An important area of focus for HomeworkCoach this year, in addition to advising you to help your students with homework completion, is to provide teachable methods to help strengthen students’ executive function skills.
Executive function skills are defined as: “mental skills that are coordinated in the brain’s frontal lobe.” –WebMD
They include the abilities to manage time, plan, initiate activities, cognitive flexibility, inhibition, organize materials, and the use of working memory.
I’ve started working with some new students this semester, helping them strengthen their executive function skills. So far I’ve learned a few strategies and approaches that help with specific executive dysfunctions.
I have one student who really struggles with cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to transition or shift from one topic or activity to another. He has a difficult time at the beginning of each session, but after about 10 minutes he is responsive and helpful.
I’ve noticed that he is more willing to begin his work once he’s eaten a snack or if he can snack while we work. I’ve also learned that I cannot jump right into the session and begin working. If I spend about 5 to 10 minutes asking him about his day, and letting him tell me what assignments need to be completed, he opens up much quicker.
I’ve also gotten into the habit of checking his school blogs before each session so I have an idea of what needs to be completed and if there are any major assignments due during the week.
It seems that at least for this particular student, patience is the key. We can’t move too quickly, if we do it makes transitions very difficult.
Megan Moody was one of our super homework coaches. She left us to raise a baby.
Great ideas! I have particularly seen this behavior with younger ADHD students.
I particularly like the idea of checking blogs in order to be prepared for the student beforehand and know exactly what he/she needs to concentrate on while I’m working with the student! This is a good pointer for “Time-Managing”.
I plan, from now on to check each of his teachers notes and assignments, as well as upcoming assessments online to be completely prepared myself. This way both the student and I will save time and be able to cover so much more than simply his assignments.
I have given him goal sheets and quickly review these weekly, but meaningful dialogue is always a plus. I enjoyed reading this Megan’s notes!
Sometimes as Tutor/Education Coaches we need to be reminded. It’s always nice to read from a fellow educator about experiences. I appreciate the time spent writing this information and know it helps me step back and think.
Taking time to let the student know at
the beginning of our time makes our time together so much more relaxing. This helps with progress so much rather than rushing into assignments and not making the student know it’s about him/her.
I’ve always been a firm believer in the grand importance of getting to know each student individually! One of the reasons I love tutoring is because it is such a good setting for truly knowing the student.