7.16 Executive Functioning Demands

7.16 Executive Functioning Demands

Author: Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi June 28, 2025 Duration: 1:09:19

What's really happening when students struggle to stay on task, complete assignments, or transition between activities? In this illuminating conversation with literacy experts Dr. Matt Strader and Dr. Douglas Fisher, Shannon and Mary delve into the complex world of executive functioning and its impact on classroom performance.  Executive functioning isn't just about behavior—it's about cognitive processes happening in the brain's prefrontal cortex. Both guests help us understand the crucial distinction between the neurological processes of executive functioning and the observable skills of self-regulation. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED DURING THE EPISODE:


  1. McGraw-Hill Science of Literacy Library:
    A free resource hub containing blogs, videos, research reports, and more— designed to connect teachers with practical classroom resources and Professional Learning tips.
  2. Dr. Douglas Fisher's website
  3. Dr. Matt Strader on LinkedIn
  4. Executive Skills and Reading Comprehension:  A Guide for Educators by Kelly Cartwright and Nell Duke *Amazon affiliate link
  5. Center on the Developing Child from Harvard University
  6. Deborah Phillips-EF as the "air traffic control system"
  7. Lynn Meltzer- mountain versus trees (cognitive flexibility)
  8. Amy Berry- Teacher expectations on engagement
  9. Timothy Shanahan's blog from 2022 on Executive Functioning and Reading
  10. Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University):  EF- video
  11. Unmasking Autism by Devon Price *Amazon affiliate link*
  12. FCRR: Alphabet Arc
  13. Promoting Executive Functioning in the Classroom by  Lynn Meltzer   *Amazon affiliate link*
  14. Cognitive Challenges  article by Stephen Chew and William Cerbin
  15. Bandura-outcome expectations
  16. Understood.org:  What is neurodiversity?

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In the Reading Teachers Lounge, hosts Shannon Betts and Mary Saghafi pull up a chair for a conversation that feels both deeply professional and warmly familiar. These two elementary reading teachers and Atlanta neighbors discovered a shared, fervent passion for literacy over a local dinner, realizing they were kindred spirits in their mission. That initial chat never really ended, and now it forms the heart of this podcast. Each episode invites you into their ongoing dialogue, where practical classroom strategies, reflections on what works, and thoughtful discussions about reaching every single learner are all on the table. It’s a space designed for fellow educators, dedicated parents, and anyone invested in how children learn to read, offering tangible ideas rather than abstract theory. The tone is collaborative and grounded in real classroom experiences, reflecting a joint belief that literacy is foundational. By tuning in, you gain access to their collective experience and earnest curiosity, all focused on the complex, rewarding world of teaching reading. This isn't about performance; it's about sharing a genuine professional conversation from their lounge to yours, making the Reading Teachers Lounge a unique podcast for those who live and breathe language education.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 129

Reading Teachers Lounge
Podcast Episodes
Mindfulness About Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
Shannon and Mary discuss the concept of metacognition - thinking about the way you think. We discuss tips about how to teach your students how to evaluate their performances, learning, and reading. Resource Links:NOTE: A…
All About Consonants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Consonants deserve their own episode! We can't let vowels steal all the glory. Learn about the building blocks of language: vowels/consonants, blends, digraphs. Learn more about how we teach our students about consonants…
Let's Talk About Phonemic Awareness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
Mary and Shannon sort out the complex terms that are related to phonological processing. What is the difference between phonological awareness and phoneme awareness? We discuss how we teach these skills and provide resou…
A Conversation about ZPD and Rigor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
Shannon and Mary discuss how to determine "just right activities" for their students by working within the ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development) and how analyzing your students' scores can lead to developing rigorous activi…
B and D Reversals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:33
Shannon and Mary have a conversation about reversals of letters and numbers. Many parents and teachers are concerned about reversals, but the truth is that all reversals do need to be explicitly taught. Some children wil…
The Big Secret: Recognizing a Struggling Reader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:48
Shannon and Mary talk about coping behaviors that struggling readers use to hide the "big secret" that they can't read. They share details about students' actions that teachers can look for in the classroom to gather mor…
A Conversation About Dyslexia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:02
Mary and Shannon discuss Dyslexia. There are a lot of misconceptions that are due to lack of training. Many teachers are somewhat familiar with dyslexia and may even say that they have previously taught students with dys…
All About Sight Words [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:23
Are you teaching sight words in your classroom? Parents, are you supporting your child's practice in learning sight words? It's important to have a large bag of tricks. Listen as Shannon and Mary discuss many different i…
All About Syllables [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
Shannon and Mary discuss the final pattern of the six syllable types: 'consonant+le'. Listen and join the conversation as they review CLOVER (closed, consonant + le, open, vowel teams, magic-e, and r-control syllable typ…
All About Vowel Teams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:28
Vowel teams are combinations of vowels (two or more) that make one sound. When students begin learning about vowel teams they have to demonstrate an understanding of sound symbol relationship where multiple vowel teams r…