We all want resources, but searching through the seemingly unlimited expanse of the digital world can be exhausting, and you may not be sure that you are finding quality resources. Each of the resources below has been created, used, or reviewed by Learnabilities. Some may be affiliate links (because… why not?), but we would never include anything for that reason alone. We know that there is value to each of these resources.
Does that mean that every resource listed will benefit your child or student? No! Every student is different! You need to do your part by knowing each student’s learner profile and assessing whether you—as the teacher—think that a resource is likely to work and whether it is worth the time, effort and/or cost to try.
We are also relying on you to share resources that have worked for you or your student(s). We will, of course, review each resource before including it here, so we may not get to every submission right away, and we may choose not to share every submission, but please send us your best. Imagine the collection of resources our community of Learnabilities Networkers can create when we work together!
Crash Course
Crash Course has created a YouTube collection of engaging, fast-paced videos to supplement high school and college courses on everything from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology. The combination of live action teaching and animation, along with hearty helpings of humor and sarcasm, make these videos effective for new learning and review of topics. Crash Course videos have been a staple in our homeschool and a favorite resource for Learnabilities clients as well.
Stay tuned for more resources!
Rory's Story Cubes
By Zygomatic
Rory’s Story Cubes are a fun way to get kids to be creative and tell stories. Have them roll any number of cubes and tell a story including those elements—the more cubes, the higher the challenge. Combine the cube elements with different themes to stretch those imaginations. Definitely a Learnabilities favorite! Take turns adding elements to a story or ask kids to write their creative stories to capture them for eternity. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
The MI Strategy Bank
By Ellen Arnold (Author)
Strength-based instruction is a powerful way to empower children to learn their best. This book provides over 800 strategies for elementary teaching based on Multiple Intelligence Theory. Learn how to do a strength-based assessment and then choose from the strategies in this book to match Learner Profiles with effective strategies. This book has been an important resource for Learnabilities, and Mindy has shared it with current and future teachers frequently throughout her career. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
Research Institute for Learning and Development (ResearchILD)
ResearchILD is a nonprofit organization, under the direction of Dr. Lynn Meltzer, whose mission is to “transform students’ lives by empowering them to learn HOW to learn.” It provides resources for educators (executive function and school trainings, free webinars, and an annual executive function conference) and resources for families (educational therapy services, courses for students and parents, and other resources). ResearchILD also offers two school-based SMARTS executive function curriculums, which have been used by over 2,200 school districts (that’s 6,500 teachers and 250K students!) in 48 states and 33 countries; a MetaCOG Online assessment system; and the SMARTS@Home curriculum for families. Mindy is proud to have collaborated with ResearchILD as a conference presenter, SMARTS trainer, and/or consultant since 2013. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
SMARTS@Home Executive Function Curriculum for Families
By ResearchILD
SMARTS@Home is an online executive function curriculum for children in grades 1-6 that teaches strategies for self-understanding, strategy use, flexible thinking, goal setting, organization, and time management. Each unit contains lessons filled with fun activities, practical strategies, and “extension” suggestions for further practice. The curriculum is designed to be led by an adult and features many options for customization and lots of support. This program was developed by educators and experts in executive function (including Mindy!), who also just happen to be parents, grandparents, and homeschoolers themselves. Click here to download a free lesson video and use code LEARNABILITIES for a 15% discount! (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
SMARTS Executive Function School-Based Curriculums
By ResearchILD
The SMARTS Executive Function School-Based Curriculums are comprehensive curriculums that are used in classrooms, after-school programs, and learning centers. SMARTS Elementary is designed for students in grades 2-5 while SMARTS Secondary targets students in grades 6-12. Each curriculum includes 30 lessons covering the areas of metacognition; goal setting; flexible thinking; working memory; organization of materials, time, and ideas and information; and self-monitoring and self-checking. SMARTS users have access to lesson plans, editable PowerPoints, handouts, reflection sheets, and extensions, as well as planning tools and many other supports. Mindy brought SMARTS Elementary curriculum into an after-school program, used many of the strategies from both curriculums with her clients and her own children, and provides professional development to teachers using these curriculums! For larger school packages, fill out the Contact Us form and remember to say that Learnabilities sent you! (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
MetaCOG Surveys & Toolkit
By ResearchILD
The research-based MetaCOG Surveys & Toolkit assessment system incorporates questionnaire self-reflection to identify students’ strengths and challenges related to their executive function strategy use, motivation, effort, and ability to persist across a range of academic contexts. Designed to be used alone or with the SMARTS Secondary Executive Function Curriculum, the MetaCOG provides teachers with detailed individual and class results, which can be used to select EF areas of focus, track changes in self-perception, and compare to teacher and parent observations. Mindy has used versions of this system in an after-school program and with clients, and the Learnabilities kids were part of the ResearchILD Student Ambassador Program, which piloted this system! If you are interested in the MetaCOG Surveys & Toolkit to assess metacognitive awareness and strategy use in your school, fill out the Contact Us form and remember to say that Learnabilities sent you! (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
The Allowance Game
By Lakeshore Learning Materials
The Allowance Game has an around-the-board structure where players earn income and spend money based on where they land on the board. All players and the banker need to count money, add and subtract money, and give change. The player who gets up to $20 first wins the game. This is a Learnabilities favorite! Students love to learn money through a game format, and you can teach “counting up” for when those cash registers break on their part-time jobs. Teach students how to complete a check register as they go through the game for an extension of the learning and a little more challenge.
Stay tuned for more resources!
Got Stress: We Can Help! Programs
By ProActive Caring
ProActive Caring’s programs provide free mindfulness-focused stress reduction training and resources for families and professionals supporting individuals with “developmental disabilities.” The Caregiver Support Program is designed to guide caregivers to take care of themselves through an e-manual and a series of video modules. The Train-the-Trainer Program is designed to prepare parents and professionals to help individuals in their care learn mindfulness techniques for stress reduction through meditation videos and step-by-step procedure slides based on task analysis of the techniques. Learnabilities was involved in the curriculum development and video production for both programs.
Stay tuned for more resources!
Squishy Human Body
By SmartLab Toys
Explore the anatomy of the human body by using the forceps and tweezers to investigate the “squishy” organs set within the hard skeleton of the model human body. Kids love to remove and return the various organs and learn about the voyage of a pizza as it travels through the digestive system (using the accompanying anatomy book). The Squishy Human Body (“known at Learnabilities as “Mr. Bones”) has been a fun, yet educational way for the Learnabilities kids and clients to learn more about anatomy and biological processes. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
History of the World Game
By Z-Man Games
Play your way through consecutive epochs of human history by making the best decisions for the civilizations you have been given. Try to “rule the world” by conquering the different regions of the board and expanding your empire, all while learning about the accomplishments of each civilization you and the other players have chosen. The rules do take a while to learn, but that is learning, too! This game is enjoyed by the Learnabilities kids and clients who are in middle school or higher. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (Audiobook)
By Sean Covey (Author)
This jam-packed book is adapted from the The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, written by Sean’s father, Stephen Covey. The audiobook is informative, relatable, and engaging, filled with teen stories and the author’s personal experiences—plus a lot of humor. In addition to outlining the 7 Habits, the book contains inspiring quotes, scenarios for application, and baby steps for getting started. Some of the stories relate to sensitive topics, but they help to make the book relevant to teens of today. The 7 Habits books have been influential in the Learnabilities household, and the tenets of the 7 Habits have been shared by Mindy with clients as well as future teachers to help kids manage themselves and their relationships. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)
Stay tuned for more resources!
Stay tuned for more resources!
Red Lace, Yellow Lace: Learn to Tie Your Shoe!
By Mark Casey (Author), Judith Herbst (Author), Jenny Stanley (Illustrator)
This interactive book may be the resource your child needs to finally learn how to tie shoes. With color-coded instructions, rhyming text, and a model shoe with real laces, your child will love to practice with this book. A ‘lifesaver’ in the Learnabilities household, this book has also been recommended to clients and families and friends with little ones. (This is an affiliate link that helps to support Learnabilities!)