The Executive Function Toolbox Susan McKenney

• DEFINITION OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

• LEARN THE FOCUS OF TEACHINGS AT AMS

• EF DEVELOPMENT

• IDENTIFY BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION

• INTRODUCE THE TWO STRANDS OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING AND THE COMPONENTS OF EACH OF THOSE STRANDS

• UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE AS TO WHEN AND WHY STUDENTS BEGIN TO SHOW DIFFICULTY IN THIS AREA

• LEARN STRATEGIES FOR HOME

DEFINITION OF EF SKILLS

• “EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IS A SET OF MENTAL PROCESSES THAT HELPS CONNECT PAST EXPERIENCES WITH PRESENT ACTION. PEOPLE USE IT TO PERFORM ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PLANNING, ORGANIZING, STRATEGIZING, PAYING ATTENTION TO AND REMEMBERING DETAILS, AND MANAGING TIME AND SPACE.”

NATIONAL CENTER FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES

CRACKING THE NUT

More difficult if you don’t have the right tools!

WHY IS NEW INFORMATION SO HARD TO LEARN?

As mastery develops, there is” less exertion on Executive Function energy”, but getting there can be difficult

MY GOAL WITH STUDENTS

TO PROVIDE STUDENTS

WITH “TOOLS” TO HELP

THEMSELVES

The EF Grade 5 presentation Structure

Self-Monitoring Working Memory

Organization of Materials

Planning and Strategizing

Executive Attention

The EF Grade 6 presentation Structure

Read the Room

Time Robbers/Solutions

Characteristics of Learning

Learning Environments

How can I use this to Study?

My Strengths and Weaknesses

My Metacognitive Brochure (April and May)

SO WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY MIDDLE SCHOOL

CHILD?

Preschool

Get shoes from bedroom

Clean bedroom & playroom with

help

Brush teeth, clear dishes from table

with prompting

Don’t touch the hot stove

Kindergarten – Grade 2

Get shoes & backpack from bedroom

Bring papers to & from school

Complete 20 minutes of HW

Raise hand before speaking in class

Grades 3 - 5

Clean up after dinner

Keep track of belongings away from home

Complete 1-hour of HW

Plan for a book report

Save money for desired objects

Keep track of changing daily schedule

Behave when teacher steps out of class

Use manners

Executive Function Skills in Children and Adolescents, Dawson and Guare, 2004

Grades 6 - 8

Help with chores around the house that may take 60 – 90 min.

Babysit younger children for pay

Use system for organizing schoolwork: agenda, notebook, binder

Follow complex school schedule

Plan & carry out long-term projects

Manage time: HW, family activities, after-school activities

Executive Function Skills in Children and Adolescents, Dawson and Guare, 2004

Running with Precision

Have You Ever?

Realized you had forgotten

the grocery list at home

when you got to the store

Been

confused

when reading

the

directions

for your

electronics

Left work

feeling sad

Felt too

tired to

pay bills

Not wanted to

attend another

meeting

Been late for work

because you could

not find your keys

Thinking about what

to cook for dinner

during a meeting

Lost your

train of

thought

when the

phone rang

Tried to do

three things

at the

same time

Put your cell phone down and

forgotten where you put it

Missed a dentist

appointment

because…well, life

just got in the

way

From the Bottom

From the top

The Executive Function System allows for the shift with ease.

Executive Function in the Classroom, Christopher Kaufman, 2010

The Executive Skills

The

Social/Emotional

Regulation Strand

•Response Inhibition

•Emotional Control

•Adaptability

The Metacognitive Strand

•Goal Setting

•Planning/Strategizing

•Sequencing

•Organization of materials

•Time Management

•Task Initiation

•Goal directed attention

•Task Persistence

•Self-Monitoring

•Working Memory

•Set Shifting

Executive Function to Executive Dysfunction

Seems surprised by the timeStruggles determining how long a task will take to complete

Careless errors in his tasks and seems surprised when brought to his attention

Difficulty following multi-step directionsExhibits frustration with changes in schedule or routines

Trouble moving from one activity to anotherChristopher Kaufman Executive Function in the Classroom

Complains they can’t concentrate on homeworkRequires significant support with long-term projectsStruggles identifying starting place for assignments

Fails to complete some workEasily overwhelmed by tasks

Difficulties managing sequenceFatigues quickly with homework completionStops working on task if parent walks away

Christopher Kaufman Executive Function in the Classroom

EXECUTIVE ATTENTION

TOP THREE AT HOME

ORGANIZATION

TOP THREE AT HOME

TASK INITIATIONTOP THREE AT HOME

WORKING MEMORYTOP THREE AT HOME

SELF-MONITORINGTOP THREE AT HOME

TIME MANAGEMENT

TOP THREE AT HOME

PLANNING AND SEQUENCING

TOP THREE AT HOME

DON’T DO IT FOR THEM!

SHOW THEM HOW TO

DO IT!

“The single greatest predictor of academic success is executive

function. It even trumps IQ.”

Seattle Times Developmental Molecular BiologistJohn Medina

HOW MIGHT I VIEW THE EXECUTIVE

FUNCTION INFORMATION WHICH MY CHILD IS EXPOSED

TO EACH MONTH?