Can You Teach and Help Students Improve Their Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive functioning activities are essential for students because they help strengthen critical life skills such as planning, organization, time management, and self-regulation. These skills are often not explicitly taught in school but are fundamental to academic success. By engaging in these worksheets and activities, students can develop stronger habits for managing tasks, staying focused, and breaking down complex assignments into manageable steps. This is especially important during these formative years, as students are transitioning from more guided learning environments to being expected to manage their own workloads.

Moreover, executive functioning skills are linked to improvements in both academic and social-emotional development.

When students practice activities that target working memory, flexible thinking, and impulse control, they can handle challenges with more confidence and less frustration. These abilities also translate into better peer relationships and improved behavior, as students learn how to manage their emotions and respond to social cues effectively. As children develop these skills, they are better equipped to tackle increasingly complex academic tasks, such as writing essays, studying for tests, and participating in group projects.

Finally, executive functioning exercises can have long-term benefits by preparing students for high school and beyond. As they grow, the demands on their ability to multitask, prioritize, and adapt increase. Activities that nurture these skills early on ensure students are not only prepared for immediate academic tasks but are also building a foundation for success in future learning and life situations. By using these free resources, students can consistently improve their cognitive flexibility, self-monitoring, and overall academic performance.

For the complete resource, print each of the pages found here.

Social Skills and Character Traits Self Rating Scales

Discover the effective use of character trait checklists to nurture positive character development in 6th to 10th grades. These checklists empower both students and teachers to assess and enhance traits such as responsibility, respect, empathy, honesty, caring and more. With self-assessment, peer feedback, and goal-setting, these rating scales engage students in a reflective journey towards personal growth. Fostering a collaborative environment, our checklist not only measures character traits but also celebrates achievements, creating a holistic approach to character development. Promote a positive and supportive classroom culture that enhances students' overall well-being and social-emotional skills with these free activities.

All Checklists here.

Differentiated Learning = Groups

The buzzword for many years has been 'differentiated' approach in teaching and learning. Essentially that means meeting the needs of ALL learners. Not an easy task for any educator who has a classroom full of students of varying abilities. Regardless of the grade taught, there will usually be a range of ability that can span 5 or more years. Hence, in a typical 4th grade classroom, it won't be too unusual to have students reading many grades above and many grades below level. Hence, we differentiate. This starts with the teacher working with smaller groups of students while the others work on related activities.

How is it done? For those of you struggling with this notion, here are a few tips I learned over the years. The Sage on the stage approach rarely works. So teaching to everyone is not overly effective. But, to start teaching in small groups means that the rest of the students need to be engaged and the students need to follow your protocols or expectations regarding the noise level and routines you expect from them.

I can't say this enough, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. When you're working with a group of students, go over the routines and rules for your expectations. For those students you aren't currently working with:

• How does a student get help? 
• What does a student do when they are finished their work?
• What do they do if a pencil needs to be sharpened or they need something else?
• What do they do if they need to go to the washroom?
• What do they do if somebody else is bothering them?

Your students need to fully understand the answers to the above questions. These routines need to be practiced and fully understood for your groups to be successful. 

When you begin working with your small groups, make sure the rest of the class/groups have something they can work on to consolidate a skill. Keep your small group with you rather short initially to enable the other students to learn how to work independently or in their groups. You can increase the length of time slowly as the other students learn how to work independently.

Free Poster Here

I have a series of free classroom management tips that will help you over at worksheetplace.com

Over time, you will find that this is a great first step to differentiated learning. Each day, increase the amount of time you teach to small groups and always prepare the others with work that helps them to consolidate a skill. The others in the class who are working independently or with independent groups should NOT be working on a new skill. Save that for their small group learning time with you.

Be sure to use my 'Understanding Poster' to let students cue you in a quiet way. A great way to demonstrate understanding quickly!

Don't Let Your Classroom Rules Fall Apart

Classroom Management Issues? Learn from Seasoned Teachers:

Let's face it, teaching needs order and respect for it to be effective. This means that as teachers, you need to not only nurture each child but you need to be very crafty at setting your boundaries in order to create that respectful environment.

As often as possible you will want to recognize and reward appropriate behaviors. Punishments and negative consequences don't teach a child how to behave appropriately and often end up with a child that resents you or becomes angry. Writing out lines or giving any consequence that is repetitive in nature only serves to fuel negativity from the student. You'll find that behavior contracts, one to one talks and some removal of some privileges will be more productive.

Don't be general in your requests "Be cooperative" Be Respectful" Instead, use specific requests like "Don't shout out the answers" "Thanks for putting up your hand".   Your rules should be co-created with the students and they should not be ambiguous. The students need to clearly understand what the rules are. Keep your rules to a minimum or they will be too hard to remember. If the rules are broken, it's wise not to lecture a student, therefore, be sure to let your students know what the consequences are for not following through. Here are some great ideas about what to do when the rules do get broken.

To see more about rules and classroom management, you'll find a wealth of information here.

How to be An Organized Teacher

Free Organization Tips for Teachers

Being organized is everything and even more so for competent educators. If you have a process in place that all students know the routines for, you will have a well run classroom. Look at the list below, determine what your routines are and ask yourself if the students know them well. If not, it's time to develop and practice those routines until they are fully implemented.

• Students know what to do at every bell
•  Students know how to enter the classroom, where to put their belongings and what to do upon arriving
• Students know your expectations for transitions
• Students know what to do with all of their belongings
• Students know how to seek your attention and when it's appropriate or not
• Students know how to get required supplies and they know where everything goes
• Students know what your expectations are for all work
• Students know the procedures for sharpening pencils and washroom breaks
• Students know the procedures for turning in work
• Students know what to do when they're work is done and when their work is done early
• Students know how to obtain missed work when they have been absent
• Students know what to do for a drills (fire, incidents, emergencies etc.)
•  Students know routines for working in groups, whole class and alone




Free Teacher TIPS Here

• Students are aware of consequences for breaking rules

If you have a procedure in place for each of the above, you are an organized teacher!  For additional supports, check out the strategies here.

Student Voice

Student Voice Box

A Great Strategy To Give All of Your Students a Voice

I saw this in a classroom and was thrilled with how great of strategy it was. Great teachers always share, so please try this and share with colleagues.

Want your classroom to run smooth? Want your students to have better respect? Want to minimize the bullying and conflict? Do something different this year, give your students a voice by creating a voice box.

What you need: A cardboard box with an opening for submissions, placed conveniently near you.

Paper slips: I like to print and cut slips that have a heading at the top. (Some slips need the title Gripe, others need to be called Good Deed) You can determine the names for the slips, I've seen Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Cheers and Jeers, 1 Step Forward, 1 Step Back, Hits and Misses.

Now is the time to explain to your class that they have a voice. Each time they see something positive, they print it up on the slip and put it in the box. (For instance, I saw.........picking up litter that somebody else left.) If there is something negative, any student can put in the negative slip and it can be anomynous. (For instance, Thumbs down to a person who was teasing another student about wearing braces.)

Decide when you will have 'Student Voice' time. It should be for a few minutes each day or every other day. This is very important, you need to honor student voice and make it a regular happening. Read the notes and have a mini discussion. This also gives you an excellent strategy to focus on developing great character.

See more strategies for classroom management.

Have a great teaching tip to share? Please do!

Back To School Routines

Need Some Help With Classroom Management?

Want a great school year? Get a grip on your classroom management. Free tips and strategies right here at your fingertips.

You really only get one chance to make that first impression with your students. If you had one of those years last year where you said to yourself  'Next year will be different, I won't do that again', then be sure to learn from those mistakes.

Print the Checklist

I have some great tips and hints for you to excel at classroom management and discipline that have been used effectively by some of the most experienced educators. Learn from the best and you'll have a great year with your new students.

Tip of the week:  When your students are talking when you are, stop talking! Put the timer on. Each minute they take will need to be paid back. When the bell goes (hopefully you don't have supervision duty.) They pay back their time. By giving up a few minutes of your time, you will be teaching them that they don't speak when you are. If you begin raising their voice over them, you will be teaching them that it's okay to speak when you are. Some of our most effective teachers will tell you that this is a big no no. Learn from the best.

Have a great teaching week!

Get a Better Handle on Things for the New Year

Do you feel like your students are somewhat out of control? 

After the holiday season, is a great time to get things under control again.

First of all, make sure your students complete some goal setting worksheets.

Then, re-establish your rules and routines. It's better to stick with 3 rules.

Next: know your consequences and stick with 3 also. For instance: 1st offence = time out; 2nd offence = time out with a call home; 3rd offence = documentation to the office and a behavior contract.

Finally, remember, consistency is what the best teachers employ all the time.
Good luck!