Lend Me Your Frontal Lobe HCPSS 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 professional development for for all HCPSS Staff on the LD/ADHD Resource Modules

FUTURE DIRECTIONS Parent and Teacher Resource Modules

LD/ADHD Initiative Executive Functions Series: Wiki

Lead Team At Each School Student Services Psychologists, Counselors, PPWs, Alternative Education Teachers, and Cluster Nurses Administration

Lead Team Facilitator Professional Development Dates January 9 th Psychologists January 16 th HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs January 17 th HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs January 22 nd HS Counselors, Alt Ed., Nurses, PPWs January 24 th Middle School Counselors January 29 th & 31 st Administrators February 1 st Elementary School Counselors

Executive Functions Modules Themes We can support students’ frontal lobes by: ① Understanding patterns of strengths and weaknesses with all students, not just students with disabilities ② Changing the environment ③ Teaching/re-teaching and modeling executive skills ④ Reinforcing 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) Skill proficiency 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.