Do you have a child who struggles with writing essays or taking organized notes? Executive function challenges can make it difficult to stay on top of assignments, especially for bright and quirky kids. In this vlog, Sarah Ward, M.S. CCC/SLP, shares her top three executive function hacks to improve writing and note-taking skills. From using tables to text for essays to innovative note-taking software, Sarah breaks down practical, easy-to-implement strategies to help kids stay organized and reduce stress during schoolwork.

Hack #1: Tables to Text for Easy Essay Writing
For kids who have difficulty organizing their thoughts in an essay, Sarah suggests using a tables-to-textstrategy. By inserting a simple two-column table in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, students can break down their essay into manageable chunks. In the left column, write the questions to be answered. In the right column, answer each question in full sentences. Once all the answers are in place, merge the table or paste the answers as plain text, and voilà—your essay is organized and ready to go!

This method is great for bright students who might jump around in their thinking, making it easier to organize their ideas and craft a cohesive essay.

Hack #2: Sonocent for Effective Note-Taking
When it comes to note-taking, Sonocentis an innovative tool that allows students to record lectures and organize their notes through a color-coded system. Students can highlight key points during a lecture, and after class, they can revisit only the critical sections by clicking on the color-coded bars. This makes it easier to focus on what truly matters and helps students retain the most important information from lectures.

Hack #3: OneDrive for Organized Digital Note-Taking
Finally, Sarah recommends using OneDriveas a digital notebook. Within the Microsoft Suite, OneDrive offers a virtual notebook with templates for different classes, such as science, math, and history. Students can organize their notes by creating tabs for each subject and use specific page templates like Cornell notesto stay structured. The touch-screen functionality also allows students to write or type notes, offering flexibility depending on the student's preference.

Key Takeaways:

  • The tables-to-textmethod helps organize essay answers for clarity and structure.

  • Sonocentis an innovative tool for color-coded, effective note-taking.

  • OneDriveoffers digital notebooks with templates tailored to each subject, improving organization and note-taking efficiency.

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