Executive Function Guide Book

The Executive Function Guidebook: Strategies to Help All Students Achieve Success
Roberta Strosnider and Valerie Saxton Sharpe

“Please, try harder.” “Please, pay attention.” “Please, behave.” Most students want to do what it takes to succeed, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Executive function skills such as self-regulation, focus, planning, and time management must be taught, and they take practice. When you work on them in class, you give students the tools they need to not only learn but also monitor themselves.

Teaching executive function skills in your classroom doesn’t have to be difficult. This unique guidebook—designed with busy teachers in mind—introduces a flexible seven-step model that incorporates Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and the use of metacognition. Features include:

*Descriptions of each skill and its impact on learning
*Examples of instructional steps to assist students as they set goals and work to achieve success.
*Strategies coded by competency and age/grade level
*Authentic snapshots and “think about” sections
*Templates for personalized goal-setting, data collection, and success plans
*Accompanying strategy cards

Whether you teach kindergarten, high school, or anything in between, you can make executive function training part of your teaching. As students’ proficiencies improve, you will see their confidence and capability increase—setting the stage for their success in school and in life.