Imagine a classroom where students can’t sit still, focus on their tasks or remember their assignments. It sounds like complete chaos, right? Unfortunately, this can be the reality for many teachers. That’s where Executive Function professional development programs come in. These programs can help teachers learn effective strategies to support their students’ Executive Function skills and create a more positive and productive learning environment. Professional development programs are essential for teachers because ongoing training allows teachers to stay updated on the latest research, refine their strategies and continually improve their ability to best support their students.
What are Executive Function skills?
Executive Function skills are a set of skills that help people plan, organize and manage their thoughts and actions. They include things like:
- Working memory — The ability to remember information and use it to do tasks
- Impulse control — The ability to control impulses and not give in to distractions
- Flexible thinking — The ability to switch between different tasks or ways of thinking
- Planning and organizing — The ability to set goals, make plans and follow through
- Task initiation — The ability to start and finish tasks, even when a person doesn’t want to or has trouble with them
- Time management — The ability to use time efficiently and prioritize jobs
- Problem-solving — The ability to identify and solve problems
- Metacognition — The ability to think about one’s own thinking and monitor one’s own progress
- Emotional control — The ability to manage one’s emotions and appropriately respond to situations
- Goal-directed persistence — The ability to stay focused on a goal and persevere through challenges
- Sustained attention — The ability to keep focused on a task for a long period of time
These skills are part of our brain’s organization and control system. They are interconnected and work together to help students succeed at school and in their everyday lives. By developing their Executive Function skills, students can become:
- More independent
- More organized
- Effective learners
However, these skills are learned and don’t come naturally to everyone. Many students can struggle with Executive Function tasks, including, but not limited to those students with:
- ADHD
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Learning disabilities
- Traumatic brain injury
- Developmental delays
- Anxiety
- Depression
Why are Executive Function skills important for learning?
Executive Function skills are essential for students to learn because they help them:
- Pay attention
- Follow directions
- Manage their time
- Problem-solve
Challenges students can face with Executive Function skills
Many students struggle with Executive Function skills, especially those with learning disabilities, ADHD and other challenges. These students may have a difficult time:
- Staying organized
- Starting and finishing tasks
- Managing their time
- Controlling their impulses
Benefits of Executive Function professional development programs for teachers
Executive Function professional development programs can have many benefits for teachers, including:
- Better understanding of student needs — Professional development programs can help teachers see just how important Executive Function skills are and how they impact a student’s learning and classroom behavior. Understanding the underlying problem can help a teacher learn to respond with kindness and the right support instead of potentially assuming a student is acting out.
- Practical classroom strategies — These programs offer teachers useful tips that they can start using immediately. These strategies can help teachers create more organized and supportive classrooms that can help their students build and grow their Executive Function skills. Practical tips they can implement include:
- Help students break down tasks
- Use visual schedules to help them with time management
- Help students learn how to set clear and realistic goals
- Student outcome improvement — Students’ ability to thrive skyrockets when teachers are equipped with the right strategies. Students can become more organized, stay focused and learn better time management. This can help students achieve better grades, gain self-confidence and be less stressed. Fostering and growing Executive Function skills helps set their students up for success in the current school year as well as for future challenges.
- Enhanced teacher confidence — Approximately 29% of teachers are highly satisfied with current professional development opportunities in their district — the majority believe that current professional development doesn’t adequately prepare them to support their students. An effective professional development program can enable teachers to better understand Executive Function skills and be more capable of helping their students who struggle. Being equipped with effective strategies can help boost a teacher’s confidence, make their job more enjoyable, and improve their overall classroom management and student participation.
- Diverse learner support — Today’s classrooms are incredibly diverse, with students from different socioeconomic backgrounds and with a variety of learning needs. Executive Function training can give teachers strategies that can be adjusted to support all students. By focusing on the Executive Function needs of all students, teachers can create more welcoming and fair classrooms where all students can reach their full potential.
Teachers are on the front lines of helping their students learn how to develop their Executive Function skills. They see in real time which students struggle and which students thrive. Sometimes, even the most seasoned and dedicated teachers may be stymied by the best strategies to help their students build these skills unless they receive specific training. Through professional development programs, teachers can gain the knowledge, tools and strategies they need to support their students and help them improve their Executive Function skills.
BrainTracks: Preparing teachers to support every student by transforming classrooms
At Beyond BookSmart, we have Executive Function coaching services, such as our professional development program for teachers, BrainTracks. Our coaching services are designed to educate and support teachers so that, in turn, students have the tools they need to create an effective and workable study routine.
To learn more about classroom solutions, please visit the BrainTracks website or schedule a call with our team here.
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