Connections to Neuroscience: Executive Function Skills Supporting Literacy and Numeracy.
Educators, are you looking to deepen your understanding of the connection between executive function skills and student learning? Look no further. Connections to Neuroscience: Executive Function Skills Supporting Literacy and Numeracy module explores the key strategies that support the development of three executive function skills, Planning, Organization, and Cognitive Flexibility, through the literacy and numeracy lenses. Discover how these executive function skills impact learning.
This module will provide you a general understanding of three executive function skills and student learning.
To learn more about the connections to executive function skills and student learning, explore the materials below; view the videos, follow the prompts and access the provided resources.
- Executive Functioning Skill: Planning
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View this video for an overview of the importance of the Executive Function Skill of Planning. (~ 5 minutes)
View this video to learn about some strategies that support the executive function skill of planning through the literacy lens. (~ 17 minutes)
View this video to learn more about some strategies that support the executive function skill of planning through the numeracy lens. (~ 9 minutes)
Consider the strategies you learned about in the video(s) and reflect on how you might provide more opportunities for students to engage in these.
- Executive Function Skill: Organization
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View this video for an overview of the importance of the Executive Function Skill of Organization. (~ 5 minutes)
View this video to learn about some strategies that support the executive function skill of organization through the literacy lens. (~ 13 minutes)
View this video to learn about some strategies that support the executive function skill of organization through the numeracy lens. (~ 11 minutes)
Consider the strategies you learned about in the video(s) and reflect on how you might provide more opportunities for students to engage in these.
- Executive Function Skill: Cognitive Flexibility
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View this video for an overview of the importance of the Executive Function Skill of Cognitive Flexibility. (~ 5 minutes)
View this video to learn about some strategies that support the executive function skill of cognitive flexibility through the literacy lens. (~ 8 minutes)
View this video to learn about some strategies that support the executive function skill of cognitive flexibility through the numeracy lens. (~ 13 minutes)
Consider the strategies you learned about in the video(s) and reflect on how you might provide more opportunities for students to engage in these.
- Resources and Next Steps
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Connections to Neuroscience: Supporting Student Learning through their Well-Being
Resources used to support the development of this professional learning opportunity:
Executive Function Strategies and Resources Padlet
Literacy:
- Cartwright, K. B. (2023). Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension: A Guide for Educators. Guilford Publications
- Kelly Cartwright, Executive Skills and the Struggling Reader, Edutopia
- WIDA. (2020). WIDA English language development standards framework, 2020 edition: Kindergarten–grade 12. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
- Zhou et al, Abstract: Cognitive Flexibility: Theory, Assessment and Treatment, 2012
Numeracy:
- Marschall, C. and French, R, (2018) Concept-Based Inquiry in Action: Strategies to Promote Transferable Understanding, Corwin
- Hattie, J. (2012) Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning, Corwin
- Hattie, J., Fisher, D., Frey, N., Gojak, L., Moore, S. D., and Mellman, W. (2017) Visible Learning for Mathematics, Grades K-12: What Works Best to Optimize Student Learning, Corwin
- Creighton, S.J., Rose Tobey, C., Karnowski, E., and Fagan, E.R. (2015) Bringing Math Students Into the Formative Assessment Equation, Corwin Press
- Stern, J., Ferraro, K., Duncan, K., and Aleo, T. (2021) Learning That Transfers: Designing Curriculum for a Changing World, Corwin
- Kelemanik, G., Lucenta, A., and Creighton, S.J. (2016) Routines for Reasoning: Fostering Mathematical Practices in All Students, Heinemann
- Kelemanik, G., and Lucenta, A. (2022) Teaching for Thinking: Fostering Mathematical Teaching Practices Through Reasoning Routines, Heinemann
- Boaler, J. (2016). Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students’ POTENTIAL Through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and INNOVATIVE TEACHING, Jossey-Bass
- Humphreys, C. and Parker, R. (2015). Making Number Talks Matter: Developing Mathematical Practices and Deepening Understanding, Pembroke Publishers
- Karp, K.S., Dougherty, B.J., Bush, S.B (2021). the Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades – Elementary, Corwin
- Bush, S. B., Karp, K.S., Dougherty, B.J. (2021). the Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades – Middle School, Corwin
- Dougherty, B.J., Bush, S.B, Karp, K.S. (2021). the Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades – High School, Corwin
- Smith, M.S. and Stein, M.K. (2011). 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc. (NCTM)
Next Steps for continued learning: