
Executive Function Strategies K through 3rd Grade Teachers Can Use Today
About this episode
Executive function strategies Kindergarten through 3rd grade teachers can implement today. Dr. Sarah Oberle shares science-backed ways to support working memory, inhibition, and focus in the classroom.
Dr. Sarah Oberle is a primary educator and cognitive science expert whose upcoming book, Executive Functions for Every K-3 Classroom, translates learning science into practical classroom strategies. In this episode, she breaks down the six executive functions developing in young children and explains why they matter more than content knowledge for student success.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The six executive functions and how they develop in K-3 students (core vs. higher-order)
- Why working memory is more limited than most teachers realize — and how to offload it with visual reminders, brief instruction bursts, and student-created notations
- How inhibition affects not just behavior but also attention and focus
- Why your classroom decor and seating arrangement may be taxing executive functions without you realizing it
- The science behind why music with lyrics creates a barrier to student focus
Show notes and resources: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e927
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