The Glenbard Parent Series: (GPS) Navigating Healthy Families will present “The Keys to Motivation and Capability: An Organized Approach to School Success” featuring Adam Cox at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Glenbard North High School, 990 Kuhn Road in Carol Stream.

Why are some students more naturally motivated than others? What can parents do to enhance motivation for school success? Cox has researched these questions and will explain how to shape a psychology of student-motivation. His advice addresses how to talk to students about important initiatives, and how to make school-goals more relevant. Cox also discusses how to communicate more effectively with teens to spark their academic and social development. Learn about the science of attention, organization and motivation, including the “8 pillars of Capability” that every parent must know.

Cox also will present an extended CASE workshop “Building the Eight Pillars of Capable Young Minds” from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Glenbard South High School, 23W200 Butterfield Rd. in Glen Ellyn.

What is the common thread of disability for special-needs children, and how can we address their needs? This seminar will explain the concept of executive control, describing how it helps teens to navigate important developmental hurdles, both social and academic. Special emphasis is placed on the role of working-memory, self-monitoring, and cognitive flexibility – particularly as these skills contribute to helping students become productive and efficient and to enable effective problem-solving.

No advance registration is required for the Oct. 15 free event, which is open to the public.

Participants for the CASE morning workshop on Oct. 14 must register at www.casedupage.com

GPS is generously sponsored by the Cebrin Goodman Center, Cooperative Association for Special Education (CASE), College of DuPage, DuPage Medical Group and Trust Company of Illinois.

For information regarding GPS programs, visit www.glenbardgps.org or contact Gilda Ross, Glenbard District 87 student and community projects coordinator, at 630-942-7668 or by email at

Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune