Lend Me Your Frontal LobeHCPSS Administrators

January 2013

Outcomes

Participants will: Become familiar with the format and themes

of the Executive Functions modules. Experience activities from the Executive

Functions modules. Understand expectations, timeline, and

responsibilities for the roll out of the Executive Functions modules.

Banner Question

“How do we support the classroom teacher delivering best practices in instruction and behavioral intervention for students with learning and/or behavioral needs?”

The Board of Education expects The Board of Education expects

professional developmentprofessional development

for for

allall HCPSS Staff HCPSS Staff on the on the

LD/ADHD Resource LD/ADHD Resource ModulesModules

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Parent and Teacher Resource Modules

LD/ADHD Initiative Executive Functions Series: Wiki

https://ldadhd.wikispaces.hcpss.org/

Lead Team At Each School

Lead Team FacilitatorProfessional Development Dates

January 9th Psychologists

January 16th HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs

January 17th HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs

January 22nd HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs

January 22nd HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs

January 24th Middle School Counselors

January 29th & 31st Administrators

February 1st Elementary School Counselors

Executive Functions Modules Themes

We can support students’ frontal lobes by:

①Understanding patterns of strengths and weaknesses with all students, not just students with disabilities

②Changing the environment

③Teaching/re-teaching and modeling executive skills

④Reinforcing skills by use of incentives moving towards independence

Executive Functions Modules Format

Match executive functions with definitions

Share model for adult learning (Joyce & Showers, 1980, 1992)

Discuss developmental aspects of executive functions

Share analogies of executive functions

Executive Functions Modules Format

Discuss the impact of executive functions weaknesses in the classroom

Model, discuss and develop strategies for supporting and teaching executive functions

Share ideas with colleagues

At your table, match the nine

executive functions with their definitions

Where are executive skills located?

Executive Functions

Executive skills develop…

through a process called myelination. Myelin acts as insulation for nerves, increasing the speed with which nerve impulses are transmitted. The faster the impulse, the better the skill.

All skills, including executive skills, improve with practice…

The more you practice, the better the skill. Practice also makes the task less effortful.

Source: Weintraub et al. (2011)

Birth

Age (Years)

50 70 80

Ski

ll p

rofi

cien

cy

3 5 15 25 3010

Development of Executive Functions

Until executive skills are fully developed in students, parents and teachers act as

“surrogate” frontal lobes.

Three primary ways to develop executive skills:

1. Change the environment to reduce the impact of weak executive skills.

2. Teach and model executive skills.

3. Use incentives to get students to use skills that are hard for them.

Executive Functions serve as a Cognitive Conductor

The conductor or “master control” for all higher order and basic information processing.

The brain’s master control and command system.

Let’s Play~ Ready. Set. Write!

Directions: Each person has a sentence starter and will have time

to read the sentence and finish or add a sentence.

When the bell rings each person passes their paper to the person on the right.

This will be repeated until everyone has added to each paper.

Process the activity: Ready. Set. Write!

• What executive function skills did you have to use in this activity?

• What did you find difficult? Did you get frustrated?

• How did you cope with yourself and with others?

Activity

Check off which executive skills deficits

you think each student may have.

What are your executive functions

strengths and weaknesses?

1. Complete the EF questionnaire.

1. Did your results match what you thought were your strengths & weaknesses?

1. Think-Pair-Share: How might this impact your work with teachers and/or students?

Executive Functions Modules Roll Out

Timeline:• Consider the available options for professional

learning within the contract day.

• Administrator(s) and Student Services Team enter your school’s plan for delivering the modules in the “School Improvement Plan Template.”

• Timeframe for implementation of modules:

August, 2013 to June, 2014.