Many parents of students with learning differences feel isolated and frustrated by the lack of clear guidance they receive and the sheer volume of information available online. To minimize these challenges, Hillside School presents our speaker series, HillTOPICS, open to all who are interested in learning about, discussing, and sharing their experiences about learning differences.
The Fear of Failing: How It Impacts Executive Function
November 13 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
The Fear of Failing: How It Impacts Executive Function
Presented by Brandon Slade & Maddie Webb, Untapped Learning
Why do capable students sometimes freeze before starting a project, turn in work late because it’s “not quite ready,” or shut down when things don’t go as planned? Often, it isn’t a lack of motivation — it’s the fear of failing.
Brandon Slade and Maddie Webb from Untapped Learning will explore how fear and self-doubt can interfere with the brain’s executive function — the set of skills that helps students plan, organize, manage time, and follow through. When fear takes the driver’s seat, it can lead to procrastination, avoidance, and burnout.
Brandon and Maddie will share practical strategies they use every day with students to transform that fear into confidence and progress. Parents and educators will learn how to:
- Create structure and routines that make “doing school” more manageable
- Teach students to plan, prioritize, and recover from mistakes
- Encourage growth, resilience, and a healthy relationship with challenge
Join us for a conversation that will help you better understand what’s happening beneath the surface — and how to support students in taking risks, trying again, and building confidence that lasts.