Monthly Meeting Prep - June
Hello, friends!
Welcome to the LAST Monthly Meeting Prep of the year. (Don’t worry, we’ve got more resources coming this summer and next year.) These monthly emails remain our most read and used resources. And to celebrate the end of the year, you get this edition for free. (You can get immediate access to all of our emails from this year by becoming a paid subscriber now!)
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 …
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June Monthly Meeting Prep
Topic: Executive Function - Increasing Working Memory (WM) Capacity
This is the fifth month that we’ve been covering Executive Function (EF) and we are finally landing the plane! That’s right, after today, you’ll have a fairly comprehensive roadmap for covering EF with your staff, including a deeper dive into the three subskills of EF - inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory.
Now, as I’ve said many times, Executive Function is about as close as we get to the secret sauce that can cure all sorts of ailments. But it’s not sleight-of-hand. Rather, EF is made up of well-researched skills that all students need in order to succeed.
Need a refresher on the ground we’ve already covered? Check out our previous posts:
February - What is EF and why is it important?
March - The behavioral milestones of EF
June (today!) - EF Subskill #3: Increasing Working Memory Capacity
Since we’ve already talked at length about inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, we’ll jump right into this month’s topic: working memory.
But first, a quick note …
Disclaimer: I’ve said this each month and I’ll reiterate it one final time. I am not a neurobiologist. I don’t claim to be an expert in this domain. However, I’ve had an ongoing curiosity about CF (and EF in general) for years and have written about it and spoken about it at length. With that said, the research in this field is evolving. As you’re used to hearing, some recent research suggests that many interventions aren’t always effective as they’re made out to be. Such is our ongoing plight in trying to help students in real-time with no guarantees of efficacy.
I’ve done no controlled trials, but I’ll make some suggestions here, and I believe they’re good ones. As always, you know your school, students, and community best. Edit as needed to meet your needs.
Overview: Much like inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, working memory is a critical skill to both student and adult success. Why is it so important? Put simply, working memory is the ability to keep and utilize information over a short period of time. An example from the classroom might be solving a multi-step math problem. An everyday example might be getting ready for work in the morning.
Working Memory - The ability to keep and utilize information over a short period of time
Remembering all of the little details to complete a task from beginning to end is something that most adults take for granted. Most teachers are quite familiar with the signs of underdeveloped working memory, though they may not attribute it to this source. Students in this category often lose materials or assignments, mix up multi-step procedures, get sidetracked when working toward a goal, or have a hard time coming up with support for their arguments.
A common example I like to use to highlight the extent to which we take WM for granted is to consider a common classroom scenario. A third-grade student raises her hand in response to a teacher’s question. Consider the myriad details she must keep in her working memory. She must:
Resist the urge to blurt out the answer
Self-initiate raising her hand
Keep the rules in working memory to continue to resist blurting out WHILE other students answer (this is more difficult than we remember)
Remember that, if she does blurt out, there may be negative consequences
Be willing to calmly move on, even if never called upon (again, so much harder than we sometimes realize)
We often forget how difficult some of these tasks are for young students. As adults, we’ve had the practice in so many social situations that we aren’t required to employ as much working memory. Our students must tax their systems much more. This simple example underscores the importance of understanding how to support students as they develop this skill in our classrooms.
What’s the goal of this month’s MMP?
With this material, you should be able to provide your staff with a good definition of working memory. You’ll also review a short video that relates to WM and do some group brainstorming about how to use WM-building strategies in the classroom (printable PDF provided). As always, the goal is to provide you with the resources necessary to empower your teachers right away.
And if you really want to have a power-packed PD session and have not covered the previous months’ content linked above, consider a deep dive into all of the three executive function subskills. Your staff will not be disappointed.
How to use this content:
Below, I’ve linked a seven-minute video from Tracey Marks, MD on working memory. It’s a great video because it relates the struggles back to the daily lives of adults. Some of your own staff may see themselves in some of these common issues.
The video is also embedded in the provided PowerPoint and the group task is outlined in the PowerPoint as well. Your teachers will complete a PDF that serves as a brainstorming tool. Teachers will apply some of the strategies outlined in the video to situations that appear in their classrooms every day.
Additionally, a very good article is included for an extension activity. The article alone could work well for a 10-minute staff meeting resource. It’s very short and practical.
Step-by-Step Usage:
Show the video
Download this PowerPoint file
Print out this PDF (explained in PowerPoint)
Link to optional extension article “How to Help Kids With Working Memory Issues”
Peruse (including presenter notes)
Edit as needed
Present away
Resources for extensions:
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard: A Guide to Executive Function
Great site with tons of videos and resources. We’ll probably use some of this content as a basis for future MMP emails, but dive in now if you’re interested.
How to Help Kids With Working Memory
A brief and helpful summary of working memory along with some concrete recommendations that teachers can use right away. Not all suggestions may be relevant - like providing medication for students.
Get our full EF PowerPoint Module at 50% off!
Executive Function in the Classroom Full Module
If you’ve downloaded the Classroom Management modules I’ve provided to paid subscribers previously, you’re familiar with the size and type of content in our PowerPoint products. This is a module specifically on Executive Function. It’s packed with research (over 20 scholarly references), it’s editable, and it has activities for elementary and secondary classrooms. This isn’t meant to be a sales pitch, but you can purchase it here. Click on the link, add to cart, and click “checkout.” You’ll see a 50% discount! (Or use code MMPSummer).
Have a great week,
Mike