From Rescue to Resilience: Executive Functioning for Academic Achievement

In this enlightening episode of "Educational Journeys," we sit down with Jed Applerouth, an expert in executive functioning and study skills, to discuss essential strategies for academic success. Jed shares valuable insights and practical advice for students and parents, emphasizing the importance of developing strong executive functioning skills to navigate the demands of school and beyond. 

Key Takeaways:

• The Role of Executive Functioning: Jed explains what executive functioning is and why it is critical for a student's success. He highlights how students can assess and improve their executive functioning skills to enhance their academic performance.
• Avoiding Rescue Culture: Jed warns against rescuing students too often, saying, "Every time we rescue, we are weakening our kids." He emphasizes that rescuing students delays the pain of failure, pushing consequences down the road when repercussions are more serious.
• Effective Study Techniques: Research shows that breaking down tasks into smaller pieces is more effective. Jed shares that studying for 30 minutes over three days on a topic is more effective than cramming for 2.5 hours in one day.
• Debunking Multi-Tasking: Most people can't multi-task—only 2% of the population can actually do this. Jed explains that what people think of as multi-tasking is actually task-switching, which degrades attention and information retention.
• Managing Study Environments: Forget willpower when ignoring outside stimulus while studying; instead, manage your environment to eliminate distractions.
• Recommended Apps: Jed recommends several apps to help with executive functioning and study skills:
  1. Stay Focused
  2. Apple Screen Time
  3. Google Calendar
  4. Reminders and Alarms on the phone

However, the best system is the one you will use, whether paper or digital. The key is to find a system that plans ahead at least a week at a time, not just managing day to day.

Episode Highlights:

• Strategies to enhance executive functioning skills
• Foundational study skills every student should develop
• Creating effective study schedules and managing time
• Tips for maintaining organization in both physical and digital spaces
• The role of motivation and mindset in sustaining good study habits
• How parents and guardians can support their children
• Tools, apps, and resources to aid in improving executive functioning and study skills
• Common pitfalls to avoid in study habits and organization
• Effective communication with teachers for academic support
• The long-term benefits of strong executive functioning skills beyond school

Jed also shares inspiring success stories where improving executive functioning and study skills significantly impacted a student's academic journey.

For more resources provided by Applerouth Tutoring and to learn more about their services, visit Applerouth HERE.  Also - check out the free resources provided by Applerouth below:

• Applerouth's Executive Functioning Quiz
• Applerouth's Academic Success Guide

Tune in to gain invaluable insights and practical tips to help you or your child thrive academically!

Garrett Educational Consulting
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