Using Thinking Tools to Address Organizational Issues: Strategies from Learning the R.O.P.E.S. Presented By: Patty Schetter, MA Autism and Behavior Training Associates www.autismandbehavior.com 2011 CARS + Convention 1
Goals For This Training: 1. Explain Executive Dysfunction and how it is observed in children with various learning and neuro-biologocal disabilities 2. Provide a framework for addressing issues related to executive function that is user friendly 3. Illustrate how simple graphic organizers commonly used in education can be expanded to address many organizational issues for students with executive impairments
Think of Students You Work With Who Struggle With Being Organized…. • Common Deficient Skills
• Common Problematic Behaviors
Impaired Executive Functioning: an inability to engage in goal-directed, future-oriented behaviors including: planning, flexibility, organized search, self-monitoring, and use of working memory.
I direct all of the activities in the brain!
Problems With Working Memory Why did I come in here?
• Aspect of cognition which operates on data held in short-term memory • May be thought of as the RAM for working memory's CPU processes • Involved in the interim integration, processing, disposal, and retrieval of information and active monitoring or manipulation of information or behaviors
Shifting Attention • Allows us to redirect attention to aspects of the environment we want to focus on subsequently process
Say the Font Color
Green Blue Bird Red Yellow Cat
Black Dog Purple Pink Boy Red
What is GOOD Executive Functioning? • When all of the “Instruments” work well together • Each is: – In tune with others – Knows when and how to enter and exit – Can anticipate what is coming and adjust
• WELL ORGANIZED!
What is Responsible for Executive Dysfunction? Appears to be under-activation in the prefrontal cortex
Who Is Impacted by Impaired EF • • • •
ADD/ADHD Autism Spectrum Disorders Tourette’s Syndrome Other Learning Disabilities including Nonverbal Learning Disabilities • People experiencing PTSD • MANY learners that are not formally diagnosed….
Back to Your List…. • Common Deficient Skills
• Common Problematic Behaviors
We Know They Have These Differences‌.. Now What????
Types of Organization • Physical – Systems in the environment – How you organize space and materials
• Cerebral – Meta-cognitive systems – How you organize thoughts, experiences, memories, information – Required to develop physical organizational systems
EF Interventions Should Include: • Accommodations – Including physical organization systems and routines • Teaching and Reinforcing Compensatory Skills – Skill set required to make use of the accommodations and organizational systems • Remediation of Underlying “Executive” Skills – Learning to use cerebral organization strategies – Most Important = SELF ADVOCACY!
Accommodations for Executive Dysfunction • • • •
Schedules and calendars Checklists and to do lists Timers and visual reminders Homework and materials management systems • Structured and predictable environments and activities
Whole Class Schedules
Simple Written Schedule for an Older Student
School Day Schedule Done (7:50 - 8:00)
Ready for the day routine
(8:05 - 8:50)
Algebra
(8:55 - 9:40)
History
(9:45 - 10:30)
Tutorial/break
(10:35 - 11:20)
Biology
(11:25 - 12:05)
Lunch
(12:10 - 12:55)
English
(1:00 - 1:45)
Computer Science
(1:50 - 2:35)
P.E.
(2:35 - 2:45)
Ready to go home routine
(2:45)
Catch the bus
Reviewed By:
ABTA 2010
18
Icon Schedule with Mini-Schedule
Sample Homework Summary Page Subject
Assignment
Due
Materials
Math
Pgs 21-22 odd problems
Tues. Jan 22
Math book
Spelling
Study for test
Fri. Jan 25
Spelling list & flashcards
Fri. Feb 25
Card board, paper machet, red paint, brown paint
Science
Volcano Project for Science Fair
Sample “Action Plans” Task Specific
Routine Checklist
Feed the Dog Done
Night-tim e Routine Checklist
Go to pantry
Take off clothes
Take 1 scoop of food
Put in hamper
Take to dog dish
Shower
Put scoop of food in dish
Get nighttime routine box
Walk back to pantry
Brush teeth
Put scoop back in dog food bag
Put on P.J.s
Close pantry door
Set alarm clock
Reviewed By:
Reviewed By:
Done
Alarms and Timers Time-Timer Watch Minder
Technology • Application for scheduling, homework management, to do lists, etc….. • Ethan using his ITOUCH Video
Thinking Tools = Remediation • Three simple Graphic Organizers used to teach and remediate many organizational thinking issues • From Learning the R.O.P.E.S. for Improved Executive Functioning (Schetter, 2004) – Recalling - Organizing - Prioritizing -Evaluating - Self Management
1. Venn Diagram Used to teach student to make comparisons and draw from prior knowledge – Between people (interests, ideas, likes, dislikes, needs, etc). – Between activities (rules, procedures, amount of time needed, etc) – Between terms, vocabulary and language
Typical Use of Venn in Education: Compare-Contrast Two of the Main Characters Charlotte
Wilbur
Spider
Kind
Pig
Female
Helpful
Male
Wise
Friendly
Naive
Experienced
Faithful
Inexperienced
Thinking Tool: What Do We Have In Common? About Patty
About Ethan
Girl CSI Horses Scrabble
Boy Blue KFC Football
Andy Griffith Show Parrots Plunks Pond
Thinking Tool for “Guesstimating” Previous Activity
Researc hed playstation “Cheats Took 15 minutes per Cheat
New Activity
Used computer & search engine Had a specific topic to research Printed results to use later
Researching industry in the state of Idaho Guesstimate: take same amount of time 15 minutes per topic
Homophones Sale
Sail
Spelling: Sale
Spelling: Sail
Meaning: available for purchase, at a discount
Meaning: to boat, using wind to power
Sounds the same
Thinking Tool for Compromise
I want to play 2 square
We both want to play tether ball
I want to play wall ball
2. Cluster Used to teach student to see parts and how they fit into a whole – Breaking tasks down into parts – Identifying needed materials – Chunking similar information – Integrating new information with old – Breaking down complex conversation questions
Thinking Tool: Breaking it Down Make Bed
Mom Said: Clean My Room
Vacuum
Dust
Identify Needed Materials • After breaking a skill into “chunks” the student will need to identify materials for the task • Practice this skill using the cluster organizer • Once student has identified the needed materials, he should develop a materials list and use it to gather materials in advance (into a task box if appropriate)
Thinking Tool: ID Materials Make Bed
Mom Said: Clean My Room
Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum
Dust Mitt
Dust
Pledge
Materials Checklist Materials Needed Dust mitt Pledge Vacuum
ďƒź
Ordering Steps • Steps or “chunks” need to be put into a logical order • Ordering involves sequential thinking – Teach student to utilize a sequential organizer or checklist to complete the process of putting the steps in order – Then use the checklist as the “Action Plan” for completing the task
Putting Chunks in Sequential Order Physically moving the chunks into a logical order helps them understand sequencing‌
First: Make Bed
Second: Dust
Third: Vacuum
They have made their own checklist!!!
Break it Down…
How Can You Use Cluster to Chunk The Following: • An end of the school day routine?
• Information from text?
• Doing a state report?
• Getting in to college?
Visual Notes from Reading: Identifying Main Characters Wilbur
Main Characters Charlotte
Fern ABTA 2009
40
Extension: Attributes of Characters Friendly
Pig
Helpful
Wilbur
Naive
Spider
Experienced
Main Characters
Helpful Charlotte
Fern ABTA 2009
Wise41
Graphic Organizers: Visual Notes Template Did What:
Signed Declaration of Independence
ďƒ‚When:
1776 Topic: American Independence
ď ‹ Who: Where:
George Washington and founding fathers
Philadelphia
ABTA 2009
42
Highlighter Key • • • •
Yellow: Important people Green: Important dates Blue: Important Locations Orange: Important facts or statistics
ABTA 2009
43
3. Sequential Used to teach students the logical sequence or order of steps/chunks – Problem solving – Prediction – Inference and Perspective Taking – Goal Setting
We must correct problems with sequential thinking Everything happens to me‌‌ Actions
Situations
Outcomes
The Basic Thinking Tool Used For “Daily Pat On The Back” Situation: Teacher assigned list of 20 words Test was Scheduled for 1 week later.
Action:
I made flashcards and practiced them every night for 10 minutes.
Outcome:
I earned “A” on the test. Mom let me rent a video.
“What If” Prediction Action:
Teacher assigned list of 20 words Test was Scheduled for 1 week later.
I made flashcards and practiced them every night for 10 minutes.
I play Nintendo and watch my favorite TV show
Outcome:
I earned an “A”
Bad grade, no video or TV for week
“Thinking Tool� Incorporating Perspective Situation:
I was walking down the hall and saw you coming
Hello.
Action:
You looked up, but did not say a thing and walked away
Outcome:
He must be mad at me.
Walking down the hall and see someone you know
Look up and don’t say anything
Look up, smile and say “Hi”
He must be mad at me
He is such a nice boy
Thinking Tool: Problem Solving
Also Use for Problem Solving These Situations….. • Evaluating problematic behavior and coming up with an alternative • Flexibility in problem solving – looking at many options and choosing the best • Preparing for novel situation by drawing on prior experiences • AND MANY MORE!!!!!!!
With a lot of practice and guidance using Visual and Rehearsed strategies, look what starts to happen!!!
I get it!!!!
53
Goal Setting: I want to accomplish the following outcome:
Goal:
Then Begin Integrating “Action Plans” To achieve my desired outcome, I must: Action Plan: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Goal:
Goal Setting: Reading
Final Thoughts‌.. EF Skills are critical to address!
Hope alone will not Improve EF!
Many kids have EF impairments‌
The earlier the better! They are Life Skills which affect all domains!
Remediation is possible!
For More on Learning the R.O.P.E.S. for Improved Executive Functioning
Visit our Authors Table at the CARS + Conference to receive your discount !!!!! www.autismandbehavior.com pschetter@autismandbehavior.com
916-826-1915