Jess Davis joins the Voices in Montessori podcast, hosted by Tamara Sheesley Balis, to discuss the need for explicit instruction on executive functioning for Elementary and Adolescent students in order to set them up for success.

Executive functioning skills are cognitive (thinking) skills that support the processes needed to thrive in all areas of life- socially, physically, and academically. They help us plan, organize, and complete the tasks for basic needs and self-actualization. They help us control our emotions (vs. be controlled by them), actively engage in activities, make good decisions, and complete tasks.

Without strong EF skills, students will struggle to attend to lessons, follow directions, keep track of materials, retain content, and complete tasks. In addition, low EF can mimic a lack of motivation, comprehension, or memory and can be misinterpreted as intentional misbehavior or refusal.

If these challenges sound familiar when thinking of certain students in your classroom, you are not alone. In recent years, executive functioning skills have been an increasing concern for classroom teachers. Jess walks us through what to look for in the classroom, how to address EF deficits, and ways to work EF practice into daily routines. She explains the three categories of executive function, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control, and how these link to innumerable daily tasks. This is a great introduction to Executive Function and systematic ways to support the children in our care who need extra EF support.