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ORDER YOUR COPY OF “Developing Executive Functioning in the Early Years”HERE
An evidence based approach to developing executive functions
Why do executive functions matter?
Executive functions are the cornerstone of cognition. They help us regulate our thoughts, emotions and actions and help us navigate our busy lives allowing us to plan, prioritise, resist the urge to give into needless temptations and help us to problem solve.
Did you know that…
- Under-developed executive functions severely disadvantage individuals from reaching their potential
- They are a better indicator of school readiness than early numeracy or literacy skills, or even an IQ score
- They support self-regulation
- We take them for granted - except when they are not there – they are too important to be left to chance!
- No one is born with them – only the capacity to develop them – and they are trainable
The SOWATT approach to developing critical executive functions is proactive, authentic, and sustainable. It offers a comprehensive framework to assess the environment, activities, and an individual's strengths, while also identifying areas for further growth and improvement.
approach?
Evidence-based
Holistic
Adaptable to different contexts
Easy to embed into daily practices
A lens for educators to review their practice and identify individual student’s strengths
What people are saying about SOWATT
Embracing the SOWATT approach every day with a diverse age group of children has empowered both myself and educators to provide a broader range of learning experiences. Utilising SOWATT in the kindergarten classroom, educators have found children more focused as they engage in exploration, inquiry and creativity. As a result, they are able to reach key developmental milestones in a timely manner.
Since our first PD, we have observed significant growth in the children’s executive functioning and self-regulation skills, progressing more rapidly than before. Our educators’ enhanced knowledge has led to more thoughtful interactions and intentional teaching, fostering greater curiosity and independence in the children. The latest SOWATT book, ‘Developing Executive Functioning in the Early Years’, is an invaluable resource. It is easy to read and understand and provides practical suggestions, games, programs, checklists, and proven strategies that we have incorporated into our teaching programs.
After attending a SOWATT professional development session, our early childhood teachers were inspired and motivated to learn more about executive functions of the brain. Whilst some of the teachers were familiar with the concept, Ros’ knowledge and insight into the topic helped create a deeper understanding of how executive functions support learning and development in children’s lives. The SOWATT framework was informative and easy to use as a tool for provocation and reflection. The delivery of the workshop was personable and provoked us to think deeper about our practice and pedagogy. We look forward to working with Ros in the future.
The SOWATT framework has been such a useful tool for me to think about when I am reflecting on my own practice and pedagogy. I often visit the SOWATT blog to read about the different focus areas and how Ros breaks it down through different experiences or thoughts that she has. I find that these blog posts help me understand each focus area better as she makes it accessible for everyone to understand.
The impact you have had on my teaching will remain forever.
Innovative Schools 2019
The Educator’s annual Innovative Schools awards highlights practices at the forefront of change and innovation in Australian education.
