executive functioning what it is and how to help students reach their potential presented by, hannah...

Executive FunctioningWhat it is and How to Help Students Reach Their

PotentialPresented by, Hannah Bookbinder LSW, M.Ed.

Academic Coach and College Admissions Consultant and Owner of AcademicAlly

Copyright AcademicAlly and Hannah Bookbinder 2014

Mindfulness

• Definition: the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something in the present moment while calmly accepting and acknowledging one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations

• Used effectively for helping individuals with pain management, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, ADHD, and over all improved well-being

• Exercise

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Organization

• Personal belongings and space• Papers and school materials• Time Management: not having a sense of how long a

particular task will take• Planning out long-term assignments or studying for exams• Keeping track of appointments, extra-curricular activities• Making plans for homework or with others• Creating a plan and successfully executing it to completion

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Organizational Strategies

• Making a space for everything• Getting into a routine with placing basics: backpack,

phone, house keys, • Work space: has all necessary materials, proper

lighting, comfortable (desk, floor, etc)• Timers, reminders on phone, calendars, month-at-a-

glance on the wall for all to see• Planning ahead (ie night before school clothes

picked out, lunch is made, backpack by the front door)

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Impulse and Emotional Control

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Impulse and Emotional Control (the boiling pot)

• Being able to think things through before acting on something:– What are the consequences I might encounter if I do “X”?– Are they consequences I can live with?– Would I want someone to do or say that to me?– Is what I am about to do going to hurt or help the situation?

• Being able to delay gratification long enough to successfully and accurately complete a given task:– Example: desire to play Xbox or Instagram with friends has to be curbed until

school work is done• Being able to control one’s emotional responses to a specific set of circumstances

Example: sibling provokes student, being able to think about situation and put things in perspective, thinking about choices of responses he has

Copyright AcademicAlly and Hannah Bookbinder 2014

Tools for Impulse Control

• Be a detective: what is going on around you? What is everyone else doing? How are they acting? Follow the cues to give yourself guidance as to what you should be doing to be productive and least disruptive.

• Use mindfulness: helps students to increase their self-awareness and lower the noise in their heads. Helps them to be aware of their triggers that can get them in trouble and enables them to slow down long enough to avoid them.

• Journaling: what were their top 5 of the day, what didn’t go according to plan and how would they change it now that they are on the other side of the situation? PAY ATTENTION TO TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR

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Flexibility

• Flexibility: (Popsicle stick vs feather, palm tree vs pine)• Ability to change plans mid-course when conditions

change unexpectedly• When a regular routine is disrupted• When they aren’t initially successful at completing a

task or assignment• Accepting new ways to solve a problem• Being able to consider someone else’s perspective • Transitioning from one activity to another

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Tools for Flexibility

• Identifying what they DO have control over in any given situation (sense of lack of control is often disconcerting for these students) (Grandparent vs babysitter example)

• Rehearsals: new school example• Defined period of time for trying new task to

decrease frustration• Warnings that a transition is about to take

place

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Working Memory

• Working Memory:• The ability to hold information in mind and

use it to complete a task• Remembering information for a test• Keeping track of multi-step directions (math)• Listening to lecture, writing down notes, and

formulating an opinion to be able to participate in class discussion

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Tools for Working Memory

• Write steps out• Check off each task as it is completed• Use sticky notes or recorded reminders • Having copies of teacher notes ahead of

lesson so student can add her own notes as she listens

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Planning and Prioritization

• Ability to formulate and successfully execute a plan in order to reach a goal and decide what components need to be addressed in what order

• Handling multi-part tasks and creating structure to handle each one

• Accurately estimating how much time a task will take

Copyright AcademicAlly and Hannah Bookbinder 2014

Tools for Planning and Prioritization

• Use of calendar to plot out due date and working backwards to create personal goals to reach that deadline successfully

• Creating list of tasks and attacking each one• Checking off progress

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Initiation

• Knowing when it is time to start a task without procrastinating

• Recognizing when one needs help so initiation is easier once obstacles have been addressed

• Implementing incentive programs for one’s success

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Tools for Initiation

• Create an environment conducive to working (all tools, materials are present, proper lighting, least number of distractions)

• Start small with something easy and manageable and work your way into more complicated tasks

• Parent present• Work with friends• Use music as background noise or a sound maker• Positive reinforcement

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Self Monitoring

• Remembering what the goal/plan was and being able to confirm that one is on target

• Taking steps to ensure on the right course• Recognizing when one needs help, knowing

who to get it from and what to ask

Copyright AcademicAlly and Hannah Bookbinder 2014

Tools for Self-Monitoring

• Making a list of steps and checking off each one as it is completed

• Using external reminders to address each step in a timely way (phones, ipods, sticky notes, assignment books with HIGHLIGHTED reminders)

• Communicate with teachers to confirm you are on target with content and dates

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Conclusion

• Consistency• Communication• Support• Incentive• Sleep• Nutrition• Re-energizing