(6) Executive Function

Set Goals To Support Students Developing Agency

Work with students to help them create their own goals to direct their learning in an authentic way. Example: Through... View Article

(Series) Use Folklore to Discuss Language

Students become anthropologists in order to explore folktales from their cultures with a focus on language.  Example: In this study... View Article

Have Clear Roles for Group work

Students can be assigned different roles to promote collaboration and offer multiple access points to learning.  Example: Students were directed... View Article

Use Stories or Puppets in Social Problem Solving

Use stories or puppets to model and role-play children’s challenging social situations in order to look for possible solutions. Example:... View Article

Prime Students for Discussion with Free-Writing

Have students write low-stakes responses to a brief prompt to help get them ready for discussion. Example: At the start... View Article

Make Prompts Clear and Specific

When asking students to do a written task, make sure you are clear about the role, audience, format, and topic... View Article

Give Actionable Feedback on Students’ Written Work

Students need feedback on their work that allows them to make successful revisions. This includes showing your understanding of their... View Article

Invite Students to Develop Assessment Criteria

Students feel more engaged when they have the chance to determine criteria for how their writing will be assessed. Example:... View Article

Offer Talking Point Cards to Support Discussions

Multilingual sentence starter cards can support students with disabilities and emerging bilinguals with content area discussions. Example: Participating in discussions... View Article

Graph Coordinates on the Floor

Create a cartesian plane on the floor for students to practice their graphing skills. Example: Create cartesian plane on the... View Article

Use Google Classroom to Manage Materials

Google classroom can be used to share daily materials, math tools, and additional resources to students. Example: Organize topics by... View Article

Manage Instructional Materials with Livebinders

Support students in managing information and resources by storing and organizing them in an easily accessible online portfolio.   Example:... View Article

Use Self Scoring to Increase Reflection

Before submitting an assignment, ask students to complete a self score using the same rubric you will use for grading.... View Article

Use Graded Writing to Set Goals

At the end of each writing unit, have students analyze their scored writing to develop personal goals for the next... View Article

Provide Visual Reminders for Concepts Mastered in Isolation

Using a visual reminder of a skill mastered in isolated practice to other areas of student work can be a... View Article

Create Graduated Learning Objectives

Provide tiered learning objectives at different levels for what students will learn. Example: In a unit about a historical event,... View Article

Use Sentence Starters to Prompt Writing and Discussion

Students will often benefit from sentence starters in order to guide their organization, jump start their thinking, or promote positive... View Article

Hold Grading Conferences to Provide Feedback

Instead of (or in addition to) passing graded papers back to students, hold short grading conferences with each student to... View Article

Write Directions and Steps as Checklists

Numbered, sequential directions may benefit students who have difficulty with getting started, sustaining a task or organizing work. Students can... View Article

Use “Listen for…” Cards

“Listen for…” cards during instruction can be used to highlight important points for students or to help a student sustain... View Article

Color Code Materials For Each Class

Color coding materials for a subject area can be helpful in supporting students in materials management as well as in... View Article

Take Time to “Stop and Think”

“Stop and Think” time can support students executive functioning by asking students to reflect and develop strategies that support their... View Article

Invite Students to Self- and Peer-Assess

Students can be taught how to use evaluation criteria to critique, give feedback, and reflect on their own and peer’s... View Article

Task Oriented Checklists

Use task checklists with students to demystify lesson objectives and help them track their progress. Example: Provide student with a... View Article

Allow Students to Order Their Tasks

During a period, students can order tasks that need to be completed in order of preference; this promotes interest and... View Article