Hello and welcome to my Executive Functioning Skills for Teens Ongoing course, where each week we learn, practice, and develop the necessary Executive Functioning skills to succeed both personally and academically in an ever-growing and competitive world market. During each class meeting, we will explore a specific set of skills, using graphic organizers and various visual-auditory exercises to conceptualize and motivate students to immediately begin their goal-setting.  

Each meeting is designed to stand-alone, so that any student can enroll at any point during the year and immediately begin receiving the instruction that they need as they advance through each grade level, and into college or the work force. 

I first became interested in teaching executive functioning skills to teens after having attended a professional development workshop on teen mentoring, and then taking a course in which executive functioning skills was covered as a topic. Since then, I have been incorporating this type of instruction into my full courses. I think it was my love of Psychology and Secondary Education (college minors) that ultimately led me to choose that particular professional development option, but It's been a blast incorporating these crucial teen like-skills into lessons ever since. I also have a lot of experience working with ASD and ADHD students, having chosen that area specifically for my volunteer hours in college, and then having facilitated IEPs for inclusion-style teaching in the brick-and-mortar English classroom.

I can't wait to meet you all in my class very soon!     --Stephen Lee

COURSE SYLLABUS

Getting Organized, Planning Ahead, and Prioritizing

Being Flexible

Holding on to Information

Dealing with Strong Emotions

Thinking Things Through and Making Adjustments 


Executive Functioning Skills Question and Answer Period

Getting Started 

How to ask for Help

Staying Focused 

Strengthening your Skills

Getting Ready in the Morning


Executive Functioning Skills Question and Answer Period

Getting Organized & Making the Most of Your To-do List

Doing Homework

Participating in Class Discussions

Working on Group Projects 

Studying for a Quiz or a Test


Executive Functioning Skills Question and Answer Period

Studying for an Exam

Writing a Paper

Submitting an Application

Making an Appointment

Cleaning Your Room


Executive Functioning Skills Question and Answer Period

Getting Chores Done

Making Plans with Friends

Talking and Listening to Others

Checking Your Progress (Self-monitoring)

Taking Time for Yourself

Handling Hard Feelings - Be Kind to Yourself

Going with the Flow

Executive Functioning Skills Question and Answer Period

COURSE WORKBOOK ACTIVTIIES:
 
ACTIVITY 1: EXECUTIVE SKILLS SELF-ASSESSMENT

ACTIVITY 2: SEEING YOURSELF

ACTIVITY 3: DEFEATING YOUR “BEAST”

ACTIVITY 4: SLOW MOTION

ACTIVITY 5: SPOTTING DISORGANIZATION

ACTIVITY 6: CLEAN SWEEP!

ACTIVITY 7: ORGANIZATIONAL TOOLS

ACTIVITY 8: HOW DO YOU USE YOUR TIME?

ACTIVITY 9: SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

ACTIVITY 10: DAILY PLANNING

ACTIVITY 11: WHERE DO FEELINGS COME FROM?

ACTIVITY 12: UNDERSTANDING YOUR FEELINGS

ACTIVITY 13: HANDLING YOUR NEGATIVE FEELINGS

ACTIVITY 14: WHAT’S AN IMPULSE?

ACTIVITY 15: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

ACTIVITY 16: STANDING UP TO YOUR PEERS

ACTIVITY 17: FLEXIBILITY

ACTIVITY 18: IMPROVISING

ACTIVITY 19: PERSPECTIVE MATTERS

ACTIVITY 20: PROCRASTINATION PROBLEMS

ACTIVITY 21: BREAK IT DOWN!

ACTIVITY 22: HELPING HAND

ACTIVITY 23: WHAT’S IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT?

ACTIVITY 24: DELAYED GRATIFICATION

ACTIVITY 25: THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

ACTIVITY 26: IMPROVING YOUR WORKING MEMORY

ACTIVITY 27: USING MNEMONICS

ACTIVITY 28: TEACH AN OLD BRAIN NEW TRICKS

ACTIVITY 29: LETTER TO YOUR FUTURE SELF

ACTIVITY 30: STICK TO IT!

ACTIVITY 31: IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED