Boosting Executive Skills in the Classroom

A guide for helping students with weak Executive Function skills to learn efficiently and effectively Students with weak Executive Function skills need strong support and specific strategies to help them learn in an efficient manner, demonstrate what they know, and manage the daily demands of school. This book shows teachers how to do exactly that, while also managing the ebb and flow of their broader classroom needs. From the author of the bestselling parenting book Late, Lost, and Unprepared, comes a compilation of the most practical tools and strategies, designed to be equally useful for children with EF problems as well as all other students in the general education classroom. Rooted in solid research and classroom-tested experience, the book is organized to help teachers negotiate the very fluid challenges they face every day; educators will find strategies that improve their classroom "e;flow"e; and reduce the stress of struggling to teach students with EF weaknesses. Includes proven strategies for teachers who must address the needs of students with Executive Function deficits Contains information from noted experts Joyce Cooper-Kahn, a child psychologist and Margaret Foster, an educator and learning specialist Offers ways to extend learning and support strategies beyond the classroom The book's reproducible forms and handouts are available for free download This important book offers teachers specific strategies to help students with EF deficits learn in an efficient manner, demonstrate what they know, and manage the daily demands of school.

A guide for helping students with weak Executive Function skillsto learn efficiently and effectivelyStudents with weak Executive Function skills need strong supportand specific strategies to help them learn in an efficient mannerdemonstrate what they know, and manage the daily demands of school.This book shows teachers how to do exactly that, while alsomanaging the ebb and flow of their broader classroom needs. Fromthe author of the bestselling parenting book Late, Lost, andUnprepared, comes a compilation of the most practical tools andstrategies, designed to be equally useful for children with EFproblems as well as all other students in the general educationclassroom.Rooted in solid research and classroom-tested experience, thebook is organized to help teachers negotiate the very fluidchallenges they face every day; educators will find strategies thatimprove their classroom "flow" and reduce the stress of strugglingto teach students with EF weaknesses.* Includes proven strategies for teachers who must address theneeds of students with Executive Function deficits* Contains information from noted experts Joyce Cooper-Kahn, achild psychologist and Margaret Foster, an educator and learningspecialist* Offers ways to extend learning and support strategies beyondthe classroom* The book's reproducible forms and handouts are available forfree downloadThis important book offers teachers specific strategies to helpstudents with EF deficits learn in an efficient manner, demonstratewhat they know, and manage the daily demands of school.

About the Authors viiAcknowledgments viiiIntroduction 1Part I Executive Functioning: The Basics 51 What Is Executive Functioning? 7Definition 7Core Executive Skills 9How Do Executive Skills Develop? 13To Sum Up 17Time to Reflect 182 Putting a Face on Executive Functions: Students Who Struggle 19Executive Dysfunction: A Description, Not a Diagnosis 19The Normal Variability of Executive Functioning 20The Vulnerability of Executive Functioning 21Poorly Targeted Instruction 33The Importance of Healthy Habits 34Assessment 35To Sum Up 38Time to Reflect 39Part II Interventions That Boost Executive Functions 413 The EF-Smart Classroom 45The Tune-up Tools: Planning, Time, Repetition, and Mind-Set 46The Targets: Culture, Planning, Routines, and Classroom Design 52Planning for Change 72To Sum Up 74Time to Reflect 754 Supporting Students Who Need More Help 77Planners 78Materials 89Reading 91Writing 101Math 105To Sum Up 109Time to Reflect 1105 The EF-Smart School 111"Old School" to New Schools 111Faculty Meetings 115Gathering References 116The Magic Formula 118To Sum Up 119Time to Reflect 1206 How the Specialist Can Help 121Examining the Learning Task and Its EF Demands 122Examining EF Skills for Levels of Automaticity and Independence: The Four-Quadrant Model 128Consulting with Teachers 134To Sum Up 136Time to Reflect 1377 Planning for Change 139Defining a Problem of Practice 140Planning and Reflection Guide 141Using the Template and Guide: Case Examples 144Plan to Monitor 157To Sum Up 158Time to Reflect 158Conclusion: Helping All Students Blossom 159Appendix A: The Top Three Accommodations for Students with EF Problems 161Appendix B: Accessing the Online Materials 165Endnotes 167Index 171