Monthly Meeting Prep - February
Hi there,
Welcome once again to Monthly Meeting Prep - a monthly message with ready-to-use resources on relevant topics for your professional development needs. They might serve as a “PD Moment” at the beginning of a faculty meeting, discussion material for a late start or early release time, or thought-provoking content for leadership meetings.
As a quick reminder, we always try to include the following:
An editable PowerPoint file with pre-loaded prompts or discussion questions
A video that offers a unique perspective and can always be applied in the classroom or improve professional practice
Links to resources to extend the session as needed, including things like:
relevant articles
additional videos
recommended discussion protocols
On to this month’s content …
February Monthly Meeting Prep
Topic: Executive Function in the Classroom
Overview: Executive Function (EF) has become a bit of a buzzword lately, but serious researchers have been doing serious work on the topic for decades. In fact, if you want to get super nerdy, I recommend this report on EF produced by the U.S. Department of Education.
What is Executive Function?
The topic itself is far too involved to cover in a quick email, and the included video below does an excellent job of summarizing EF in brief. But, what you need to know is that EF is the way in which we’re able to hold onto information in our minds, delay gratification, take multiple points of view, and work toward completing goals.
More specifically, researchers divide EF into the following categories:
Cognitive Flexibility - The ability to move from one idea to the next and to adapt to changes in goals or perspectives.
Working Memory - The ability to keep and utilize information over a short period of time.
Inhibitory Control - The ability to ignore a distraction and control both impulsive and learned responses.
Why did I choose this topic?
We’re coving this topic for two reasons. First, it’s been requested by some administrators, and I always like to know the real needs that are out there. Second, I’ve long been passionate about EF. There are no silver bullets in education, but if there were, EF would probably be the most likely candidate.
More specifically, inhibitory control is so closely correlated with student success later in life that it deserves significant focus. I hope to dive deeper into this specific aspect of EF in future MMP emails.
How to use this content:
I typically shoot to include content and activities that are about 25 minutes in total length. This is a dense enough topic that it requires a little more time. The video itself is over 13 minutes long, and the discussion protocol will take some time, but I think it’ll be worth it.
Follow the directions below to download the PowerPoint and discussion protocols and to view the video.