BRIGHT BRAINS, BRIGHT FUTURES
Teacher Workshops
Our Bright Brains teacher workshops on executive function skills in the classroom focus on helping educators learn how to promote and develop these skills in their students. Executive function skills refer to a set of cognitive abilities that are essential for success in academic, social, and personal settings. These skills include working memory, attention, self-regulation, planning, organization, and problem-solving. Executive function deficits are not only relevant to students with diagnosed executive dysfunction. Students across grade levels, content areas and programs struggle with these abilities.
As teachers, you likely see several behaviors in a classroom that may be evidence of executive function dysfunction in students throughout the day. These may include: 1) Difficulty paying attention; 2) Poor planning and organization; 3) Impulsive behavior; 4) Poor working memory; and/or 5) Difficulty with problem-solving
If these behaviors are consistently present among students in your classroom, it is likely that they interfere with students' academic or social successes.
Research shows that executive function skills are critical for academic achievement and overall success in life. According to a report by the National Academy of Sciences, these skills are better predictors of academic achievement than IQ scores. Additionally, students who have strong executive function skills are more likely to succeed in school, have better health outcomes, and make positive life choices.
During our workshops, teachers will learn how to incorporate executive function skill-building activities into their daily classroom routines. They will explore a variety of evidence-based strategies and techniques that can help students develop these essential skills.
For example, some activities that teachers may learn during the workshop include:
1) Visual Schedules: helps students with planning and organization; students can use a visual schedule to map out their daily routines, assign tasks to specific times, and track their progress throughout the day.
2) Memory Games: develop their working memory skills; for example, students can play a game where they try to remember a sequence of numbers or letters.
Each participant will receive course materials and resources to take back to their classroom. These materials will help teachers integrate executive function skill-building activities into their daily lesson plans and provide ongoing support for their students' development.
Did we mention there will be prizes? Lucky winners in each session will receive Bright Brains merch and/or additional curriculum resources.
Space is limited! Sign up for our Executive Function Skills Workshops today and join the movement to empower your students with the tools they need to reach their full potential. Trust us, your future self (and your students) will thank you!
Executive Function Workshops
Throughout the year, Bright Brains offers a variety of workshops related to executive function skills for teachers. Explore below!
Throughout the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to engage in interactive activities and discussions, share their own experiences and insights, and leave with a toolbox of practical strategies and resources to support executive function development in their classrooms.
The cost of each 3-hour long workshop is $150. This includes access to the workshop presentation slides, as well as sample curricular materials (i.e. - workbook, lessons, activities, and/or task cards).
Don't miss out on our upcoming teacher workshops on executive function skills - subscribe to our email list to stay informed about dates, times, and registration details!
Executive Function Workshop Series
This 4-part workshop series is only offered twice through the year - once over the summer and once throughout the school year. It is designed for middle school and high school educators who want to improve their ability to support the development of executive function skills in their students. Each session will focus on two specific executive function skills, providing participants with the opportunity to learn evidence-based strategies and techniques for promoting these skills in the classroom.
Session 1: Working Memory and Attention (3 hours)
In this session, participants will learn how to promote working memory and attention skills in their students. They will explore strategies for improving working memory, such as mnemonic devices and chunking, as well as techniques for enhancing attention, such as mindfulness and self-monitoring.
Session 2: Self-Regulation and Planning (3 hours)
This session will focus on self-regulation and planning skills. Participants will learn how to help students develop self-regulation skills, such as emotional regulation and impulse control, as well as techniques for promoting planning and organization, such as visual schedules and goal-setting.
Session 3: Organization and Time Management (3 hours)
The third session will explore strategies for promoting organization and time management skills in students. Participants will learn techniques for improving organization, such as creating systems for managing materials and assignments, as well as methods for improving time management, such as prioritization and time-blocking.
Session 4: Problem-Solving and Flexibility (3 hours)
The final session will focus on problem-solving and flexibility skills. Participants will learn how to help students develop problem-solving skills, such as brainstorming and analyzing multiple solutions, as well as techniques for improving flexibility, such as perspective-taking and cognitive flexibility.
Each session will include interactive activities and discussions, as well as opportunities for participants to share their own experiences and challenges. Participants will also receive curriculum materials to use in their classroom, including lesson plans, activities, and assessments.
The cost is $600 per participant for the entire 4-part workshop series. This fee includes all materials and resources provided during the workshop.
Our current workshop offerings are virtual, which allows us to reach a wider audience and provide convenient access to our professional development resources. However, we understand that some school districts may prefer in-person professional development for their teachers.
If your school district is interested in providing in-person professional development on executive function skills, we would be happy to work with you to customize a workshop or training program to meet your specific needs. Our team has experience providing in-person training and workshops to educators, and we can work with you to develop a program that addresses the unique challenges and opportunities in your school district.
Please contact us directly to discuss your needs and learn more about how we can support your professional development goals. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to support the growth and success of your teachers and students.
