Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m just not creative,” or “Gosh, I wish I were better at math”? How about considering yourself to be either left-brained (analytical) or right-brained (creative)? It can be tempting to think of science and art as opposite ends of a spectrum, but evidence from neuroscience shows us that brain…
Mindfulness and Mental Health
As most educators and parents are seeing, this historic pandemic is having a large effect on children and students of all ages. The current pandemic has upended in-person education, disrupted our daily routines, and has isolated many of us from friends and family. A survey of 1000 students between the ages of 16 and 19,…
Embedding Executive Function into All Classrooms
For students to succeed academically, it takes more than simply knowing what to study—they need to have the ability to learn. This starts with students understanding Executive Function (EF), and the essential role it plays in achieving desired results—from aceing a test to winning an art contest. As teachers and parents, it’s our responsibility to…
Play Builds Serious Skills
Playtime is many things. It’s fun for children. It’s an escape for busy parents. But it’s much more than that. According to Dr. Stephanie M. Carlson, distinguished McKnight University Professor at the University of Minnesota, and Reflection Sciences co-founder, “Play is about as ‘blueprinted’ a behavior as you can have in terms of basic survival…
COVID-19, Student Trauma, and Executive Function
Everyday, we are bombarded with new information on and experiences with COVID-19. While we may be acutely aware of how the pandemic impacts us personally we may not know how the pandemic is impacting our children or students, or how to prevent possible long-term negative effects. It’s logical to presume that many children are experiencing…
Get Certified in Executive Function
Whether you know it or not, Executive Function (EF) is present in your classroom. From lining up for recess in elementary school to performing a lab experiment in high school, the brain’s air traffic control system is being fine-tuned at these moments. According to EF expert and co-founder of the Reflection Sciences, Dr. Stephanie Carlson,…
What is Executive Function?
Executive Function, or “EF”, is a distinct set of skills imperative to school readiness and academic success. Scientists refer to these skills as the biological foundation for adaptation and learning throughout life. They argue that strong working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control – the 3 components of EF – provide the basis upon which…
Why Savvy Teachers are Focused on Executive Function This Fall
Teachers are Being Asked to Do Even More This Fall If you’re brave enough to try Googling “going back to school this fall”, you’ll get over 2 BILLION results. And while there are countless predictions about how learning will be delivered amidst the pandemic, the only certainty is that teachers will bear much of the…
New Professional Development Courses from Reflection Sciences
After more than a year of planning and hard work, we are proud to announce our new line of Executive Function professional development courses for educators! These new online, mobile-friendly courses are the product of more than 50 years of collective teaching experience.
What Educators and Parents Need to Know About Childhood Trauma
“Trauma” has become a buzzword of sorts. You might have heard the term “trauma-informed education” or heard someone say that they feel “triggered”. These words and phrases have gained popularity, with some even suggesting that “trauma” was the mental health buzzword of 2018. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as, “an emotional response to a…