Page 73 - UNIT 9 Getting Brain Fit_Neat

GOAL 2 BUILD EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS

Step 1 Strength Spotting: Start with Strengths (who wants to focus first on their difficulties?)

1a Use the Strength Cards (see separate flipbook) to recognize and build on strengths

Step 2 Teach & build Executive Function Skills through practice

Help children to know and understand the different Executive Function Skills – what does it
2a
mean to be flexible? What is Working Memory? What is Thinking Speed? What is attention?

Help children to understand Executive Function Skills from a strength-based perspective: using

2b our Animal Scales, help children to recognise the opposing strengths and when they are helpful
and less helpful.

Help children understand that all strengths are useful in some contexts and should not be
2c
quashed, but rather directed to be used in helpful ways.

2d Dopamine DOSES: Help children set mini ‘SMART’ goals for improving Executive Function Skills

2e Give children lots of opportunity for rehearsing their EF skill goals

2f Support children to build good habits and break old, unhelpful ones.

Step 3 Scaffold weaker skills

3a Try out different scaffolds and supports to help with EF Skill difficulty – which work best?

3b Plan a Pathway to Independence so the child is not reliant on the supports forever.