29 Jun How to Teach Executive Functioning Skills to School-Age Students
Brooklyn Letters
1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn
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We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old -
Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
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I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
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Excellent services, caring therapists.
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Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
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We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
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We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
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The company is great with outstanding customer service. They keep my horses protected. I have recommended them to other horses trainers as well that are going to get service early next year. Very professional an honest too. Respectfully … More submitted Christopher
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Ron and Ken did a fantastic job with our security system today. Installed everything very quick. Both of them were very polite and asked us throughout if the installation met our needs. Simply fantastic!
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I called Cornerstone Protection to get a Security system at a relatives out of state property, within a week it was installed! The installers worked with the client to help understand her new system and she was happy! Our relative said … More they were courteous, professional and patient! I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection for all of your security needs!
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Had blink cameras; Car was broken into multiple times so I called CornerStone & they were able to install multiple cameras very quickly & for a reasonable price. I am so happy with the app & getting alerts that are not superfluous, … More like they were with Blink. Highly recommend CornerStone & the tech Ronnie.
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Ron and Ken are great guys to work with.
Both were very knowledgeable and got our system back up and running.
Thanks to both for a job well done... -
Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
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Amazing assistance provided by Shannon today on my security system. I’m so grateful for your prompt, efficient, professional, and courteous service. Put me down as a customer for life!
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One of the most painless experiences I've had. They came on time and was over the moon professional with still keeping a level of personability to it. The gentleman also went out of his way to say that my husband and Mines business … More was appreciated. Which is actually rare to be appreciated by such a great company. So thank you and we look forward to continuing services with this company.
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I am so happy we decided to go with cornerstone. They were quick and efficient. Shannon and the installer we very friendly. We got a lot of equipment and it was still within our budget. 10/10 would definitely recommend! Thank you
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Love the customer service and Shanon and his team go above and beyond for my restaurant. Couldn't of asked for a better security system and level of service that his team provides.
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I have been using Cornerstone Protection service for over 5 years and I'm really happy with the service and state-of-the-art equipments and it's futures are so much in advance and friendly, I highly recommend Cornerstone Protection … More Service any and all business that need a security protection days and nights specially after business hours(Cornerstone Protection is perfect solution for your business). Owner of Cornerstone Protection is proactive with their customers and their equipments. Good experienced with Cornerstone Protection!!!
Kanu Patel -
We had a very positive experience with Alissa as a tutor for our pod of 5th grade boys from January - June 2020. She cared a lot about the boys and worked hard to create meaningful activities for them. The pod experience was invaluable … More for all of our families during a difficult year and we were so grateful to have found this partnership! We also want to appreciate Craig for helping to match us with a tutor on very short notice after we had cycled through a few folks who were not able to see the commitment through. Thanks for sticking with us!
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Dusty was the exact person we needed to help our child finish out the school year. So grateful to him for the way he steadily encouraged her and helped her stay on track and organized. He is flexible, responsive to our needs/schedule as … More a family, and a delight to be with. We are also thankful that Craig at Themba Tutors really "gets it" and partnered us with such a wonderful tutor who was a great fit for our girl.
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My child worked with Gillian D virtually for math enrichment. She is an excellent teacher. She took time to understand my child's specific learning style and provided tools that would be engaging. She was kind and empathetic- really … More made it her goal to connect with my child and build trust and rapport. My child started the school year with confidence and without the typically "brain-drain" that occurs over the summer, thanks to Gillian.
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I am going into my second year as a Themba tutor. I have met so many great individuals while working for this company. Craig and the rest of the Themba team do such an excellent job picking and choosing Themba tutors that suit each client's … More individual needs! I look forward to meeting new tutors and clients in the 2021-2022 school year!
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Our son started in a new high school, 100% remote, and was really struggling with Latin and Physics. I found Themba Tudors online and had an initial call with Craig, who was very knowledgeable, responsive, and found 2 amazing tutors for … More us. Both the Latin and the physics tutors were fantastic, connected with my son really well and helped him go from 'failing' grade to 'honors'! I will for sure continue using (and recommending!) Themba Tutors. Thank you, C, K, and W!
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Brian is a fantastic executive functioning coach. Super helpful, flexible with hours, and tailored the experience to our needs.
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Giulia Mercuri is a great Italian tutor! She was very responsive and accessible. Giulia put a ton of effort into preparing for each session and really helped our son with test preparation and projects. We are grateful that she was able … More to help, especially since our son did not receive any live teaching during COVID. We are happy that she was referred to us!
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As an adult student diagnosed with a learning disability during grad school, I knew I needed help dealing with my Master's program's demanding workload. I was seriously considering dropping out when I was referred to Themba Tutors. … More I was paired up with a wonderful tutor, Julie, who was a total lifesaver. I learned many techniques that I can utilize in the future as I embark on the next phase of my career.
I can wholeheartedly say after working with Themba for two years that I would not have finished my program without this organization. And I am so thankful I selected them. -
We were introduced to a wonderful tutor: Mcedwyn. He and our son, a freshman in college, worked well together. As a result, our son’s grades significantly improved. The tutor taught our son subject content and various methods to effectively … More study for quizzes and exams. Our son was also taught time management and organization. My son’s experience with the tutor made the first year of college a less intimidating experience.
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We have been with our tutor, Cailin Schiller, for two years, from 5th - 7th grade. She started as an executive functioning tutor with my daughter. From the start, she demonstrated a depth of expertise and a selective use of techniques skillfully … More adapted to my daughter’s ADHD and Math disability. Cailin made Math accessible and understandable to her in a way that even her teachers had not been able to do. She differentiated reading, writing and math tasks and assignments to tailor them to my daughter’s unique learning differences. Not only did it have an effect on her grades and her work efficiency, but she finally could do her work with less anxiety. Even my daughter’s teachers used Cailin’s guidance to modify their work with her. But most importantly, she became my daughter’s favorite resource. I can’t say how invaluable Cailin has been to my daughter’s progress and well-being. I’d recommend her a million times over. She is a gem.
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Victoria is a superb tutor. She helped my high school age daughter with her writing. Victoria's skills as a tutor, as well as her sense of humor and her engaging personality went a long way with my daughter.
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Themba Tutors provided a leaning specialist that was a perfect fit for my daughter. I told them what we were looking for and they delivered. Our tutor is responsive and flexible and makes it easy for my daughter to reach out to her own … More her own, which gives her an added sense of responsibility over her learning. As a therapist myself, I now regularly recommend Themba to my patients. A much needed and well provided service to the community!!
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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I'm so glad we were referred to Themba Tutors. After a great initial conversation to learn our needs, we were connected with an excellent tutor, Felicia, who is helping our high school daughter learn better organizational and executive … More skills. Highly recommended.
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We had a wonderful experience with our tutor Micaela. She helped our son not only academically but at every level. We will be forever grateful to have her in our lives.
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The tutors at Themba are fantastic! Caitlyn McNeill helped our son academically, but also with getting organized in every subject, which he so desperately needed. She offered great advice and useful strategies that helped our son become … More a more successful student. We are using Themba tutors again this year for our daughter. We're so happy to have been referred to them!
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Paul Smith at Themba has been an exceptional tutor for my son, both in terms of teaching the subject matter and teaching how best to approach the process of learning math and executing assignments. We feel very fortunate to be working with … More Paul.
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We were very lucky to have found Edwouine Swift, my son's therapist through Themba Tutors. Thomas is 12 years old, and it is extremely difficult to get him to write. Edwouine just works her magic with him, he adores her and is so … More eager to follow her guidance. I have no doubt she will be a positive driving force in his academic future.
HOW TO TEACH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS TO SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS
Teaching Executive Functioning Skills to School-Age Students
So you’ve got a classroom full of kids who struggle with executive functioning skills. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many students have trouble with planning, organizing, and managing their time. You have the power to help your students build critical life skills that will serve them well beyond your classroom.
Over the next few months, you will become an executive functioning ninja. You’ll try out strategies, figure out what works for different students, and have some failures along the way. That’s ok. Teaching executive functioning is a journey, not a destination. Start with some basics around planning, scheduling, and organizing. Keep lessons short and fun. Provide lots of guidance and practice. Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high.
With time and consistency, you’ll start to see changes. Kids who struggle with getting started will eagerly dive into work. Students who lost everything will develop systems to keep track of materials. Kids who had meltdowns over transitions will start moving between activities with ease. Classes will run more smoothly, and your students will build skills that will benefit them for life. Are you ready to become an executive functioning mentor? The following strategies and lessons will give you everything you need to get started.
Teach Planning and Prioritizing
To help kids learn planning and prioritizing, start with simple tasks they do every day. Have them make a schedule for getting ready in the morning or after school. Walk them through each step, from waking up to leaving the house, and determine how long each task will take. Help them determine what needs to happen first, next, and last.
Let them follow the schedule themselves once they have the hang of it. Check-in to make sure they’re staying on track and staying focused. Give them reminders about how much time is left for each activity. With regular practice, they’ll get better at managing their time and figuring out priorities.
Teach them to break the work into smaller steps for bigger projects like homework. Have them estimate how long each phase might take and schedule time for breaks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Show them how to start with the high-priority tasks before moving on to lower-priority items. Help them see how planning can make the work feel more achievable.
To strengthen these skills:
- Allow your child to make their schedules and plans.
- Have them map out how they’ll get ready for school in the morning or plan a fun activity for the weekend.
- Discuss how to figure out what’s most important to focus on first.
- Let them learn from both successes and mistakes.
With your guidance and patience, kids can develop strong planning and prioritizing skills that will benefit them for years. Helping them build these skills will set them up for success in and out of the classroom.
Develop Working Memory
To strengthen your students’ working memory, try these techniques:
- Practice repetition. Have students repeat instructions, lists of words, or sequences of numbers. Start with small amounts of info and build up from there. Reciting information out loud, writing it down, and re-reading it are all effective.
- Use visual imagery. Encourage students to create mental images or mind palaces to help them remember. For example, have them visualize placing items they need to remember in a familiar location like their home. This creates connections that make info easier to recall.
- Play memory games. Games like Simon Says, Kim’s Game (where objects on a tray are removed and students recall what’s missing), and card matching games are fun ways to improve working memory.
- Teach mnemonics. Mnemonics, like acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, and songs, give students a structure to organize and remember info. For example, ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’ to memorize the notes on the lines of the treble clef.
- Provide checklists and reminders. Give students written lists, schedules, routines, and reminders to help them keep track of tasks and responsibilities. Refer to these tools often, especially when first implementing them.
- Start with focus. Help students strengthen their focus and attention to absorb and retain more info. Short-focused meditation or visualization exercises can help. Minimize distractions when learning new skills or topics.
With regular practice of these techniques, your students will boost their working memories and build a skill that will benefit them for life. Patience and persistence pay off!
Practice Task Initiation and Completion
➡ Break Down Large Tasks
For students struggling with task initiation and completion, start by breaking down large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Have them write down each step required to complete the job, then schedule a time to work through each step. This makes the task seem less daunting and more achievable.
➡ Use Visual Reminders
Visual reminders are very helpful for task initiation and follow-through. Have students create a schedule or timeline to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and steps required. Review the program together regularly. You can also have them set alarms and timers on their phones to prompt them to start and finish tasks.
➡ Offer Encouragement and Accountability
Students often need motivation and accountability to get started on less preferred tasks. Offer encouragement, check-ins, and praise for their efforts and progress. Provide rewards and positive reinforcement to keep them motivated. You can also have students report back on their progress to provide accountability. Let them know you believe in their ability to complete the task but will follow up to ensure they stay on track.
➡ Make Tasks Engaging
Try to make tasks more engaging and rewarding. Turn tasks into games or challenges to increase motivation and interest. Offer choices in how they complete the task. Play music while working to improve focus and mood. Take short breaks when needed to recharge and renew motivation. The more engaging and rewarding you can make task initiation and completion, the more likely students are to follow through.
With practice and consistency, task initiation and completion can become second nature. But it often requires patience, motivation, and strategies to help students build this important executive functioning skill. Keep providing guidance and encouragement, even for small wins, and students will gain confidence and independence over time.
Conclusion
So there you have some practical tips and strategies for helping develop executive functioning skills in your students. Remember, these skills are crucial for success in school and life but they take time and practice. Start small by focusing on one area at a time, provide lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement, and make it fun. Before you know it, your students will start showing improvements in their organization, time management, emotional regulation, and more. Keep at it and stay patient through challenges. With your support, your students will build these lifelong skills and thrive. If you want to learn more, head over to an article Harvard made about Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence.
Craig Selinger
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