Executive Function (EF) coaching can be useful in a variety of environments, including the classroom. By bringing EF coaching to the educators in your school, you can help improve the lives of students and teachers alike. Though teaching is rewarding, it can also be demanding. Teachers bear a lot of responsibilities, from teaching classes to structuring coursework and grading assignments. The pressure of all these responsibilities can lead to stress and anxiety.
Reducing the stress on the teachers at your school can have many benefits. Teachers who are less stressed may be more productive and more likely to stay at the school. If you want to reduce teacher stress and improve performance, Executive Function coaching can be an excellent choice. You may also benefit from utilizing an Executive Function toolkit for educators.
How teachers can benefit from Executive Function coaching
Still not sure how teachers might benefit from Executive Function coaching? Learning more about some of the goals of EF coaching can show why it’s so beneficial for teachers. Potential benefits include:
- Stress reduction — Stress is often rooted in a feeling of being overwhelmed. EF coaching can provide your teachers with the tools and support they need to navigate difficult situations. This can help reduce the stress your teachers experience, enabling them to be more comfortable and engaged in their work.
- Better time management — Teachers tend to have packed schedules. Teaching classes throughout the day takes a lot of time. In addition, teachers also need to plan lessons in advance, do grading, attend meetings, and more. If a teacher doesn’t manage their time very effectively, their work may pile up quickly, which can lead to missed deadlines, increased stress, and burnout. EF coaching can help your teachers improve their time management. The results of one study show that good time management enhances job performance, scholarly achievement, and well-being. Providing teachers with EF coaching doesn’t just improve their lives; it also improves the quality of education their students receive.
- Task prioritization — The range of tasks that need to be managed by teachers can make it hard to prioritize. A teacher who isn’t sure what to prioritize may lose their sense of direction and have trouble focusing on a specific task. EF coaching can help teachers arrange their priorities and focus on the most important tasks. Instead of losing time on less important tasks, a teacher with EF coaching can channel their energy into the responsibilities that matter most. When ranking priorities, EF coaches often recommend using an Eisenhower matrix. This is also called “Covey Quadrants.” To make your own Eisenhower matrix, draw a square divided into four quadrants. Above the left column, write “Urgent.” Above the right column, write “Not Urgent.” Then, write “Important” to the left of the top row and “Not Important” to the left of the bottom row. You should now have a helpful grid for sorting priorities. Tasks that are urgent and important fall into the top-left quadrant, tasks that are important but not urgent fall into the top right, and so on. By using an Eisenhower matrix, a teacher can determine which tasks are most important and urgent, enabling them to focus on those first.
- Class planning — A teacher who is more focused and less stressed will be more likely to have the capacity for effective class planning. Creating a strong lesson plan can sometimes be stressful and time-consuming. With EF coaching, however, your teachers can get the support they need to optimize this process. This can lead to stronger curriculums and better engagement with the students at your school.
- Goal setting — Teachers need to set goals for both themselves and their students. EF coaching can help your teachers build goals that are specific, measurable, and attainable. Having firm, clear goals can reduce stress on your teachers and make the classroom experience smoother for everyone involved.
Help your teachers with BrainTracks, a division of Beyond BookSmart
Every student and teacher has the ability to become the best version of themselves by improving their Executive Function skills, such as emotional regulation, organization, and time management. All of these skills can be taught, learned, and applied for success. They can contribute to an effective work routine that leads to greater professional and personal achievements.
At BrainTracks, a division of Beyond BookSmart, we help students and teachers improve these important, lifelong skills through our Executive Function coaching services. We also know that everyone has unique strengths and challenges. That’s why we customize our coaching sessions for each individual’s needs, learning differences, and emotional patterns.
Contact our team today for more information about BrainTracks or to schedule an inquiry call.