Please note that each purchase of this course is for a single practitioner, teacher, or family. Group or institutional discounts are available by contacting Dr. Warren: erica@learningtolearn.biz
Executive functioning (EF) continues to be a growing topic of interest and with students now being recognized as having EF problems or deficits, many schools and their teachers are scrambling to meet the needs of this increasingly recognized population of learners. Teachers instruct the needed literacy skills to succeed in society, but should they also teach students how to manage and control their own minds and emotions?
Research now shows that “executive functioning skills are crucial building blocks for the early development of both cognitive and social capacities” and they are vital to early math and literacy skills (Early Experiences Shape Executive Function, n.d.-a, p. 3; (Foundations of Mathematics and Literacy: The Role of Executive Functioning Components). Therefore, what’s needed now are academic resources to help teachers develop this important skill. What’s more, many teachers need support, training, and materials because when students exhibit weak executive function skills during a lesson, the whole class suffers. Instructional time is continually interrupted and sidetracked and teachers now report that this is a common source of discouragement and burnout (Brouwers & Tomic, 2000). Clearly, many children and adolescents need to be taught EF skills for improved cognitive functioning, behavior, emotional control, and social interaction.
What is Executive Functioning?
One can glean a general understanding of executive functioning, simply by reversing the two words to a functioning executive. It is the part of the brain that consciously exercises administrative or managerial control. Executive Functioning (EF) is the control center of the brain and it resides in the frontal lobes located directly behind the forehead. The main purpose of EF is to communicate with and coordinate goal-directed activities with other parts of the brain.
What Metaphor Best Describes EF?
Some like to use the metaphor of an air traffic controller to describe the duties of EF (InBrief: Executive function, 2021, Early experiences shape executive function, 2021, Hodgkinson & Parks, 2016). However, I prefer comparing EF to a conscious conductor that directs a multisensory orchestra of cognitive processes. Like a maestro or well-respected music director, EF unifies the different instruments of the brain, sets a tempo, executes plans, listens critically, shapes a composition, uses the senses to interpret the surroundings, and controls one’s pacing of thoughts. When EF is well conducted the result is a united symphony of consciousness.
Why This Course
This course was created to provide the training and tools so teachers, practitioners, and parents can offer step-by-step, executive functioning coaching and study skills training. The resources can be used with learners on a one-to-one basis or with a whole classroom of students. The course will continue to grow and participants are encouraged to share their feedback, ideas, and wishes.
References are available in the course.
Cartoon-like Images and Videos Make Lessons Fun and Memorable
The images below help to illustrate the variety of age-appropriate materials from elementary school to college and beyond. Students receive black and white images of the illustrations and they can color and annotate the images as they listen to a lesson. We can't strengthen skills we don't understand. Therefore, an important part of the program is educating students about executive functions, so they can learn how to take control and develop this vital skill.