Barranco Educational Assessment Svcs., PLLC

10/31/2025

Want to help your student or child with ADHD improve their problem-solving and task completion? Check out this new resource from CHADD: “Retooling Strategies for Greater Success: Think Alouds” — the article digs into how using “think-alouds” (having learners verbalize their thoughts as they work) can build stronger executive function skills. 

Why this matters:
• Kids with ADHD often benefit when we make the invisible thinking process visible — when we model how to plan, monitor, and adjust. This article outlines how think-alouds support exactly that.
• It’s not just about “doing the work” — it’s how they approach the work (setting a goal, checking in, revising if necessary). When these metacognitive steps get built in, the outcomes often improve.
• As caregivers or educators, using think-alouds helps us shift from “do it for me” to “let’s do it with you” — making learning interactive and intentional.

Quick tip you can try this week:
Pick one task (homework, project, chore) and ask your child/student to walk through out loud what they’re doing:
1. “What’s our goal for this step?”
2. “What do I think will happen next?”
3. “Is this working — how do I know?”
4. “If this isn’t working, what will I try next?”
Doing this as a habit builds stronger self-regulation and less frustration.

Have you used think-alouds at home or in the classroom? Share what’s worked (or hasn’t).
And if you find this strategy helpful, tag a parent, teacher or support person who might benefit too!

Red the full article here:

ADHD NEWSSTAND FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS Retooling Strategies for Greater Success: Think Alouds by Margaret Foster, MAEd Attention Magazine October 2025 Download PDF Going deeper with executive function tasks that are resistant to intervention Students come to us-parents, teachers, academic co...

10/30/2025

How can schools truly accelerate learning while meeting the needs of every student?

The National Center for Systemic Improvement shared a fantastic short read —
“Five Considerations that Educators Can Employ for Accelerated Learning.” https://ncsi.wested.org/resource/five-considerations-that-educators-can-employ-for-accelerated-learning/

At Barranco Educational Assessment & Consulting Services, we see every day how thoughtful planning, data-based decisions, and collaboration can make all the difference for students with diverse learning needs.

Educators — we’d love to hear from you!
*What strategies have helped your students grow the most this year?
*Which of these five considerations do you think schools need to focus on most right now?
Comment below.

Get this Resource by Kathleen Pfannenstiel, NCSI Document Fast Five This Fast Five defines the role of accelerated learning to support all students, but specifically students with disabilities. This Fast Five provides considerations and ideas to support LEA’s to plan for and implement accelerated ...

10/27/2025

💻 Free Webinar: Stronger Brains, Brighter Outcomes

Join Partners Resource Network for a free statewide webinar focused on empowering families and educators to better understand how to support children’s learning and emotional growth.

🗓 Tuesday, October 28, 2025
🕛 12:15 PM (CST)
📍 Online via ZOOM
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GHEn2DsSSLqiGe6AxMMdag #/registration

This session explores strategies for building stronger brains, emotional regulation, and brighter outcomes for children with learning differences, ADHD, autism, and mood or behavioral challenges.

With understanding comes better supports and interventions. We will discuss the ADHD brain and all the gifts it brings to the world, and how to help foster those gifts for better outcomes. Special Guest Presenter: Layne Pethick, Region 10 ESC If you have questions about our statewide or collaborativ...

10/20/2025

October is ADHD Awareness Month — a time not just to notice ADHD, but to understand it more deeply and support those who live with it every day. The latest article from ADHD Thrive Institute shines a light on breaking down myths and embracing real-life understanding and support:
👉 https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/10/adhd-awareness-month-beyond-myths-toward-real-understanding-and-support/

Here are a few key take-aways:
• ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity or distractibility — it can affect sleep, emotions, routines and many parts of life.
• Some common myths still holding many families back: “It’s only a brain chemical issue”, “Medication is the only solution”, “Food doesn’t matter”. (And that’s not the full picture.)
• Real support means addressing the whole person — body, mind, environment — rather than expecting one “fix” to solve it all.
• You don’t have to face this alone. Sharing stories, educating others, showing up for change — all of that matters.

If you’re a parent, a teacher, a friend or just someone who cares — Share this post or the article and help replace misunderstanding with empathy.

by Dana Kay | Oct 4, 2025 | ADHD Co-existing Conditions, ADHD Kids, ADHD Life, ADHD Symptoms, Featured Topic Posts, Mindset, Natural Solutions, Parenting

10/14/2025

🧩 October is Autism Awareness Month

As we celebrate Halloween, let’s remember that not every child experiences the world the same way. Many children with autism also have sensory processing differences—which means loud noises, bright lights, scratchy costumes, or big crowds can feel overwhelming.

🎃 With a little understanding, Halloween can still be fun and inclusive for everyone!

Here are easy ways to support sensory-friendly Halloween fun:

✅ Choose soft, tag-free, or simple costumes
✅ Offer non-food treats for kids with dietary or sensory needs
✅ Create a quiet break area during parties
✅ Keep lights and sound effects low
✅ Be patient—not every child will say “trick-or-treat” or make eye contact

🔎 Want to find sensory-friendly activities this month?
Try searching:
👉 “sensory-friendly Halloween events near me”
👉 “sensory-friendly movies near me”
👉 “AMC Sensory Friendly Films”
👉 “Inclusive Halloween activities near me”

🔗 You can also check this helpful Texas resource for sensory-friendly activities and family support: www.belikebuddy.com/texas

10/07/2025

🧠 Is ADHD Hereditary? The Answer Isn’t Simple

According to research, ADHD does run in families — genetics account for a large portion of the risk.  But heredity doesn’t tell the whole story — many other factors influence whether someone develops ADHD.

Here’s a quick breakdown:
• Genetic risk accounts for a significant share (studies suggest ~75-80 %) of the variation in ADHD traits. 
• But environment, brain development, prenatal influences, and other nonshared factors also matter. 
• Having a parent or sibling with ADHD raises the likelihood, but it doesn’t guarantee it. 
• Hereditary does not mean destiny — many people with genetic predispositions never develop full-blown ADHD, and others without a family history do.

For a deeper dive, check out the full article from ADDitude: “Is ADHD Hereditary? Yes — and No.”

10/02/2025

Teachers & Parents — Let’s Talk Writing Struggles!

We know that for many kids with ADHD, writing can feel like climbing a mountain. The good news? There are strategies that can make the process easier and less stressful — for both kids and the adults supporting them.

The article below shares great tips like:
-Break big assignments into smaller, clear steps
-Encourage kids to talk out their ideas before writing
-Use graphic organizers or visual maps to spark structure
-Focus on progress, not perfection, in early drafts

Teachers and/or parents: What strategies have helped your students/children with ADHD succeed in writing? Drop your thoughts in the comments — your tip might be exactly what another parent or teacher needs!

Read the full article here:

Half of all kids with ADHD struggle with writing, which can make every assignment — from straightforward worksheets to full-length essays — feel like torture. Boost your child's skills with these 18 strategies for school and home.

09/30/2025

Bullying affects more kids than we think — and we all have a role to play.
As parents, caregivers, educators, and community members, we can take steps to notice, prevent, and respond to bullying — both in real life and online.

Want to support your child better? Check out “Bullying: Tips for Parents” from Mental Health America for guidance 👉🏼 https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BACK-TO-SCHOOL-2014-Bullying-Tips-for-Parents.pdf?fbclid=IwVERDUANHu4FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHulhY3C68jBx6HKFfbc1MBytCm2dsNilTagQKz_FtdFSCnNSWMrn_1oHUx4m_aem_Hrtmx6V3zV9mbyOa76HSJg

09/25/2025

What’s the best strategy you’ve used to support learners with dyslexia?
Share your ideas below ⬇️ and attend the Region 4 Dyslexia Conference on Dec. 4, 2025 (in Houston or online) to explore more evidence-based practices and tools!

Attend in person or virtually from anywhere, including on-demand access to sessions after the conference. Connect with leading researchers, experienced practitioners, and peers dedicated to advancing dyslexia education.

09/22/2025

🧠 Did you know that nearly 1 in 5 students receive mental health support at school? 🏫 But many schools say they can’t fully meet all the mental health needs of their students.

Why it matters: Early access to mental health services in schools can improve wellbeing, reduce absenteeism, and help students thrive both emotionally and academically. But gaps remain — especially in staffing and resources.

Read the full article 👉🏼:

This issue brief explores the landscape of mental health services, including services offered, utilization, barriers, and funding, and how recent federal actions may affect school-based mental health care. The analysis draws upon survey data collected directly from public school administrators.

09/18/2025

📝 What if handwriting could reveal early learning differences?

New research shows that AI-powered handwriting analysis may help spot signs of dyslexia and dysgraphia in children.

The AI doesn’t just check spelling — it looks at how kids write:
✍️ Speed & pressure
✍️ Letter size and spacing
✍️ Reversed letters & organization

Why it matters: early detection means kids can get the help they need sooner — and it could make screening more accessible for families and schools.

Read more here ⬇️

A new University at Buffalo-led study outlines how artificial intelligence-powered handwriting analysis may serve as an early detection tool for dyslexia and dysgraphia among young children.

09/15/2025

What’s the hardest executive skill for your teen: planning, remembering, starting tasks — or is it something else?
Check out this article for strategies to help: https://www.additudemag.com/executive-skills-teens-with-adhd/?src=webinar

If there’s something not listed in the article that has worked well for you or your teen, please share in the comments! Let’s build a toolkit together. 🙌