If you’re parenting a child who is both wonderfully bright and wired a little differently, you’ve probably seen just how incredible their mind can be and how frustrated they can get when everyday tasks feel harder than they “should” be. Many twice-exceptional (2e) learners have incredible abilities, yet still face real challenges with executive functioning , communication, and day-to-day routines.  The good news is that with the right support, your child can learn the skills

High school brings an increase in EF demands, as students are expected to take more responsibility for tracking assignments, managing...

At the July 2025 PHP REEL Support Group, Leisa, a 2e/neurodivergent parent and professional from Calm in Chaos Co who specializes in organizing spaces for neurodivergent brains and lifestyles, spoke about organizing for back to school. She follows a “strengths-based” philosophy. "What strengths do I have and how can I use my strengths and awareness of struggles to organize our spaces to work for us?" She offered great tips like, “take sensory sensitivity into consideration w

In this video, we explore the concept of scaffolding through the worksheet Can We Figure Out a Different Way?—a tool designed to support neurodivergent learners by focusing on accessibility, not ability. Learn how to scaffold tasks in a way that aligns with your child’s strengths and unique neurodivergent profile.

This worksheet helps you reframe a challenging task and identify a strength-based way your child might approach it differently. Use it to brainstorm alternatives that preserve the goal but make the path more accessible. It may be helpful to refer to EF Vocabulary Cheat Sheet . 1.  What task or situation is currently difficult for your child?  ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

Strengths & Struggles Map Instructions:  Draw two overlapping circles, similar to a Venn diagram. One circle is labeled "Strengths"  and the other "EF Struggles."  In the overlap, identify the areas where gifted traits and   executive functioning challenges intersect —this is often where 2e complexity resides, and we can begin to strategize scaffolding that works with a child’s strengths. (Refer back to the Example Strengths and Struggles Map for examples.) Circle 1: Strength

This cheat sheet is designed to help you better understand the executive functioning (EF) skills your twice-exceptional (2e) child may be...

Parents of twice-exceptional (gifted + learning differences) kids face challenges with executive function (EF) skills, which develop slower in neurodivergent children. Tools like the EF Vocabulary Cheat Sheet and Strengths & EF Struggles Map help families identify challenges and strengths. Involving kids in these exercises builds self-awareness and support strategies.

This is an example from our facilitated small group discussions. It is meant to help parents realize they are probably already scaffolding in some areas and how tailoring scaffolding to their child's strengths could be more helpful in finding the best way to scaffold their child.

Do you have a question you’d like the column to answer? You can email asklucy@reel2e.org . My autistic 2e teenager is highly resistant to...

Learn how to support executive functioning in twice-exceptional (2e) learners with expert Rachel Kapp. This online talk offers practical strategies, tailored tools, and school advocacy tips to help 2e students thrive by leveraging their strengths and understanding their unique learning profiles.

In Action: Examples and Scenarios (Part 4 of 4) The first article in this series provides an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. Then, the second article outlines A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management. In the third article , we discuss the Importance of Co-Regulation. In this final article in the series, we provide Real-Life Examples and Scenarios. We also include a Reference and Resource List . Plus, you can download this template of the 3-Step Pa

Important to Know: The Role of Co-Regulation (Part 3 of 4) The first article in this series provided an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. Then, the second article outlined A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management. In this third article we ground ourselves in the importance of co-regulation. We begin with ourselves.  As with all skills, learning self-regulation and emotional management strategies isn’t accomplished in isolation—children will learn fr

A 3-Step Pathway to Better Regulation Management (Part 2 of 4) The first article in this series provided an Introduction and Overview to Emotional Regulation. In this second article we address the question “How do we put all of this information into action?” Based on our synthesis of the available information, small group discussions, and hands-on work with dozens of families of 2e learners, we suggest a 3-step pathway that simplifies and combines ideas on self-regulation an

Understanding 2e and Self-Regulation (Part 1 of 4) As part of REEL’s mission is to ensure Silicon Valley twice-exceptional students thrive in school by raising parent and educator awareness and understanding of practical, research-based strategies to address their needs successfully, we host quarterly topical Facilitated Small Group Discussions . We launched our first group in Fall 2024 focused on the topic of emotional regulation and twice-exceptional learners.  During these

Lily's writing struggles reveal hidden executive function (EF) challenges. Discover 6 strategies to boost EF, transforming writing from drea

Sam Young of Young Scholars Academy talks about focusing on the strengths of the child to develop positive learning outcomes.

In this recording from the 2025 REEL Strengths Fair, Sam Young discusses ways to help your student plan and organize. Link to resource at the end: https://youngscholarsacademy.org/courses/self-paced/demo-optin

Having a kiddo with lagging executive function skills can make parents feel panicked. But we parents are uniquely well-positioned to help.

in this talk our panelists focused on planning and prioritizing, task initiation, and organization. Experts Sam Young, Marcie Habell, and Mason Tudor provided tips on how to support your 2e student through a strength-based lens, including what accommodations to ask for at school as well as strategies for tackling tasks such as homework, note taking, project planning, task management, and goal setting.

Slow processing speed affects every part of a child's life; however, most people know little about it beyond perhaps a score on the WISC test. REEL hosts educational therapist Marcy Dann to learn where processing speed is used in daily life and how it affects routines, academics, socializing, and emotions for 2e learners. Come away with ideas on how to support your child by making supportive changes to their home and school environments. Balance our speed-valuing culture with