On Saturday, March 23, 2019, The Summit School will host its spring symposium, Smart but Scattered: Executive Dysfunction at Home and School. Dr. Peg Dawson, co-author of the best-selling books Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, 2nd Ed. (2010), Smart but Scattered (Guilford, 2009) and Smart but Scattered Teens (2013, Guilford), will examine how executive skills – the cognitive processes required to plan and organize activities, follow through on tasks and self-regulate – impact daily living and social performance.
Attendees will learn assessment skills and task/environmental modifications, skill development through cognitive/behavior techniques, incentive systems, and coaching as an intervention strategy, to help children overcome weaknesses in executive functions. Even the most experienced educators and engaged parents will leave with tools that can be immediately used to help children develop:
- organization
- time management
- impulse control
- goal directed persistence
- executive skills critical for independent functioning.
Dr. Joan Mele-McCarthy, Executive Director of The Summit School, invited Dr. Dawson to speak at a Summit Symposium to bring both a deeper understanding and best practices in support of executive skill development to our community. Child development research indicates there are key strategies for improving executive skills and Summit is excited to offer this valuable content to professionals and parents looking to support children with executive function challenges.
The Summit School expects approximately 200 people to attend the full-day event and continuing education through ASHA and NASP are pending. “It’s an honor to bring this information to our community. I’d like to thank the many participating Partner Schools that help make the Summit Symposium Series possible,” said Dr. McCarthy, “along with M&T Bank who we welcome as our presenting sponsor.” For more information about the Summit School Symposium Series or to register for the event visit www.thesummitschool.org.
