Session 1 Discussion: Exploring Executive Functions vs Organizational Strategies

Purpose:
Deepen understanding by reasoning through real examples and personal experiences. Use the Executive Function vs Organization Definitions Handout to support your ideas.

Discussion Guidelines

• Listen actively and take turns speaking.
• Reference specific definitions or examples from our handout and slides.
• Build on each other’s ideas respectfully.

Part 1: Small-Group Turn & Talk (3 minutes)

Prompt 1: Why do we categorize skills as executive functions or organizational strategies?
Follow-Up: How does this way of sorting help you when you plan or study?

Part 2: Scenario Exploration (4 minutes)

Read aloud: “Alex has a big science project due next week and feels overwhelmed.”

1. Which executive functions might Alex need right now?
2. Which organizational strategies could Alex use to manage the workload?
3. How could combining both skills and strategies set Alex up for success?

Part 3: Personal Reflection & Share (5 minutes)

1. Think of a time when you used an organizational tool (like a calendar) but didn’t plan your steps — or planned well but forgot to organize your materials.
2. What happened?
3. How could you improve next time by pairing an executive function skill with an organizational strategy?

Closing Whole-Class Share (5 minutes)

• Invite 2–3 volunteers to share one key insight or question that emerged.
• Discuss how these skills and strategies overlap in everyday tasks, such as cleaning your locker or preparing for a test.
   
   
  Be ready to explain why the overlap matters and how it can help you in real life!

Battle of the Brain Boosters

Objective:
Students will practice classifying and pairing executive functions with organizational strategies in a fun, fast-paced matching game to reinforce concepts from Session 1.

Time: 15 minutes

Players: Small groups of 3–4 students (2–3 teams per group)

Materials:

• Executive Function vs Organization Definitions Handout
• Brain Booster Cards (20 cards: 10 executive functions, 10 organizational strategies)
• Timer or stopwatch
• Table or desk space for laying out cards

Setup (5 minutes)

1. Before class, print and cut out the Brain Booster Cards. Each card shows either an executive function or an organizational strategy.
2. In each student group, shuffle all 20 cards and lay them face-down in a 4×5 grid on the table.
3. Explain matching pairs ahead of time (e.g., “Planning ↔ To-Do Lists”; “Working Memory ↔ Structured Notes”).

How to Play

1. Choose a team to go first. That team flips over two cards: one at a time.
2. If the two cards form a valid pair (one executive function and its matching organizational strategy), the team:
   • Keeps the pair to score 1 point
   • Takes another turn immediately
3. If not a match, flip both cards face-down again and the next team takes a turn.
4. Continue play until all pairs are found or the timer (7 minutes) runs out.

Scoring and Winning

• Each matched pair = 1 point for the team.
• When time is up or all cards are claimed, count each team’s pairs.
• The team with the most points wins the “Brain Boosters Battle.”

Follow-Up Discussion (5 minutes)

• Ask teams to share any pair they found challenging and explain why they belong together.
• Prompt: “How does _____ (executive function) work with _____ (strategy) to boost your self-management?”
• Encourage students to reference the Executive Function vs Organization Definitions Handout to support their explanations.

Extension:
Challenge teams to create one new executive function ↔ organizational strategy pair of their own. Share with the class and discuss how it supports planning, focus, or task completion.

Session 2 Discussion: Reflecting on Application & Personal Planning

Purpose:
Solidify learning by sharing insights from real-life scenario work and peer-reviewing your weekly plans. Reference the Time Management Self-Check Worksheet and Personal Organization Plan Template as you discuss.

Discussion Guidelines

• Speak one at a time and listen actively.
• Use evidence from your worksheet or plan when giving feedback.
• Offer constructive suggestions and ask clarifying questions.

Part 1: Small-Group Share (4 minutes)

1. In your scenario group, each person picks one executive function ↔ organizational strategy pairing you discussed (e.g., Working Memory + Structured Notes).
2. Share:
   • Why did you choose this pair?
   • What benefit did you see in applying it to your scenario?
3. Group picks one pairing to report to the class.

Part 2: Peer Review of Personal Plans (6 minutes)

1. Pair up with a classmate and exchange your Personal Organization Plan Template.
2. Take turns reading each other’s plan aloud and ask:
   • Are the time estimates realistic?
   • Is each task broken into clear steps?
   • Which additional strategy might make your plan stronger?
3. Offer one specific suggestion and one positive commendation.

Part 3: Whole-Class Reflection (5 minutes)

• Invite 2–3 volunteers to share:
  1. One piece of feedback they received that will help improve their plan.
  2. Any anticipated challenge and how they’ll adjust (e.g., shortening tasks, adding reminders).
• Discuss as a class: “How can adjusting our plans in response to feedback boost our self-management?”

Use insights from this discussion to finalize your plan before practicing it this week!

Executive Function vs Organizational Strategies Handout

Definitions

Executive Functions are mental skills that help you manage yourself and your resources to achieve a goal. Common executive functions include:

• Planning and prioritizing tasks
• Remembering instructions and details (working memory)
• Controlling impulses and staying focused (inhibitory control)
• Shifting between tasks or ideas (cognitive flexibility)

Organizational Strategies are systems, tools, or methods you use to keep information and materials in order. Common strategies include:

• Using calendars, planners, and to-do lists
• Applying note-taking methods (e.g., Cornell notes)
• Organizing binders and folders (e.g., color-coding)
• Setting up reminders and checklists

Your Turn: Add More Examples

A. Executive Functions – List two additional mental skills you use or have heard of:

1. ________________________________________________________
   
   
   
2. ________________________________________________________
   
   
   

B. Organizational Strategies – List two additional tools or methods you use or have heard of:

1. ________________________________________________________
   
   
   
2. ________________________________________________________
   
   
   

Group Activity: Categorization Table

In your small group, think of other skills or strategies. Write each one below and then check the box under the correct category.

Use this handout to record your group’s examples and then post your sticky notes under the correct heading on the board.

Time Management Self-Check Worksheet

Purpose:
Use this worksheet to estimate and track how long each task in your scenario will take. Compare your estimates to the actual times to improve future planning.

Part 1: Scenario Task Timing

Part 2: Reflection on Your Estimates

1. Which task took longer than you estimated? Why do you think that happened?

1. Which task was shorter than your estimate? What helped you complete it faster?

1. How will you adjust your future plans based on these differences?

Use your responses to fine-tune the timing in your Personal Organization Plan Template and build more realistic schedules going forward.

Personal Organization Plan Template

Purpose:
Create a clear weekly plan by scheduling tasks, selecting strategies, and practicing executive function skills to boost your productivity and organization.

Part 1: Strategy & Skill Commitment

List 2–3 organizational strategies you will use this week and the executive function skill you’ll practice with each.

1. Strategy: __________________________________________
   Executive Function Skill: ____________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Strategy: __________________________________________
   Executive Function Skill: ____________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Strategy: __________________________________________
   Executive Function Skill: ____________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Weekly Schedule

Plan your tasks for each school day. Include the time, the strategy you’ll use, and the executive function skill you’ll practice. Check off tasks when done.

Part 3: Reflection & Adjustment

1. Which part of your plan looks most challenging, and what will you do to stay on track?

1. How will you check and adjust your plan midweek if a task takes longer than expected?

Use this template each week to build consistency and improve your self-management skills!