Every Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) knows the importance of empowering students with executive functioning skills. But with the surge of digital distractions, it can be a challenge to capture and hold a middle schooler’s attention. We’re here to help! This blog will share a step-by-step guide for designing and implementing a middle school executive functioning lesson with easy, no-prep activities.
What is Executive Functioning?
First, let’s understand what executive functioning is. Executive functions are cognitive processes that help us regulate our behavior and manage tasks. They include skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. These abilities are crucial for academic success, especially for middle school students as they navigate more complex curricula and start to manage their work more independently.
Middle School Executive Functioning Lesson
By middle school, students are expected to be able to plan, prioritize, and organize their work, skills that fall under the umbrella of executive functioning. This age group is a perfect time to reinforce these skills, as students are more likely to understand the importance of them and are starting to manage their academic workloads independently.
A Practical Lesson Plan
Let’s dive into a simple, effective lesson plan that you can use to teach executive functioning skills.
Objective
By the end of this lesson, students will have a better understanding of executive functioning skills, and will be equipped with strategies to improve their planning, organization, and time-management abilities.
Materials Needed
- Sticky notes
- Pens
- Timer
Procedure
Introduction (5 minutes)
Start the class with a brief discussion about executive functioning. Ask students about the challenges they face when trying to complete tasks, manage time, and stay organized. Explain how executive functioning skills can help them overcome these challenges.
Activity: The Sticky Note Plan (20 minutes)
This is a no-prep activity that encourages students to plan their time effectively. Each student will need a set of sticky notes and a pen.
Ask students to think about a project they’re currently working on. They should break down the project into smaller tasks and write each task on a separate sticky note. Then, they should estimate how much time each task will take and write this on the note too. Finally, they should organize the notes in the order they plan to tackle the tasks.
This activity not only teaches students how to break down large tasks into manageable chunks, but also how to estimate the time required for each part.
Activity: Timer Challenge (15 minutes)
This activity will help students understand the importance of time management. Give each student a task to complete (such as writing a paragraph or solving a math problem), set a timer, and ask them to finish the task before the timer goes off.
Once the timer rings, discuss how they managed their time. This exercise will help them realize if they underestimate the time it takes to complete certain tasks, and will teach them to allocate their time more accurately in the future.
Conclusion (5 minutes)
Conclude the lesson by asking students to share their experiences and what they learned about their planning and time-management skills. Encourage them to apply these strategies in their everyday life.
Implementing Executive Functioning Strategies
To effectively incorporate executive functioning lessons into the middle school curriculum, consistency is key. Regular practice and reinforcement of these skills can help students build habits that will benefit them throughout their academic careers and beyond. Utilize this free worksheet for even more practice to help students stay organized!
Final Thoughts
With effective middle school executive functioning lessons, we can equip our students with the tools they need to succeed. By breaking down tasks, managing time effectively, and consistently practicing these skills, students can overcome challenges and thrive in their academic endeavors.
Sample Video
Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!
Related Blog Posts:
Free SEL Elementary Video Lesson to Teach Executive Functioning
