Executive Function Skills in the Classroom: Overcoming Barriers, Building Strategies

With insight and humour, this motivating guide shows how to bring executive functions (EF) to the forefront in K–8 classrooms—without adopting a new curriculum or scripted program.

Ideal for professional development, Executive Function Skills in the Classroom includes flexible, practical, research-based ideas for implementation in a variety of classroom contexts. It shares stories from dozens of expert teachers who are integrating explicit EF support across the school day. Provided is a clear approach for talking about EF barriers and strategies as part of instruction, and working as a class to problem-solve, explore, and apply the strategies that feel right for each student.

Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print several reproducible tools

A great resource for school psychologists, administrators, special educators, classroom teachers, and speech–language pathologists working with children ages 5–13 (grades K–8).

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Table of Contents

1. Executive Functions and Learning
2. Laying the Foundation: Building Whole-Class EF Literacy
3. How EF Literacy Can Improve Instruction: A Simple and Versatile Approach
4. How EF Literacy Can Improve Observation
5. How EF Literacy Can Improve Feedback
6. How EF Literacy Can Improve Summative Assessment
7. How EF-Literate Teaching Supports Other Educational Priorities
8. History and Reflections: Our Work with Teachers

Appendix A. Strategy Teaching Interventions for Executive Functions

Appendix B. EF Basics: A Series of 11 Mini-Lessons to Build Whole-Class EF Literacy

Appendix C. Mentor Texts for Teaching About Executive Functions

Appendix D. Index of EF Barriers and Strategies

References

Index

"If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be 'ingenious'! It is conversational and informative, and provides multiple low-cost strategies honoring the needs of both educators and students. The book is thorough and well explained, while acknowledging an educator’s ability to use the ideas provided and create your own twist. I love the holistic approach and creative suggestions for using the book based on the time and energy you have. The ideas in this book can be used immediately in your class and will encourage students to reflect, model, and practice learning EF strategies from one another. I’m excited to reread sections and be inspired each time!"
- Rachael Ramsey, EdD, sixth-grade educator, McKelvie Intermediate School, Bedford, New Hampshire

"Faith, Bush, and Dawson fully understand that EF deficits are best dealt with by incorporating accommodations and supports into the natural flow of instruction, rather than by using pull-out training methods that have no hope of generalizing back to the classroom. Strengthening EF helps children 'show what they know' where it matters most—in real life. Congratulations to the authors for giving us this very practical guide that will be of great value to school psychologists, educators, and others who support children with EF deficits in school settings."
- Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, ABCN, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine