“This is a wonderful tool. Importantly, it provides a menu of options for coaches and students and the language is transparent and logical. Dawson and Guare draw on their knowledge of how executive skills develop and are refined to explicitly teach strategies for academic and personal self-management and self-advocacy. Both the student and the executive skills coach will gain from using this planner.”

—Jackie Gilson, NCSP, school psychologist, Chicago Public Schools


“In my 17 years as a teacher, I've worked with countless frustrated, struggling students who are clearly capable of doing better. The executive functioning and coaching components in The Work-Smart Academic Planner are vital to improve the academic performance of these learners. The planner helps students develop a growth mindset and increase their sense of self-efficacy. It builds the cognitive skills necessary for success in school and beyond.”

—Timothy McElroy, MA, special education teacher, Mountain View High School, Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools


“Dawson and Guare provide a true compass for navigating the path to academic growth. The planner provides invaluable practical strategies that encourage students' independence and foster learning. It will be a welcome resource for students, coaches, educators, and parents.”

—Barbara Saint-Amour, board-certified coach, Yarmouth, Maine


“While it is valuable to develop theoretical models of executive functioning, it is incredibly more so to develop practical strategies and clinical tools for overcoming problems in this area. Congratulations to Dawson and Guare for doing just that. This planner provides a set of tools that will help teens with executive skills deficits—including those with ADHD—to function more effectively. The planner pages in the revised edition are easier to use, as each week now fits on a single page. Parents and teachers will find the book highly useful, and clinicians will want to add it to the list of resources they recommend for dealing with executive skills deficits on a daily basis.”

—Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine


“This planner will be extremely useful for a wide variety of students, from those struggling with school performance to high achievers seeking further growth. It incorporates research-based strategies that will help students manage and plan their time, organize school assignments and responsibilities, and remain focused on short- and long-term goals. I know of no other resource that not only provides an individual guide for executive skill development but also includes many helpful checklists, tip sheets, and templates to support the successful completion of essential school tasks.”

—George J. DuPaul, PhD, School Psychology Program, Lehigh University