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A "Menu" of Ideas: Help Yourself!
The following information was compiled from a number of
sources, but generally falls into the category of Executive Functioning.
Simply put, Executive Functioning is the way we understand our learning
needs and how we go about accomplishing what needs to be done. The executive
system in our brains helps us to:
•
Formulate goals
•
Plan how to reach these goals
•
Carry out our plans
•
Revise our plans, if needed
During a typical school day, students need to engage their executive system
quite a bit in order to stay organized and manage their responsibilities. At
home, they need to use these skills each time they tackle a homework
assignment, prepare to begin a project, or study for a test.
Helpful tips for developing study skills:
Tip #1—The brain loves emotional experiences. In fact, it
releases “chemical cocktails” with every positive experience to ensure that
you’ll remember it. A memory associated with emotionally charged information
gets seared into the brain. Build memories!
Tip #2—The brain needs to feel safe to learn at its best. Provide a safe
classroom—emotionally, physically, and intellectually. The brain’s goal is
survival. It functions most effectively in an environment where it is
challenged, yet safe.
Tip #3—Positive rituals provide an important sense of predictability and
create opportunities for emotional “state” management. The brain is
hard-wired for expected, experienced situations. If those experiences do not
occur during specific windows of opportunity, then those “wires” never get
pruned. By organizing information and experiences for students in ways that
best suit the brain’s natural operational principles, we feed the brain and
increase the opportunities for learning to occur.
Make schoolwork a priority in your home. The parent and teacher working as a team will lead to greater success in school for your child.
