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Noel Foy

@neuronoel

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Anxiety/executive function specialist for kids and adults
📚Author-ABC Worry Free, Are You a Bird Like Me and 15 Minute Focus: Executive Function

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Just met deadline #2 on my latest book on #executive function-woohoo! 💃🏻🕺

Kids aren’t born with executive function intact. It’s “built” throughout their lives.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, grandparent, coach, or other caring adult, every interaction with kids builds the foundation for a strong brain and executive function.

This book support you in that effort…it demystifies executive function and makes it simple, practical and doable with ready-made lessons to help kids be better organized, efficient, productive, and regulated.

You don’t build executive function in a day — you build it brick by brick every day, and this book will show you how! Stay tuned for more updates!

#adhd
#teachers
#15minutefocusexecutivefunction by @neuronoel

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12 days ago

What an incredibly special experience to honor my grandfather’s legacy by donating my books 📕📗📘 to the beautiful village of Fanano, Italy, where he was born.

It was a thrill to share my stories and leave a piece of my heart in the place where my grandfather’s story began. ❤️

To dreamers like my grandfather!

#visitfanano
#abcworryfree
#areyouabirdlikeme
#15minutefocusexecutivefunction
#authorvisit by @neuronoel

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a month ago

Saying “Get Ready” for school can sound easy.

It’s not that simple though, especially if you or your child has executive function challenges.

As your child practices “stepping into the future, ask THEM to describe the plan instead of you listing off each step.

This helps them internalize expectations and develop a picture in their mind of the morning routine. Ask kids to “Match the Picture” of each step.

You might consider asking your kids to do a “dry run” (or two) of the routine before the actual day they need to implement it. If they forget a step, you can also say, “Go back and see where you left off…then “Match the Picture” of the next step.

Hope this helps you enjoy smoother mornings and less stress!

#morningroutines
#backtoschool
#parentsupport
#executivefunction
#adhd by @neuronoel

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15

2 months ago

Had an amazing day supporting the teachers in how to build executive function in the classroom @kingsleymontessori School!

#executivefunction isn’t about laziness or lack of ability or character—it’s about underdeveloped skills that CAN be built!

My passion is to help kids and adults develop these skills—when they do, sky’s the limit!

Learn quick tips and tricks in my book 15 Minute Focus: Executive Function which you can find in my bio link, and share with anyone who might need to hear this! 😃

P.S. my apologies for a couple of the auto caption mistakes! 😅

#adhd
#teacher
#parenting
#15minutefocusexecutivefunction by @neuronoel

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5 months ago

Episode 78 of the #DaveBurgessShow is UP!! Great conversation with @neuronoel about the importance of executive function, how to create “dopamine friendly” environments, and why stress and anxiety are the enemies of learning. Listen in here on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dave-burgess-show/id1550396352?i=1000761420088
Or here on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Evndq7LF20ol2VgFCUHzv?si=LwEYhL5lTNKIEVP8vXjVFQ
#teachersofinstagram #executivefunction #neuroscience #neuronoel by @neuronoel

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6 months ago

Enjoyed an amazing author visit @mercymount_cds!

It was an honor to spend the day with the next generation of storytellers, illustrators and readers!

It’s always a thrill to read my books to kids and see their smiles and reactions to the characters from Are You a Bird Like Me?

After reading the book, the kids did a writing activity on their favorite character, and let me say, their pens were “flying” across the page! 🦅

I felt the magic in the room and left inspired!

#authorvisit
#areyouabirdlikeme
#storytelling
#kidslit
#amwri̇ti̇ng by @neuronoel

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6 months ago

Enjoyed a great conversation and lots of laughs with Papa Rick Harris on his podcast @adventurepaparick!

We discuss my first book ABC Worry Free, a teaching tool to help kids manage anxiety.

We also dive into the creative journey behind this story as well as my:
-second children’s book (Are You a Bird Like Me?)
-my most recent book for #teachers, #counselors and #parents (15 Minute Focus: Executive Function).

Tune in by clicking on the link in my bio and share with anyone you know who’s looking for ways to manage anxiety and/or learn more about becoming a children’s book author.

You can pick up a copy of my books from my bio link.

#podcastguest
#childrensauthor by @neuronoel

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7 months ago

Had a fun, informative and productive afternoon with the dedicated educators @oakbluffsschool for our third of three workshops on #executivefunction.

This workshop focused on ways to help THE KIDS remember what they need to do or bring vs. the teachers having to give repeated reminders.

These teachers know that building skills in their students requires active learning and engagement. Hence, “The brain that does the work, does the learning!” 🧠

They walked away with quick wins to shift the thinking to the students and get THEM owning more of the thinking, processing and doing.

Using simple tools from my book 15 Minute Focus: Executive Function, we discussed and practiced how to cultivate a More of Them, Less of You” classroom.

Click on the link in my bio to grab a copy 📕and learn more! Share with anyone who might benefit. These tools can transform a classroom, home and life! 😍

#teachers
#counselors
#15minutefocusexecutivefunction
#adhd

@nationalcenterforyouthissues by @neuronoel

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7 months ago

One of the biggest game changing moments for me as a parent and educator was when I discovered how to view learning and behavior through a brain-based lens.

I had to think of myself as a brain builder.

It shifted everything~for my students and me-we now had simple and practical tools, language, approaches, and systems to build executive function increase learning, and decrease stress.

Here are a few helpful concepts to begin with…Upstairs Brain, Downstairs Brain, Executive Function, and Neuroplasticity.

And here’s a quick cheat sheet to get you started:

—Downstairs Brain: online at birth, it’s designed to keep us alive and is in charge of breathing, heartbeat, primal emotions, and Fight, Flight or Freeze responses. It is known for “reacting without thinking.” If we get too stressed, it hijacks Executive Function (which resides in our Upstairs Brain), and these are the brain functions that guide thinking and behavior for learning, achieving goals, juggling demands, and navigating life.

—Upstairs Brain: comprised of the Cerebral Cortex, this part of the brain is slow to develop and continues throughout adulthood. It includes the most advanced part of the brain (yet last to develop) called the Prefrontal Cortex, where Executive Function lives. This part of the brain is known for “thinking before reacting” and does many complex jobs: set goals, start tasks, organize, plan, meet deadlines, make friends, play, think critically, keep emotions in check, self-monitor, and more!

—Neuroplasticity-the ability of the brain to grow and change based on how it’s used.

Time for you to be a brain builder!

#executivefunction
#teaching
#parenting
#learning
behavior by @neuronoel

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8 months ago

Who said professional development isn’t practical, informative and fun?

What a day we had at Saint Mary’s Catholic School!

Loved working with these amazing #teachers in how to build executive function. They walked away with quick tips and tools they can use immediately!

Teachers were reminded that “the brain that does the work does the learning!” One way they applied this principle was by doing Brain Dumps: a great tool to increase learning and memory as well as clear up any misinformation and confusion.

Teachers learned from each other and received real time feedback of what they recalled and what might need further clarification.

To learn more about Brain Dumps and other quick, simple practices to help kids stress less and learn more, grab a copy of my book 15 Minute Focus: Executive Function!

#executivefunction
#professionaldevelopment
#15minutefocusexecutivefunction
#parenting
@nationalcenterforyouthissues by @neuronoel

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8 months ago

You can’t teach to a dysregulated brain. That’s because it’s in survival mode and feels like it’s being chased by a tiger.

The “tiger” might be a test, performance or social situation. Or…an individual might be in a state of frustration, anger or anxiety. Believe it or not, even boredom or not seeing relevance to a topic or task can activate the stress response.

In these moments of high stress, it’s not the time to take in new learning or remember directions or information.

The brain responds to these “perceived” threats as if they’re life threatening emergencies and is just doing its job of trying to protect us.

What helps in these situations is connection, co-regulation and strategies to help regulate the nervous system and get the thinking brain back.

#executivefunction
#teachers
#parents
#stressresponse
#selfregulation by @neuronoel

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8 months ago

The power of movement!

So many benefits…including enhanced attention, focus, learning, fitness, energy and mood.

If you find yourself losing focus or having a hard time getting started on a task, consider doing a movement break and see if you notice a boost in alertness and motivation.

Give it a try!

#exercise
#movement
#students
#teachers
#executivefunction by @neuronoel

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9 months ago