Question

What is executive function and how does it influence student success in the classroom? Share two strategies that you will implement in your classroom to support students with executive function.

Answer 1

Education, in its wider sense means the all round development of a child. It is not confined in mere academic text books or some spoon fed notes. School is the place where the child learn to inter act and to mingle with others. It is the place he or she learns the humane qualities like caring and sharing. But to some children, it is very difficult to cope with this atmosphere, and they keep aloof from other students. They are not able to interact with their peer groups. Now, let's discuss what is executive function.

Children are of different types and  characters. Some are very smart while some are below average. Some students are very good at Math at the same time very poor in languages. Some children do all the works and duties in a well arranged manner, while some are lagging far behind. While we talk about Education we should consider each type of student. They may have learning disabilities, but a good teacher can change DISABILITY into POSSIBILITIES!!!

From school, children will gain social, emotional, physical and cognitive development needed in order to help them have a brighter future.  But children with learning disability may not be able to acquire this like other children do.Children who have this order may struggle to analyze, plan, and arrange things in day to day life. They may have trouble in controlling their emotions, short term memory issues, lacking multi task balancing etc.Executive Function "is the term used by neurologists to describe the brain process to drive our ability to focus, solve problems, organize ourselves, remember information, learn from mistakes, and manage impulses,all of which will help us learn efficiently and develop important social skills". Dr. Thomas Brown and Dr. Russel Barkley's research in this area have put forwarded a best example of a music conductor. If the music conductor does not perform and conduct his entire troop well, the result will be ugly. Likewise, if our brain's conductor is inactive, we also will lack every thing.

To support this executive functioning, IF I WERE A TEACHER, the first thing I would have done is that to prepare and keep a check list for each and every student and for the entire class. By this checklist, we can analyse, give and manage task as per the capacity of each student. Sure, it will be an upward graph!!

Secondly, I would use sketch pens or marker to mark in their texts which will draw the student's attention easily. With these markers we can mark important pictures and words for their immediate attention,

So bringing the disabled children to the limelight is the first and foremost duty of a good teacher. CHILDREN ARE "FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE"