logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
23m 21s

#324 - 5 Tools to Improve Executive Func...

Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC & Jessica Hill, COTA/L
About this episode

Shop the Harkla Back to School Sale - Save 15% on physical products and save 20% on digital products through September 8, 2024 

https://harkla.co/pages/back-to-school

Executive function skills are the higher level cognitive skills that are required for every day tasks. These skills begin to develop in toddlerhood and aren’t fully developed until a person is in their 20s! For students in the classroom, executive function skills are required for everything from social interactions, to navigating between classes, to turning homework in on time. In today’s episode, we’re giving you a breakdown on the importance of executive function skill development, how to teach these skills, and 5 tools and strategies to incorporate into the classroom to help students develop and improve their executive function skills. 

LINKS

Improving Focus and Behavior in the Classroom - Digital Course for Teachers, Therapists, and Professionals Working in the School Setting https://harkla.co/products/classroom-sensory-training

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form -

https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 

All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram 

Harkla YouTube Channel

Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!

Harkla Instagram

Executive Function Skills and More

7 Executive Function Strategies

The Zones of Regulation

Just Right Curriculum

The Alert Program

Free Visual Schedule Template

Up next
Yesterday
#381 - The Truth About the Moro & Fear Paralysis Reflexes: Why Progress Feels Stuck
“I’ve been doing the Moro and FPR exercises for three months but haven’t seen any positive results. Why?”This is a common question we hear from parents, therapists, and caregivers working on primitive reflex integration—especially with the Moro Reflex and Fear Paralysis Reflex (F ... Show More
18m 45s
Oct 1
#380 - 7 Everyday Signs Your Child’s Primitive Reflexes Aren’t Integrated
In this episode, we explore how to track progress beyond reflex testing by looking at functional, everyday signs of improvement. Reflex tests are important, but they don’t always tell the whole story. Sometimes a child may have several retained reflexes, but those reflexes don’t ... Show More
23m 50s
Sep 24
#379 - There’s No Right Way to Play: Supporting Autistic & Sensory-Seeking Kids
NEW Motor Skills Digital Course is LIVE! https://harkla.co/products/motor-skills-coursePlay is a child’s main occupation — it’s how they learn, grow, and develop critical skills like sequencing, executive functioning, and social interaction. But what happens when a child doesn’t ... Show More
15m 37s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
Ep 50: How to Plan & Prioritize for the Things You Want (and Need!) to Do
Long time no see! Welcome back to season 4 of Focus Forward AND our 50th episode of the podcast. We’re so happy you’re here with us as we begin the best season yet. Today’s episode topic was chosen based on research we’ve gathered about people interested in coaching. According to ... Show More
22m 58s
Dec 2024
63. 7 Game-Changing Time Management Strategies for Teachers
We know that as a teacher, time is one of your most valuable resources. That’s why, in this episode, we’re diving into practical strategies to help you reclaim your time so you can focus on what really matters: teaching and connecting with your students. From organisation hacks t ... Show More
20m 42s
Jul 2024
227. 5 Tips for a successful Start Teaching Special Needs Students [Getting Ready for BTS]
What can you do in the first few weeks of school to help create a more smoothly operating classroom for teaching special needs students? I often talk about the importance of implementing strategies and systems to ensure your classroom runs efficiently and implementing some very b ... Show More
20m 49s
Jun 2025
How to Teach Your Toddler Time Management
Does your toddler struggle with time management? They all do. In this episode, I share simple and effective tools and language tips to help teach your toddler time management skills. With practice, kids feel safe and confident because they know what's coming throughout the day.Te ... Show More
12m 42s
Aug 2024
Struggling with Focus, Productivity & Communication? Executive Function Training Might Be the Answer
Sign up for group coaching and feedback sessions 🎤 https://academy.explearning.co/plans/412279 Join our community 🤩 https://academy.explearning.co/plans/351413 Learn more about Explearning Academy ✨ https://academy.explearning.co Feeling overwhelmed, scattered, and unable to co ... Show More
8m 37s
Jul 3
RE-RELEASE Kindergarten Readiness - 3 Skills Teachers Really Want to See with Zeba McGibbon
Worried if your toddler is ready for preschool?I welcome Zeba McGibbons, teacher, curriculum creator, and children’s book author. In this episode, we discuss kindergarten readiness, and it's not actually about academic readiness like parents think, but rather social-emotional ski ... Show More
40m 36s
Jul 2024
224. Building the Classroom Culture [Getting Ready for BTS]
Continuing our five-part series on Building Effective Classroom Teams, this episode focuses on how you, as a team member, are responsible for establishing and nurturing the classroom culture with both the students and the staff. Your tone, your behavior, and your approach can mak ... Show More
14m 31s
Apr 2023
EP276 Finding flow: How to teach productivity strategies to students
We all want students to be self-directed in their learning and take initiative to figure things out for themselves. We want them to think critically and engage in the struggle of understanding so they come out on the other side truly owning their own learning, ideas, and beliefs. ... Show More
22m 17s
Dec 2024
531- How to Manage Executive Function and Working Memory Challenges: A Guide for Adults with ADHD
Executive functions are the skills that allow us to plan for and meet goals, manage time effectively, remember what we've heard and read, and exercise self-control. Peg Dawson, Ed.D., shares strategies you can use to improve your EFs and cement habits. Executive Functioning in Ad ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2025
Case Study & Examples of Language Skills: Prelinguistic Skill Delays
Back by popular demand, this week’s episode is a case study featuring a 24-month-old toddler named Noah. Noah has been receiving speech therapy services but isn’t showing the expected progress. We'll take a look at his prelinguistic skills—those foundational communication abiliti ... Show More
8m 29s