NBPTS Standards- Proposition 4: Teachers Think Systematically About Their Practice and Learn From Experience

Artifact 4b: Executive Dysfunction

RATIONALE: Staying abreast of the latest trends and theories in education are important to how a teacher thinks, organizes and changes their practices. This research on executive functioning skills (EF skills) was a result from interest that was capitalized upon when a professional psychologist visited our school to do a presentation on how EF skills, or lack thereof, can affect a student in the classroom. This paper is the initial part of research for my own personal action research project through UNE. EF skills can also force a teacher to make decisions based upon their own judgement, with regards to situations. REFLECTION: Learning about EF skills has really made me think about the scaffolding I have in place in my classroom and changes that I am making to ensure that weak EF skills can be developed in students. EF skills are something that educators know about, how to improve them or whether or not they can be enhanced over time in the middle level is still being investigated. I nd it intriguing to be able to practice and explore ways to improve executive functioning skills. I have found over time that different students have different decits and strengths. The choices that I make on a daily basis with regards to EF skills are sometimes new and challenging for me to instill (new routines, organizational practices), and I assess them regularly to decide whether or not they are effective for particular individuals.