The Executive Function Toolbox Susan McKenney

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1 The Executive Function Toolbox Susan McKenney

2 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

3 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

4 CRACKING THE NUT More difficult if you don t have the right tools!

5 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

6 MY GOAL WITH STUDENTS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH TOOLS TO HELP THEMSELVES

7 The EF Grade 5 presentation Structure Planning and Strategizing Organization of Materials Self- Monitoring Working Memory Executive Attention

8 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)

9 SO WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILD?

10 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

11 Grades 6-8 Help with chores around the house that may take 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

12 Running with Precision

13 Thinking about what to cook for dinner during a meeting Left work feeling sad Missed a dentist appointment because well, life just got in the way Lost your train of thought when the phone rang Realized you had forgotten the grocery list at home when you got to the store Put your cell phone down and Have forgotten You where Ever? you put it Tried to do three things at the same time Not wanted to attend another meeting Been confused when reading the directions for your electronics Felt too tired to pay bills Been late for work because you could not find your keys

14 From the Bottom

15 From the top

16 The Executive Function System allows for the shift with ease.

17 The Executive Skills 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 The Social/Emotional Regulation Strand Response Inhibition Emotional Control Adaptability Executive Function in the Classroom, Christopher Kaufman, 2010

18 Executive Function to Executive Dysfunction

19 Seems surprised by the time Struggles 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 directions Exhibits frustration with changes in schedule or routines Trouble moving from one activity to another Christopher Kaufman Executive Function in the Classroom

20 Complains they can t concentrate on homework Requires significant support with long-term projects Struggles identifying starting place for assignments Fails to complete some work Easily overwhelmed by tasks Difficulties managing sequence Fatigues quickly with homework completion Stops working on task if parent walks away Christopher Kaufman Executive Function in the Classroom

22 EXECUTIVE ATTENTION TOP THREE AT HOME

23 ORGANIZATION TOP THREE AT HOME

24 TASK INITIATION TOP THREE AT HOME

25 WORKING MEMORY TOP THREE AT HOME

26 SELF-MONITORING TOP THREE AT HOME

27 TIME MANAGEMENT TOP THREE AT HOME

28 PLANNING AND SEQUENCING TOP THREE AT HOME

29 DON T DO IT FOR THEM! SHOW THEM HOW TO DO IT!

30 The single greatest predictor of academic success is executive function. It even trumps IQ. Seattle Times Developmental Molecular Biologist John Medina

31 HOW MIGHT I VIEW THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION INFORMATION WHICH MY CHILD IS EXPOSED TO EACH MONTH?

Beyond Lazy and Unmotivated

Beyond Lazy and Unmotivated Why Parents and Teachers Need to Know About Executive Skills Peg Dawson Center for Learning and Attention Disorders Portsmouth, NH dawson.peg@gmail.com smartbutscatteredkids.com