Mind Masters: A Foray Into Executive Functioning

Mind Masters: A specialized class designed to help students excel in their academic and personal lives.

This class will cover the fundamental tenets of executive functioning, including: 

Planning & Organization: Prioritize assignments and activities; Break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps; Create schedules to accomplish select agendas

Time Management: Set deadlines; Avoid procrastination; Initiate tasks with discipline; Discover and master time management tools

Working Memory: Practice techniques to improve the ability to hold and manipulate information for learning new concepts and better problem solving skills

Flexible Thinking: Adapt to changing situations; Think critically; Consider different perspectives

Self-Management: Be introspective and take a balanced approach to emotions and impulses to stay focused and on task

Academic Management: Learn efficient and effective note-taking and test-prep/study skills

Setting & Achieving Goals: Learn to set and track your progress toward specific, measurable, relevant, time-bound goals

Activities, Strategies & Projects

As a class, we will analyze age-appropriate, intellectual, meaty and inspiring texts (curated sections of books, articles, etc.), speeches, and lectures on a growth-mind set as it applies to executive functioning. Role playing exercises will help students practice social skills and hone decision making abilities. Mindfulness practices will benefit focus, attention, and emotional regulation. Most significantly, we will assess where each of us can individually make progress, and then learn, practice and present those skills to the group. Feedback from the teacher and peers will assist in continual goal setting and tracking and identifying progress. 

Why allocate resources to executive functioning? 

Improved academic performance: Stronger executive functioning skills can lead to increased focus, discipline and organization, open up hours in the day previously being squandered, and consequently, raise academic outcomes. 

Enhanced social skills & Increased confidence: Self-management, emotional regulation and, perhaps most importantly, knowing when and how to self-advocate with a sense of empowerment can improve social interactions, relationships and overall satisfaction at home and school. 

If at any point in the class, you or your child would like to discuss individualized attention and support, don't hesitate to reach out. I am happy to discuss additional avenues for exploring a student's personalized path to reaching more tailored goals.