF7WAV  

 

Dana Kay Resources:

Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/ 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 

 

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

 

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/