Interventions for Executive Function Difficulties: Changing the Brain to Change Behaviour

Day Two: The Calgary Educators' Conference

Presented by George McCloskey, Ph.D.

Thursday, May 9, 2019  |  Calgary, ab

Date & Location

This course will help participants gain a deeper understanding of executive functions and how executive functions deficits impact the behaviour and academic production of children and adolescents. Participants will gain state-of-the-art knowledge of how to identify executive function strengths and weaknesses and the most effective ways to help children and adolescents improve their use of executive functions. Ways to discuss executive functions with children, parents and other school staff will be offered as well as ways to help motivate adolescents to ensure their full participation in efforts to help them. Special emphasis will be placed on how to orient students to intervention efforts and help them move from being externally controlled to internally self-regulated through the use of bridging strategies. Case study examples of assessment and intervention efforts and outcomes with children and adolescents will be discussed throughout the presentation. Participants will leave this workshop energized and with a renewed sense of purpose, a greater knowledge of how to improve executive functions, and a greater realization of how they can have a positive effect on the children, parents and professionals with whom they work.

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors/Psychologists, Learning Assistance/ Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers. All other professionals who support students including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers, Police Officers, and Early Childhood Educators.

Parents, Caregiver, Foster Parents, Grandparents, and Extended Family raising a child.

Agenda

• Executive functions: What they are and what they are not
• A comprehensive model of executive functions; executive functions development; executive functions and clinical diagnoses
• Internally commanded and externally demanded use of executive functions; motivation and executive functions; learning vs. producing: the nature of producing disabilities and how they are different from learning disabilities
• Orienting strategies: increasing awareness of difficulties and setting goals for intervention
• External control strategies for helping students improve functioning in school settings
• Bridging strategies for helping students transition from externally controlled to internally self-regulated
• Bridging strategies continued; strategies for strengthening internal self-regulation

Learning Objectives

1. Adequately describe a comprehensive model of executive functions
2. Explain how executive function difficulties are manifested in individuals diagnosed with various psychological disorders and/or enrolled in special education programs
3. Describe and apply strategies that use external control to help a student function more effectively in school settings
4. Describe and apply strategies that enable students to improve their use internally self-regulated capacities to improve their functioning in school settings
5. Describe and apply strategies that help students bridge the gap between being externally controlled and internally self-regulated
6. Identify and access sources of information about evidence-based programs that foster executive function development and/or remediate difficulties

Your Presenter

George McCloskey, Ph.D.

George McCloskey, Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of School Psychology Research in the Psychology Department of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and holds Diplomate status with the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He frequently presents at international and national meetings on cognitive and neuropsychological assessment and intervention topics. Dr. McCloskey is the lead author of the books Assessment and Intervention for Executive Function Difficulties and Essentials of Executive Functions Assessment and his most recent writing on interventions for executive function and executive skills difficulties appears in Chapter 10 of the book Essentials of Planning, Selecting, and Tailoring Interventions for Unique Learners. He also is the author of the McCloskey Executive Functions Scales (MEFS) that are currently in standardization

 

Testimonials

“Loved the workshop. George was very knowledgeable and inspiring. He kept my focus and attention the entire day. Packed full of hands on strategies. I would recommend to anyone working with people to find their goals”
– Toronto, ON | May 1, 2019

“Dr. McCloskey was incredibly knowledgeable and excellent instructor”
– Toronto, ON | May 1, 2019

Registration & Fees