Description
*This is a blended learning course that will meet online for five Mondays. It is worth 15 CECH or one graduate credit.
The Zoom meeting will take place at 5:30 PM Mountain Time / 6:30 PM Central Time.
• September 15 (Introduction meeting)
• September 22
• September 29
• October 6
• October 20
What if you could help your students who are struggling academically simply by teaching them executive function skills?
If you're a teacher, chances are you're familiar with the student who never finishes homework, the one who always interrupts, the one who can't seem to pay attention during lessons. Too often, we assume these characteristics are innate or chalk them up to lack of discipline, when in fact they are executive function issues that teachers can easily address— and even help to reverse— with a little guidance.
In The Missing Link to Help Them Think, veteran educator and bestselling author Marilee Sprenger imparts that guidance with a wealth of practical, research-based classroom strategies teachers can use to develop six core areas of executive function skills (EFS): impulse inhibition; working memory; attention and focus; cognitive flexibility; self-monitoring; and planning, organization, prioritization, and time management. In addition, Sprenger
• Explains how executive function skills bridge the gap between social-emotional learning and academics and how to develop both skill sets at the same time.
• Discusses the research on and neurological origins of different executive functions.
• Provides practical, easily implemented self-assessment tools that teachers and students can use to evaluate their strengths and needs related to executive functioning.
All students can improve their executive function skills and succeed in the classroom. With strategies and examples across grade levels and relevant to all subject areas, this thought-provoking book gives you the resources necessary to support them in this journey.
Book: "The Missing Link to Help Them Think: Connecting Executive Function and SEL Skills to Boost Student Achievement" by Marliee Sprenger
ISBN-10: 1416633243
ISBN-13: 978-1416633242
Objectives
Participants will:
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Identify and describe the six core executive function skills—impulse control, working memory, attention, flexibility, self-monitoring, and planning—and explain how each skill connects to student learning and behavior through written reflection or discussion.
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Develop and use a student self-assessment tool focused on one executive function skill, and then reflect on how the data collected can inform SEL-integrated instructional practices in your classroom.
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Design and facilitate a classroom activity that intentionally integrates both SEL and executive function development (such as using emotion check-ins or focus strategies), and then reflect on how students responded and what adjustments you might make.
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Create and implement a classroom plan that includes at least three executive function strategies, and reflect on what worked well, what challenges arose, and how your students responded in terms of focus, independence, or engagement.
The Missing Link to Help Them Think — Alignment to Professional Teaching Domains
| Danielson Domain | Connection to the Book |
|---|---|
| Domain 1: Planning and Preparation |
Supports educators in designing lessons that intentionally build executive function and SEL skills. Encourages planning with student developmental readiness in mind and incorporates brain-based strategies that improve focus, working memory, and self-regulation.
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| Domain 2: The Classroom Environment |
Promotes the creation of a safe, supportive learning environment where students feel respected and emotionally secure. Highlights the importance of routines, emotional climate, and relationship-building to strengthen students’ ability to manage behavior and emotions.
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| Domain 3: Instruction |
Provides practical tools for embedding EF and SEL skills into instruction through modeling, repetition, and reflection. Encourages teachers to explicitly teach thinking strategies, support metacognition, and use strategies that keep students engaged and self-directed.
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| Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities |
Encourages teachers to reflect on how their practices support students’ cognitive and emotional development. Promotes continued learning about neuroscience and SEL, advocating for equitable, whole-child approaches that foster collaboration and long-term student success.
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