Books
Smart but Scattered Teens
by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, and Colin Guare
Everything in the Smart but Scattered series is well written, well researched, and accessible. It talks about each of the executive function skills in detail, and offers vignettes about what struggles with each skill might look like. However, it did not have as much practical advice that you can put into practice at home as I would like.
How to Keep House While Drowning
by KC Davis
This book is amazingly helpful for creating guilt-free ways to get your home or space clean and organized. Why am I recommending it here? Because it is rare to meet a parent or caregiver who doesn't need a little help in this area. Raising kids is messy work. Let's make your home a little less chaotic.
KC Davis also has a website and podcast Struggle Care
Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers
by Dale McGowan
Raising secular children to be kind and capable critical thinkers. Parenting Beyond Belief introduces the topic, Raising Freethinkers offers practical advice and activites.
The Out of Sync Child Has Fun
by Carol Stock Cranowitz
The first book, The Out of Sync Child, was the first book I came across that accurately described Sensory Processing Disorder, out of the plethora of child development books I read in and after university. However, while it gave a thorough explanation, even I found it dry and lacking in practical advice. This book, The Out of Sync Child Has Fun, is a companion piece and is both more accessible and more practical. It is full of activities and accommodations to help your sensational learner thrive.
Instant Help Series
by New Harbinger Publications
I cannot claim to have read all of the books in the series but I have read several of them and they were all informative, easy to read, and full of practical advice.
Articles
Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria from ADDitude Mag
If your learner has big reactions to even small corrections, or cannot cope with constructive criticism, they may be struggling with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. This article by ADDitude Mag is one of the best explanations of RSD I have seen. It includes both what it is and why we have not heard much about it until recently.
How Fidgeting Sharpens Focus from ADDitude Mag
Did you know that fidgeting can "help block out distractions, fight boredom, and increase productivity?" Fidgeting can be a reasonable accommodation to help learners thrive.
25 Rules for Life from ADDitude Mag
Hacks, tips, and tricks for living your best life
How to Use Body Doubling from Life Skills Advocate
You know how when one person in a room yawns, several others will usually yawn soon? Humans are primed to follow the behavior around them. Put that to use with body doubling to increase productivity.
The Neurodivergent Guide to Socializing from Very Well Mind
5 Neurodivergent people share their advice for navigating a neurotypical world
Game Changing Advice for Neurodiverse Thinkers from Psychology Today
Finding the "best way" not the "right way" to do something
Websites
Improving the lives of people impacted by ADHD
Advocacy, education, information, and news
Great learning materials, activities, and curriculum made by passionate teachers. Look for free and low cost resources. Whether you learner just needs a little more information about a single topic, or an entire homeschool curriculum, TPT will have something that meets your needs.
Critically reviewed selection of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults and educators
Curated book lists organized by age group and/or topic
Buy Books. Do Good.
Every time you purchase a book from Better World Books, you help us donate books to people that need it. The books we donate go through hundreds of non-profit organizations. Our customers have helped make it possible for Better World Books to have donated over 38 million books.
Buy books online. Support local bookstores.
Bookshop.org wants to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world.
Sugar and Sloth - The Bestie Library
This is the blog and free resources section of the UK based shop for adorable self care merch. Their messages always make me smile.
Want to find out whether something is appropriate for your learner? Common Sense Media reviews books, tv shows, movies, apps, and more for learners of all ages. They provide detailed information on the presence of language, violence, and more. You can also read reviews from families and educators.
Tools
This handy tool is available as a website for free and as an app with a small fee to support the heroes that created it.
The company describes it as a wearable hack for your nervous system. It can help with energy, mood, sleep, and more.
TickTick
The Swiss Army Knife of planning
For free digital materials and low-cost digital books:
Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store
For print materials:
Visit my Lulu Press author page
For custom learning materials and templates, email kristin@quirk-ed.com
My Thoughts
Here is a collection of my most helpful posts:
If you only read one post of mine,
let it be this one
The big feelings caregivers can have watching their learner get support they never did
Barriers that neurodivergent learners face, and how we can help them thrive
AI is for clarification, not creation
Why Don't They Just Say What They Mean?
Translating neurotypical communication for neurodivergent minds
How to find balance between order and chaos
Apollo Neuro - the wearable that helps regulate your nervous system
This suite of tools is magic
The Swiss Army Knife of Planning