EXECutive functioning skills and academic mentoring
why are executive functioning skills important in high school?
High School years play a key role in preparing students for University and life beyond school. Students may be engaged in rigorous academic programs, such as IBDP, AP or IGCSE/A Levels, and may need to prepare for external assessments.
High School students use executive functioning skills in the following ways:
- Plan and organize study or revision routines for their classes
- Plan and prioritize assignments, class work and assessments
- Create study timetables for future assessment or exam blocks
- Create connections between content in different subject areas in order to maximize understandings, as well as develop deeper knowledge and understandings
- Balancing school work, extra curriculars and life outside of school
- Identifying that different strategies for revision are needed for different subjects
- Identifying that different subjects will have different requirements for assessments or assignments
how do we help build executive functioning skills?
- Planning and Prioritizing: Guiding students in breaking down complex tasks or assignments, and helping them understand how to prioritize tasks and set goals.
- Time Management: Aiding students in efficiently allocating their time for schoolwork while balancing other extra-curricular commitments.
- Getting Started: Assisting students in initiating tasks they may not find enjoyable and helping them overcome the temptation to procrastinate.
- Self-monitoring: Teaching students to monitor their work for accuracy, and use rubrics or mark schemes to assess their performance, making adjustments as needed.
- Working memory: Teaching students strategies for keeping important information in mind while completing tasks or assignments.
- Staying Organized: Assisting students with organizing their thoughts and materials for assignments, and effectively handling digital files.
- Adaptability: Encouraging students to consider different perspectives from teachers and peers and brainstorm various solutions to problems.
- Metacognition: Encouraging students to reflect on their own learning processes and develop self-awareness to make future choices and set goals.
What is Academic Mentoring for the IBDP?
Academic mentoring for the IBDP focuses on building executive functioning skills and applying them to the curricular components of the Diploma Programme: core coursework including Internal Assessments, Extended Essay research, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action and Service Projects.
The DP places a high demand on self-directed learning, long-term planning, and time management, particularly when completing largely independent program components. Students also need to develop study skills for mastering and revising two years of content, in preparation for exams.
Academic mentoring for the DP may include:
- Developing two year plans for completion of course work and Diploma requirements
- Extended Essay - understanding the components of the research process, and planning and scheduling time for research, writing and revision
- CAS - understanding the requirements for CAS, planning experiences and projects that connect to their passions, and reflecting upon the impact of these experiences
- Exam preparation - identifying priorities for revision tailored to a student's strengths and needs, and planning a study schedule leading up to exam blocks
- Targeted support for Groups 3 and 4 subjects, including Biology, Environmental Systems and Societies, Geography, Health, Exercise and Sports Science
- A parent information session to assist parents in understanding the components of the Diploma Programme and enable them to support their children
Links to further resources
Links:
Executive Functioning - Centre on the Developing Child, Harvard University
Executive Functions - Child Mind Institute
Books:
The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens: Help for unprepared, late & scattered teens by Sharon A. Hansen
The Work-Smart Academic Planner: Write it down, get it done by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Smart But Scattered Teens: The “Executive Skills” program for helping teens reach their potential by Richard Guare and Peg Dawson