Session Overview

7th Annual Executive Function Summer Summit

Session 2: Cognitive Flexibility and Resilience: Shifting to Overcome Academic and Life Stresses

Date: Thursday, July 28th, 2022, 11:00 AM -1:00 PM EST

Presented by: Lynn Meltzer, Ph.D. and Donna Kincaid, M.Ed.

Description: Cognitive flexibility is critically important for success in school and in life. When students are rigid and unable to shift, they become stressed and overwhelmed so that they give up instead of persevering. In contrast, when students learn to think flexibly, they can execute tasks more easily, persevere when tasks seem difficult, think outside the box, and consider different solutions. In this workshop, attendees will learn about the importance of cognitive flexibility and its critical role in school performance, growth mindsets, and emotional regulation in school and life. We will also discuss the connections between students’ cognitive flexibility and their self-concept, persistence, and resilience. Most importantly, we will focus on evidence-based strategies for promoting students’ cognitive flexibility and self-monitoring so that they learn to shift, think flexibly, and monitor their behaviors in academic and social situations.