Frequently asked questions

The Learning Framework® is a model of how learning works, built from peer-reviewed neuroscience and more than 20 years of practice in diverse school communities. It gives everyone who supports a learner one common language, from the learner and the parent to the educator and the specialist. It names five conditions every brain needs in order to learn: How I Function, How I Learn, How I Manage, How I Feel, and What I Do. Get the free guide.

Every partnership starts with The Five Conditions for Learning. Once you understand the five conditions, any struggle you are seeing connects back to one of them, and we can choose the response that fits. Keynotes can be on any topic in the neuroscience of learning, and I work with you to tailor each one to your audience.

Yes, and that is the ideal. When educators, specialists, families, and learners all learn the same system in the same school year, everyone shares one common language and can finally work together. See the year-long partnership, or choose any offering on its own.

Yes. School psychologists, therapists, social workers, coaches, and other specialists are welcome in every educator session, and I also work with specialists who support learners in more specific ways. When the specialist, the school, and the family use the same language, school plans and home plans can line up.

Yes. Executive function coaches, student coaches, tutors, therapists, and consultants in their own practice can learn The Learning Framework® in a small group or one-on-one, connect it to the tools they already use, and share it with the learners and families they serve. I can also teach sessions for your client families. See the options for independent practitioners.

Yes. I teach learners how their own brain learns, in the structure that works best for your school, from an assembly to student workshops. I also offer 1:1 coaching for learners of any age. Adults and learners 18 and older can reach out directly. Sessions for younger learners are booked by a parent, caregiver, or educator.

No. The Learning Framework® works with the programs, tools, and routines you already have, at school and at home. Once you understand what is happening in the brain, simple adjustments to what you already do can improve the learning experience for everyone involved. If you do not have something in place yet, I provide simple tools and strategies to get you started.

They describe what to expect from the brain at each age and stage, from birth to 26, so expectations and supports match where a learner is in their development. I teach them in the Developmental Progressions Series for families and for educators, customized to the ages you care about.

CREATE the Conditions for Learning is a 4-day institute in Chicago, Illinois, offered the week of July 12, the week of July 19, or the week of August 2, 2027, Monday to Thursday or Tuesday to Friday. It brings the core of my work together, and every attendee receives a 1-year membership to TheLearningFramework.org. The interest form does not register you. If enough people are interested in a week, I will open registration and you will hear from me first.

It is the membership website for The Learning Framework®, opening in 2027, with the model, classes, and resources everyone who supports a learner can use. To hear when it opens, get the free guide and check the box to stay in touch.

Sessions are active. I start with a short overview, and then you make connections with your lab partners. You experience the science in hands-on labs and simulations, such as feeling your own working memory fill up, before we look at what is happening in the brain. You talk with partners from across the room, and every session ends with simple strategies to use immediately.

No background is needed. I explain every idea in plain language and define every term the first time I use it. Educators, parents, coaches, and learners can all follow along.

A half day is 3 hours or less, and a full day is more than 3 hours. The Five Conditions for Learning and Managing Your Executive Functions are full days. I also offer keynotes, single evening talks for families, multi-session series, a year-long cohort for educators with coaching between sessions, the 4-day Summer 2027 Institute, and a year-long partnership for a whole school community.

Yes. I offer 1:1 coaching for learners of any age, often called executive function coaching. To get started, fill out the contact form and tell me a little about what you are seeing.

I build every session around the people who will be in the room, their setting, and the questions they bring. Before we meet, I ask what you are seeing and what you hope will change, and I plan from there.

I offer both. Hands-on sessions work best in person, and I offer virtual sessions where they fit your goals.

I am based in Chicago, Illinois, and I travel to schools, community groups, and organizations wherever they are.

I provide the materials for each session, which generally include handouts and strategy guides, so everyone leaves with the same common language and strategies to use right away.

The 2026 to 2027 school year is fully booked. I am now booking summer 2027 and the 2027 to 2028 school year. Schools often plan professional learning in the spring for the following year, so reaching out early gives us the most choice of dates.

When you book a conversation, choose every offering that interests you from the list on the form. If you are not sure yet, choose "I am not sure yet" and we will decide together.

The Share with your team page has ready-made messages for teachers, parents, specialists, school leaders, parent groups, and event committees. Copy one, fill in the highlighted parts, and send it from your own email.

Every engagement is scoped to your goals, the format, and the number of sessions. Tell me a little about what you have in mind, and I will send options with pricing.

I am comfortable working with any group size.