Welcome back to another episode of "Don't IEP Alone"! In today's episode, we dive into the fascinating topic of executive functioning with the incredibly knowledgeable Tera Sumpter, SLP. Tera, who likes to think of things in terms of growth and planting, shares her insights and strategies for developing and supporting executive functioning skills in children. 

She categorizes these skills into roots, stems, and flowers, highlighting the importance of prioritizing and organizing skills as the "flowers" that bloom when there is a strong foundation of roots and stems. 

One of the key themes discussed in this episode is the crucial role of perception and awareness in building a strong root system, followed by attention and other essential skills in the stem. Tera also delves into the importance of choosing a highly recommended professional to assess executive function and suggests that a dynamic assessment, which includes observing performance and processing in different domains, is the most effective approach.
 
Listen in as Tera shares tips for fostering foresight, understanding nonverbal working memory, and the significance of a team approach in addressing executive functioning difficulties. 

We also explore the connection between executive function and various specialties, such as speech and language development, literacy, mathematics, and emotional regulation. Tera offers invaluable insights for parents, educators, and professionals, stressing the need for knowledge and integration of executive function into everyday practices. 

Additionally, Tera provides practical strategies for supporting executive function development in and outside the classroom. So, whether you're a parent seeking guidance, an advocate for change, or simply interested in understanding executive functioning better, this episode is a must-listen. Stay tuned!

Here are the resources we discussed:

• Tera's online educational network.  This is my best resource for learning about EF, EF assessment and EF intervention for parents and professionals.  https://community.terasumpter.com/
• Her book, The Seeds of Learning is below.
• Her Instagram account:  @terasumpter_slp
• Her Facebook page:  Seeds of Learning, LLC
• Her blog:  https://terasumpter.com/blog

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