PEAK Exceptional Services is pleased to offer executive function training to children, teens and adults. This summer we are offering an intensive training for middle school students and invite you to join us.
What is Executive Function?
Executive functions of the brain are cognitive functions that activate, integrate, and control other functions of the mind. Think of the conductor of the orchestra. The conductor has to be able to get each musician of the orchestra to play together, in harmony, on beat to make beautiful music.
Students need the skills for the conductor in their brain to successfully bring together all of the pieces to complete tasks and achieve their goals. EF thinking skills “allow us to create a picture of a goal, a path to that goal, and the resources we need along with way.”
–Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, Dawson & Guare, 2010, pg. 2
Summer Boot Camp for Middle School Students
PEAK Exceptional Services is hosting a 3-day workshop at our Northglenn office this summer for middle school students to learn practical skills for school success. If your middle schooler struggles with any of the following, consider registering for the Executive Function Boot Camp to give them a jump start on the 2017-2018 school year. Signs of lagging executive function skills:
- Poor organization skills
- Trouble remembering to turn in homework
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Low motivation or follow through
- Trouble keeping track of belongings
- Frequently misplacing important items – papers, assignments, books
Dates and Details
Dates: July 25, 26, and 27, 2017 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 10:30am – noon each day.
Location: 11990 Grant St, Northglenn, CO 80233
Fee: $250 per student, $25 discount for second sibling in a family
In the Boot Camp, students will practice strategies for:
- Learning Style Preferences – Know yourself as a learner and how you enjoy learning best
- Motivation – Learn what motivates you and how to accomplish something even when you don’t want to
- STOP (Situational Awareness and Intelligence in the Classroom) – Learn how to “read” a situation using the STOP method to be successful in any situation
- Task Planning (Get Ready, Do, Done) – Learn this 3-step method of successful task completion
- Long Term Project Planning – Learn how to plan for success when you have weeks to complete a project
- Time Management (Time Robbers) – Learn how to manage time, hold time, and figure out what steals your time
- Organization – Learn how to manage materials and plan for success
*Parents will receive detailed handouts on the information covered in the executive function training each day. We will include a Parent Q & A time as part of the workshop (details to follow).
** Can’t make it to the summer boot camp? Or, do you have a high school or elementary student who could benefit from help with these skills? No problem – we offer executive function training year round for students (and adults) of all ages! Contact [email protected] for more information.
About the Facilitator
I am Elizabeth Morarie: a wife, a mother of 2 toddlers, and a passionate advocate for gifted students. I stumbled into teaching gifted students after attending Western State College to earn my degree in Secondary English Education and earning a Generalist endorsement in Special Education. I was pretty sure I would teach in a special education classroom after graduation; however, I began my career at a Gifted and Talented middle school in 2005. I knew right away that working with gifted students was where I needed to be.
I taught middle school literacy for 4 years, then moved to 4th grade, and became a Teacher Leader for my school. I then had the opportunity to become the Special Education teacher for a Gifted and Talented K-8 magnet school. Somewhere along the way I added an Elementary Education endorsement, attended Regis University to complete my ELA endorsement, and added a GT endorsement after working with gifted students for 12 years. After having my babies and wanting to work part-time, I am now the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Coordinator, 504 Coordinator, and ELA Teacher Leader. This is where I found my niche.
I am so passionate about supporting Gifted and Twice-Exceptional students to be successful in the classroom and beyond. It is my privilege to work with teachers, parents, and students to implement academic and behavior interventions for students to be successful. Learning is my passion and i truly enjoy educating students about Executive Functioning. I love to learn, share what I know, and share a lot of joy and laughter along the way.
Link to Executive Function Boot Camp Registration Form