Getting it Together - Executive Function for Tweens & Teens FLEX Class
Introducing students to Executive Function skills and how to help themselves in the areas they are struggling in most.
Heather DeGeorge, MAT, PMP
Average rating:
4.5
Number of reviews:(238)
What's included
5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Students WILL have homework every week that will have to be posted to the classroom and shared with class. These are to reinforce the skills they are learning and allow them to work through scenarios using their own ideas to problem-solve.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
This course will help students better identify their areas of strength and weakness--and focuses on using strengths to accommodate weaknesses. We will cover each of 10 executive function areas throughout the course--explaining each one with real-life examples, going through a personal skills inventory to help students understand where they may need to put in more supports, giving students support options and tips/tricks, and then assigning homework that helps them integrate the supports they need most.
Executive function areas covered include:
* Planning/prioritizing (with understanding of "important" vs. "urgent")
* Organization
* Time Management
* Task initiation
* Working memory
* Self-monitoring (metacognition)
* Impulse and Emotional control ("self-control")
* Sustained attention
* Flexibility
* Perseverance
Students will review 1-3 pre-recorded videos each week--each covering a different executive function. They will then have related homework assignments to complete and submit to the Outschool classroom page using typed posts or the Add Video link to present their work and discuss what they did, what challenge they faced with the task and what went well. They will also be asked to offer other students suggestions for another students challenges and use the feedback model given in the classroom that incorporates positive and constructive feedback. Students may be asked to participate in a Nearpod learning lesson more than once for the duration of the course, but not more than once/week.
Students will get teacher feedback on all of their posts even if only to confirm they have completed the task well so they know they're on the right path; but also with additional tips, tricks or fine tuning as applicable. This is usually done via the video posting feature.
* THERE IS FIVE WEEKS OF POSTED CONTENT TO THIS FLEX COURSE. SOME SECTIONS ARE GIVEN SIX WEEKS OF ACCESS WHERE THE TEACHER HAS AGREED TO BE "ON CALL" TO RESPOND TO POSTS AND MESSAGES FOR AN EXTRA WEEK BECAUSE THERE IS A US FEDERAL HOLIDAY DURING THAT SECTION'S DATES *
Homework will require parent involvement and input to help students find new ways to accommodate their weaknesses by using their strengths in the context of their own world and your household's lifestyle, constraints and preferences. This homework is a way to help them build self-advocacy skills.Learning Goals
Students gain a strong understanding of their weakest skills and gain knowledge and (through homework assignments) experience using new skills to support their weak areas.
Syllabus
5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction & Planning
Learn about what executive function skills are, how our brains work and how we make change so that you're not discouraged in the process. In this lesson we tackle one of our "foundation skills": Planning. Students start building new habits that by the end of the course, 50% say are game-changing. Lesson 2:
Organization & Time Management
We tackle the rest of the "foundation" of our executive function house and learn about the biochemistry of disorganization. Students learn how to break down large projects. Lesson 3:
Impulse Control, Flexibility and Perseverance
This lesson tackles the "3 Musketeers" and offers a new tool that tackles two of these skills at once. We learn more about the integration of the skills our brain uses and tools for helping stay on track to build new habits. Lesson 4:
Task Initiation and Self-Awareness
Whether you are a "Master Procrastinator" or not, we start building on the previous skills to help get things done without leaving them to the last minute. We also learn about carefully tending to our homework and project processes and continuous process improvement through the skill of Self-Awareness. Other Details
Parental Guidance
Parents should plan to provide some supervision to ensure homework is done. Most students enrolling struggle with consistency as part of their lack of executive function skill. A major contributor to success would be if you could support them this way while they build skills that lead to more independence once they become “habits of mind”. A FLEX class can easily fall off the radar and parents who also struggle with consistency may find this to be a challenge! I suggest setting calendar reminders to help.
Students will have homework that will require parent involvement and input to help students find new ways to accommodate their weaknesses by using their strengths in the context of their own world. This homework is a way to help them build self-advocacy skills.
Supply List
There will be handouts that need to be printed each week including the skills inventories that help them evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in each area.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined November, 2018
4.5
238reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Teaching Certificates
New Jersey Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Illinois Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
Master's Degree in Education from New Jersey City University
I have taught executive function and productivity skills to my students and science team students for at least 10 years. For the last three years this has been for middle schoolers who are preparing for Science Olympiad competition with very little support--so these skills are critical and they have been wonderfully successful!Reviews
Self-Paced Class
$17
weekly or $85 for all content5 pre-recorded lessons
5 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 189 learners
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Ages: 12-17
