A Lesson in Cognitive Flexibility

📖 Story Introduction:

In the early days of my coaching career, I worked with a student who was really struggling with disorganization. Wanting to help, I immediately suggested a binder system.

Are any of these scenarios familiar?

✏️ You’re a teacher. You’ve given your students a writing prompt. As you walk around, you notice one student staring at a blank page. They haven’t written a single word.

📚 You’re a coach or tutor. Your student has missing assignments, including a writing task. The teacher has left a note saying the student can still submit it. But when you ask your student about it, they shrug and say, I don’t even know where to start.

In our last newsletter, we explored what working memory is—our ability to take in information, manipulate it, and use it to complete a task. Now, let’s shift our focus to how this essential skill impacts students’ daily academic tasks—and, more importantly, how we can support them in strengthening it.

I just wrapped up a trip filled with working memory moments—but don’t worry, it wasn’t all work!

Sometimes, we just need nature. I traveled to San Francisco to present alongside Gretchen Wegner (of the Antiboring Learning Lab) at the California Consortium Independent Study, and it turned out to be the trip I didn’t know I needed.

Executive Function Coaching: A Specialized Skillset

While there can be overlap between the fields, Executive Function coaching requires a specialized skill set that builds upon the foundations of academic and ADHD coaching.

Many educators believe they understand executive functions. They may use terms like "working memory," "planning," and "organization" in their daily work with students. However, true comprehension of executive functions goes beyond surface-level definitions. It delves into the intricate workings of the brain, exploring the neural networks and cognitive processes that drive learning, behavior, and goal attainment.

Time management is a universal struggle, but it can be especially challenging for individuals with executive function difficulties. In this newsletter, we'll explore the crucial connection between executive functions and calendar use.