Executive Function Skills: Elementary -age Strategies

The 360 Thinking Executive Function Curriculum is designed to develop independent executive function skills in students. Whether this is your first or your fifth time hearing Sarah Ward and or you are familiar with the program, this webinar will provide new insights and reinforce your understanding of the core features. Executive function (EF) skills are essential attention-regulation abilities that allow individuals to sustain attention, keep goals and information in mind, refrain from immediate response, resist distraction, tolerate frustration, consider the consequences of different behaviors, reflect on past experiences, and plan for the future. The 360 Thinking program facilitates the development of 6 key skills for students: initiation, transition, planning, time management, self-regulation and meta-cognition. By reading the room and envisioning the steps of a task, potential obstacles can be anticipated and students can develop problem-solving skills and independence. During this practical strategies webinar, we will define EF skills for the purpose of treatment interventions and explore concepts such as “mind MIME” and forethought skills. You will learn strategies to decrease impulsivity and increase self-regulation skills, as well as techniques for teaching goal-directed behavior, devising plans to achieve goals, using self-talk, understanding rules, and controlling impulses and emotions to complete tasks successfully. You will learn practical strategies for helping early learners understand the concepts of sequence, duration, and analog time in order to develop their ability to perceive and grasp the passage of time. These strategies will enable them to complete tasks within designated time frames, a key skill for success in any setting. Through hands-on activities, visual aids, and real-world examples, you will gain the tools necessary to effectively teach these essential executive function skills to young children and set them on the path to independence and to be successful learners.