Unstuck and On Target!

The new complete multicomponent kit is for students with executive function challenges, problems with flexibility and goal-directed behavior that can be a major obstacle to success in school and in life. With the enhanced second edition of this popular curriculum, you'll explicitly teach flexibility, problem solving, coping, and goal setting through fun, field-tested lessons that work for learners with autism, ADHD, and other challenges that affect executive function. A school-based intervention for students ages 8–11, this evidence-based curriculum gives you 21 ready-to-use lessons that boost cognitive flexibility in everyday situations, from compromising with peers to coping with frustration. And now Unstuck and On Target! is much more than a book—it's a complete multicomponent kit that includes the revised curriculum, three classroom posters, two game boards, and more than 50 printables (available online).

Unstuck and On Target! Benefits:

Meets the needs of MTSS Tier 2 learners. This proven curriculum is one of the few tailored to the needs of Tier 2 students who need more focused instruction.
Gives you explicit, step-by-step routines, activities, and scripts to help students improve executive function skills.
Targets the flexibility and planning skills every student needs to learn effectively, reduce stress, get along with others, problem-solve, and more.
Can be done in any classroom, by any teacher. Each ready-to-use lesson comes complete with clear instructions, materials lists, and tips for teachers.
Makes learning fun with engaging games, role plays, stories, and lively class discussions.
Reinforces new skills through 19 Home Practice handouts in English and Spanish (available for download online).

What's New:

Now a complete kit, in a convenient package that includes posters, game boards, and access to printable online materials
Now appropriate for learners with ADHD and other challenges
Tested with teachers and streamlined for user-friendliness
Enhanced parent materials, including materials in Spanish
Tested with a diverse sample of children and refined to increase student engagement

Reviews

”Unstuck and on Target! does a remarkable job of translating complex ideas and abstract terminology into concepts and language that make sense to children. It is evident that this curriculum reflects years of hands on experience working with executive skills in the classroom. The user can be assured that every lesson has been tested and refined, leaving a distillation that is accessible and appealing to children and easy for teachers to implement.“

—Peg Dawson, co-author of Smart but Scattered

”Too often, when students have deficits in executive functioning, they are erroneously perceived as having behavior problems. This book is an excellent resource that helps educators fully understand the complexities of executive functioning. Readers are provided with step-by-step instructions for proactively teaching essential skills and coping strategies to support students in overcoming barriers associated with executive functioning challenges.“

—Debra Leach, Professor of Special Education, Director of Winthrop Think College

Contents

Table of Contents

About the Authors

Foreword

 Acknowledgments

 Introduction 

Reinforcement System 

Icon Glossary

 Script Practice Throughout the Manual

  Topic 1 / Foundational Skills

Lesson 1 / Get to Know You: Introduction; Activity 1: Code of Conduct; Activity 2: Who Knows Whom?; Handout: All About Me!; Closing; Classroom Practice 1; Home Practice 1
Lesson 2 / Introduction to Goal, Why, Plan, Do, Check: Introduction; Activity 1: Introduction to GWPDC; Activity 2: Wacky GWPDC; Handout: Wacky GWPDC; Closing; Classroom Practice 2; Home Practice 2
Lesson 3 / Emotional Identification: Introduction; Activity 1: Feelings Target; Visual: Feelings Target; Materials: Feelings Target Cards; Activity 2: How Does It Make Me Feel?; Activity 3: Feelings Chain; Visual: Feelings Chain Scenarios; Handout: Feelings Chain Blank; Closing; Classroom Practice 3; Home Practice 3
Lesson 4 / What Can You Do to Feel Better: Introduction; Activity 1: Disappointment and Coping; Handout: Disappointment and Coping; Activity 2: Coping Skills Investigation; Handout: How to Feel Just-Right; Handout: Just-Right Strategies Investigation; Handout: My Mission to Get Back to Just-Right; Handout: Deep Breathing; Activity 3: Strategy Cards; Handout: Strategy Card Examples; Additional Activity: Coping Choices; Closing; Classroom Practice 4; Home Practice 4

Topic 1 / Progress Report

Topic 2 / What Is Flexibility?

 Lesson 5 / Flexibility Investigation: Introduction; Activity 1: Flexible vs. Rigid Scavenger Hunt; Activity 2: Flexible Is Faster (and More Efficient); Closing; Classroom Practice 5; Home Practice 5
Lesson 6 / Flexibility: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Word–Flexibility; Handout: Mystery Word 1; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 1 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Flexible; Activity 2: As Flexible as Putty; Handout: Flexible Fun; Handout: Fun Putty Recipe; Closing; Classroom Practice 6; Home Practice 6
Lesson 7 / Getting Stuck: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Word–Stuck; Handout: Mystery Word 2; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 2 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Stuck; Activity 2: Flexible/Stuck Role Play; Closing; Classroom Practice 7; Home Practice 7

Topic 2 Progress Report

 Topic 3 / How to Be Flexible 

Lesson 8 / Plan A → Plan B: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Words–Plan A → Plan B; Handout: Mystery Word 3; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 3 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Plan A → Plan B; Activity 2: Speed B; Activity 3: Build a Plan A, B, C; Handout: Build a Plan A, B, C; Closing; Classroom Practice 8; Home Practice 8
Lesson 9 / Compromise: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Word–Compromise; Handout: Mystery Word 4; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 4 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Compromise; Activity 2: Compromise Game; Materials: Compromise Game Cards; Closing; Classroom Practice 9; Home Practice 9
Lesson 10 / Big Deal/Little Deal: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Words–Big Deal/Little Deal; Handout: Mystery Word 5; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 5 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Big Deal/Little Deal; Activity 2: Big Deal/Little Deal Practice; Materials: Big Deal/Little Deal Cards; Activity 3: Converting Big Deals to Little Deals; Handout: Big Deal/Little Deal Scale; Closing; Classroom Practice 10; Home Practice 10
Lesson 11 Choice/No Choice: Introduction; Activity 1: Mystery Words–Choice/No Choice; Handout: Mystery Word 6; Educator Guide: Mystery Word 6 Key; Handout: Unstuck and On Target! Dictionary–Choice/No Choice; Activity 2: Choice/No Choice Practice; Materials: Choice/No Choice Cards; Closing; Classroom Practice 11; Home Practice 11
Lesson 12 Expect the Unexpected: Introduction; Activity 1: Expect the Unexpected Introduction; Activity 2: Handling the Unexpected Exploration; Educator Guide: Handling the Unexpected Game Rules; Materials: Handling the Unexpected Game Board; Materials: Handling the Unexpected Game Cards; Closing; Classroom Practice 12; Home Practice 12

Topic 3 Progress Report

Topic 4 / Why Be Flexible?

Lesson 13 The Advantages of Being Flexible: Introduction; Activity 1: What to Do When What I Want Is Impossible; Educator Script: My Two Choices; Visual: Group Flexibility Chant; Activity 2: Flexibility Freeway Game; Educator Guide: Flexibility Freeway Game Rules; Materials: Flexibility Freeway Game Board; Materials: Flexibility Freeway Game Cards; Closing; Classroom Practice 13; Home Practice 13
Lesson 14 Being Flexible Can Make Good Things Happen: Introduction; Activity 1: Flexibility Powers; Educator Script: Flexibility Gives You Power Scenarios; Activity 2: Flexible Reputation; Educator Script: Marble Jar: Flexible Reputation Scenarios; Closing; Classroom Practice 14; Home Practice 14

Topic 4 / Progress Report

Topic 5 / Your Goals: Getting What You Want 

Lesson 15 / Setting and Achieving Goals Using GWPDC: Introduction; Activity 1: Think Pink–GWPDC; Handout: Think Pink”GWPDC; Closing; Classroom Practice 15; Home Practice 15
Lesson 16 / GWPDC Application and Practice: Introduction; Activity 1: Cereal; Additional Activity: What Is a Target Goal?; Additional Activity: Target Goal Example; Closing; Classroom Practice 16; Home Practice 16
Lessons 17 & 18 GWPDC Stations: Introduction; Activity 1: Plan B Strategies; Activity 2: GWPDC Stations (Optional); Handout: GWPDC Station 1; Handout: Compromise Station 2; Handout: GWPDC Station 3; Materials: Distractor Game Cards Station 4; Materials: Distractor Game Cards Answer Key Station 4; Materials: Distractor Game Tracking Sheet Station 4; Handout: GWPDC Station 5; Handout: GWPDC Station 5 Scenarios; Closing; Classroom Practice 17 & 18; Home Practice 17 & 18
Lesson 19 / Event Planning: Introduction; Activity 1: Planning a Class Event (Optional); Closing; Classroom Practice 19 & 20; Home Practice 19 & 20