, ,

The Connection Between Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation

When we think about self-regulation, we often picture a child’s ability to manage emotions, behavior, and attention. But there’s an important piece of the puzzle we can’t ignore: sensory processing. The way a child takes in, organizes, and responds to sensory information can influence how calm, focused, and flexible they are throughout the day. If […]

,

Student Effort – Free Self Assessment

Helping students reflect on their own effort is one of the most valuable ways to build independence, persistence, and self-awareness. When children pause to think about how hard they tried instead of only focusing on the outcome, they begin to develop a growth mindset and stronger self-regulation skills. To make this process easier, we’ve created a free self-assessment on student effort that you can download and use with your students. The first two pages are designed for younger children (with simple YES/NO responses and visuals), while the remaining pages are written for older students who are ready for more reflection.

Why Focus on Effort?

  • Builds Growth Mindset: Shifting attention from grades or scores to effort encourages students to embrace challenges and see mistakes as opportunities to learn.
  • Supports Therapy Goals: Occupational and physical therapists often focus on persistence, frustration tolerance, and self-regulation. A tool like this connects directly to those goals.
  • Promotes Student Voice: Students practice self-monitoring, a key executive function skill, while gaining confidence in their ability to improve.
  • Easy to Use: Whether in the classroom, therapy sessions, or at home, the assessments can be a quick check-in or part of a routine.

What’s Included in the Free Effort Self-Assessment

For Younger Children

  • Simple YES 👍 / NO 👎 choices
  • Visual icons for easier understanding
  • A drawing reflection page to show effort through art

For Older Students

  • Multiple-choice reflection questions about effort, focus, and responding to mistakes
  • A quick results guide to interpret “Mostly A’s, B’s, C’s, or D’s”
  • A short writing reflection to recognize strengths and set goals for next time

How to Use the Effort Self-Assessment

  • In the Classroom: Add to morning check-ins, end-of-day reviews, or independent work time.
  • In Therapy Sessions: Use after activities to help students connect effort with progress.
  • At Home: Parents can encourage reflection during homework or chores, reinforcing that effort matters as much as results.

More Helpful Resources on Growth and Effort

If you want more tools to help your students stay motivated and build resilience, check out these additional resources:

Download Your Free Effort Self-Assessment

Enter your email and download the free PDF self-assessment on effort and start using it today with your students. This tool makes it simple to guide students toward recognizing their effort, celebrating their persistence, and setting goals for future success.

 

,

Brain Based Self Regulation Strategies for Kids and Adults

Understanding how the brain influences behavior gives parents, educators, and therapists powerful tools to help children develop emotional balance. Rather than relying on surface-level tips or one-size-fits-all solutions, brain based self regulation strategies offer practical, targeted support grounded in neuroscience. You can download a FREE printable of these strategies at the bottom of this post. […]

,

Helping Children Understand Their Brain – Free Brain Team Cards

Every parent and teacher has witnessed those moments when a child struggles with big emotions, has trouble focusing, or acts impulsively. What if there was a way to help children understand their brain, why these challenges happen, and give them tools to navigate them more successfully? Understanding how the brain works isn’t just fascinating science […]

Self Regulation in the Classroom

If you’ve ever worked with children, or just been around them long enough, you know what self regulation (or the lack of it) looks like. The student who can’t focus, who crumbles during schedule changes, or who freezes up when a task gets complicated? All of these point back to one critical skill: self regulation […]

,

Poor Impulse Control in Kids: 10 Strategies That Work at School and Home

Poor impulse control in children can show up in many ways, blurting out answers, interrupting, grabbing things, or acting out without thinking. While it’s easy to label these behaviors as defiant or disruptive, the truth is that impulse control is a skill that many children are still developing. For some, especially those with ADHD, sensory […]