Neuro-Affirming Blog
Do you have/work with bright, differently wired students? Looking for guidance, expert tips, thought-provoking content, tools, or answers to your burning questions?
Whether you're a parent, educator, or simply passionate about supporting bright, neurodivergent learners, this blog is your go-to resource for all things neuro-affirming, and strength-based!
Scroll down to explore supportive content that is sure to help! Ready? Set? GROW!
Most Popular Blogs
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What Does ‘Twice-Exceptional (2e)’ and ‘Gifted’ Mean? Definitions, Challenges, and How to Help Your Child Thrive
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How A Strength-Based School Year Will Change Your Child’s Life!
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More Diversity In Neurodiversity
MLK Jr. Day has me thinking…
Much like girls, people of color are wildly underserved in twice-exceptional education, gifted education, and the broader neurodiversity community.
Why? I ask myself.
The answer: profiling and societal expectations.
Using AI to Celebrate Your Clever, Quirky Kiddo
Parenting a bright, neurodivergent child comes with unique joys and challenges—especially when it feels like you’re not hearing enough about their wins. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce our AI Notetaker, a revolutionary tool designed to keep you connected with regular updates about your child’s growth, progress, and successes. Discover how this innovation bridges the communication gap and celebrates your child’s brilliance!
What a Virtual Birthday Party Taught Me About Connection
What can a virtual birthday party teach us about connection? For Oliver, a boy who once felt isolated, it was life-changing. Thanks to Young Scholars Academy, he found a community of kids who truly get him, turning his struggles into triumphs. This story is a testament to the power of belonging. If your child needs their own transformation, join our upcoming open house and discover the magic.
Transform Your Child’s School Year with a Strength-Based Approach
Are you ready to transform your neurodivergent child’s school year and set them on a path to success? A strength-based approach can do just that. Instead of focusing on challenges, this method shifts attention to your child’s unique talents and strengths, empowering them to thrive academically and socially.
This article dives into the science behind why focusing on strengths can improve your child’s mental health and academic performance. Learn actionable steps to implement this approach and discover how it will positively change your family’s outlook on education and personal growth.
New Gallup Poll Paints a Bleak Picture of Education—Have A Student At Risk?
A new Gallup poll reveals alarming statistics about Gen Z students’ lack of engagement and challenge in school.
Discover why traditional education is failing and how Young Scholars Academy offers a solution for your child’s success.
Back-to-School Success: Executive Function Tips with Seth Perler
Join Seth Perler at Young Scholars Academy for expert tips on boosting executive function in twice-exceptional and differently-wired students.
Discover strategies, resources, and mindsets to help your child thrive this school year.
Get in-depth advice and support. Watch now and transform your child’s learning journey!
“I Don’t Know My Passion” Unlocking Your Child’s Passion With Talent
Is your child struggling to find their passion or unsure about what they want to do in the future? You’re not alone. Many parents face the challenge of helping their children discover what truly excites them. What if the key to unlocking their potential lies not in directly searching for passion, but in nurturing their inherent talents first?
Discovering one’s passion often feels like a monumental task, especially for twice-exceptional children. They might have unique asynchronies that make finding a single interest overwhelming. However, understanding that talent often comes before passion can change everything
Lessons From The River Nile
Sending you an email from a boat on the River Nile in Egypt.
As we sail down this sacred, life-giving river, I can't help but contemplate ancient civilizations, present-day cultures, and humanity, at large.
As the sun drops below the tree line, I'm sipping date juice, hearing the call to prayer ring out from the minarets as it echos off the banks of the river, all while the ever-changing fragrance from the vegetation shifts with every gust of the warm Sahara winds.
As we drift along, red and white sail thrown to the wind, my mind keeps going back to our little virtual village.
The River Nile was, and is, a source of…
Your Child’s Big Leap: A Framework For Unleashing Your Kiddo’s Strengths
Is your child a vibrant ray of sunshine in your world, radiating unique interests, creativity, and curiosity at home, but seems to be dimmed by the demands of school and other “social norms”?
Much of life can have both us and our kiddos wondering, "What am I doing wrong?
Let’s be clear, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you or your child! Quite the contrary…
The problem that you’re facing is simply a challenge of alignment- your kiddo may be out of alignment with their strengths and the tasks that they’re being asked to do.
Would you like to know how to help your kiddo break free from this cycle? It starts by….
How To Make This New Year Your Child’s Best Ever!
Real life can be really hard and raising a neurodivergent child certainly presents no shortage of challenges.
While our minds can often shift to the negative, it's important that we make a conscious effort to look for the positive. This doesn't always come easy and might take real work for you to get the hang of it, but it's worth it!
Just as you would want with your kids, our goal as adults is to aim to be strength-based and talent-focused as possible.
As we pivot into the New Year, this is an important time…
Rudolph The Twice-Exceptional Reindeer
I always know it's December when the flood of Christmas movies on TV swells to a tidal high. This year, I can't help but watch these classics through a different lens; a strength-based, positive psychology lens.
After watching the 1964 classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, I can't help but feel like Rudolph is totally 2e!
FALL IS HERE!
Fall is Here!
That Means: Back to School, Autumn Foliage, Apple Pie and….A BRAND NEW SEMESTER HERE AT YSA!!
Yes! You read that right! Young Scholars Academy is thrilled to welcome your family back for the Fall Semester!
Click here to see all the courses we’re offering to make your family’s fall semester the best one yet!
How A Strength-Based School Year Will Change Your Child’s Life!
As the school year begins, it can be tempting to look back at the past year and only focus on the trials, tribulations, and turmoil.
Real life can be really hard and raising a neurodivergent child certainly presents no shortage of challenges.
While our minds can often shift to the negative, it's important that we make a conscious effort to look for the positive. This doesn't always come easy and might take real work for you to get the hang of it, but it's worth it!
Just as you would want with your kids, our goal as adults is to aim to be strength-based and talent-focused as possible.
Welcome to Our Home- Open House
Find out why YSA is a home to so many twice-exceptional students. Learn about our Open House and how it provides access to our mentors and courses in a new way.
6 Proven Study Strategies To Take Studying To The Next Level!
We all want to maximize our child’s learning and help them to achieve. The thing is, studying is a skill in and of itself that often gets rushed over.
Studying is not one size fits all! In fact, it’s more like a Frankenstein thing that we build over time as we’re exposed to different systems.
One of the biggest hurdles is that there are countless study methods and techniques available and it can be challenging to determine which ones are effective.
Happy Mother’s Day To The Women Who Do It All!
Moms, never underestimate your power! As far as I can tell, there is no one more powerful in this world than you!
You are the courageous few who:
go up against the system and fight for accommodations
see strengths in your child when the rest of the world seems to see shortcomings
entrench yourselves in learning about neurodiversity and taking creative approaches with your kiddo
invest in programs that offer your child what you know is right
give so much by being a working professional and supporting your child full-time OR putting your career on pause to support your child full time
Every Hero Story Has This…
In every Hero Story there is always a guide. There is always a mentor who helps the hero come into themselves and do what they could not do themselves. Our hero is already extraordinary, but they often don't see their own powers...
More often than not, it's not even clear that our hero is a true hero until the mentor sets them on their journey of rebirth and growth.
Heroes become heroes because…
The Twice-exceptional Elephant: What 2e Is, and Most Importantly, What It Isn’t.
What exactly does 2e mean? How do you know your child is 2e? Who gets to define what 2e is, and maybe more importantly, what it isn’t? The Twice-exceptional Elephant analogy can help define what 2e is, and maybe more Importantly, what it isn’t.
I often joke that I will retire the day that when I tell people my purpose in this world is serving “twice-exceptional students,” they will say “nice!” instead of “what’s that mean?” While the term 2e, or twice-exceptional, has been around for a while as a concept, the terms are fairly new in the fields of psychology and education. If you haven’t heard it, don’t worry, you're not alone. It just means there’s still lots of work to do!
Put On Your Mask: Recovering From The Dysregulation of Vacation
Phew. You made it. Winter break is over. I hope you are nice and relaxed and ready for the year ahead.
But… maybe you aren’t. That’s ok too. Here’s the thing though: You and your family don’t have to stay feeling stuck and overwhelmed after a holiday or vacation. To get your family back on track, you need to focus on yourself first. Think of it like an airplane…
Kicking-Off 2023 With Strengths: Week-1 In Our Virtual Village
By today, Friday, I have received 76 emails from families just like yours, who all had a story to tell about the magic of this week.
Each email detailed a special moment, or two, that really made this week special. Just like each student who is a member of our Virtual Village, each story was so different. What made classes special for one child was worlds apart from another. Across most of the messages, 2 clear trends emerged…
Get Instant Access to 12+ FREE Classes Your Child Will LOVE❤️
Classes Like “Minecraft Engineering, Intro To Acting, Executive Function 101, Debate, & More!
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