Teaching executive functions is crucial for all students, helping them manage tasks and build academic success beyond mere motivation.
Mitch Weathers' 5-step system allows educators to seamlessly integrate executive function lessons into existing curricula without sacrificing instructional time.
The Organized Binder serves as a structured resource that fosters organization, accountability, and ownership of learning for students.
Deep dives
Understanding Executive Functions
Executive functions encompass a set of cognitive skills that help individuals manage their attention, initiate tasks, regulate their energy, and maintain organization. While some students acquire these skills naturally or through their surroundings, many struggle and often face challenges in academic environments, particularly during transitions like moving to middle school. It is essential to recognize that these skills are not character flaws but rather abilities that can be taught and developed. This awareness is crucial for educators, as it shifts the perspective from viewing disorganization as indicative of lack of motivation to understanding it as a developmental challenge.
The Need for a Structured System
Many educators find it challenging to incorporate teaching of executive functions into their already full curricula due to time constraints. Mitch Weathers, an experienced educator, has developed a system that embeds executive function lessons seamlessly into existing classroom routines without requiring significant extra time or effort. By using this system, teachers can enhance student engagement and performance as students learn to manage their responsibilities alongside their regular coursework. The goal is to turn executive functioning skills into a routine practice that benefits all students, not just those who visibly struggle.
Organized Binder: A Practical Tool
The Organized Binder is a practical resource designed to help students enhance their executive functioning skills through a structured and consistent routine. This approach involves using a physical binder that is color-coded and organized, allowing students to keep track of their assignments and materials easily. By maintaining a Table of Contents and creating a predictable structure for organizing their work, students develop greater ownership over their learning. This not only aids in organization but also fosters a sense of agency and accountability among students, contributing to their overall success.
Daily Routines for Engagement and Reflection
The system recommends starting each class with a kickoff routine that engages students in recalling prior lessons and introducing new material. This includes a retrieval practice that activates their memory and builds connections between past and present learning experiences. Following this, students update their agenda and Table of Contents while also participating in the lesson planned by their teacher. At the end of each class, a reflection prompt allows them to consider what they've learned, enabling teachers to assess understanding and adapt their instruction accordingly.
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment
Establishing a classroom environment that emphasizes predictability and structure greatly benefits students, particularly those who face external chaos in their lives. By consistently implementing routines, educators provide clarity and support that can help all students navigate their school day effectively. The collective effort among teachers to implement these practices enhances student engagement and creates a culture of accountability and success. Ultimately, this routine enables teachers to efficiently focus on academic content while also addressing the essential skills needed for students to thrive in their educational journey.
All students can benefit from learning and practicing executive functions, the skills we use to control our attention, keep ourselves organized, initiate tasks, and manage time. But where do we find the time to teach them? In this episode, educator and author Mitch Weathers shares his proven 5-step system for integrating executive functions into regular class time without taking away from the regular lesson.
