#93: Teachers as Executive Function Champions

In this episode of the Executive Function Brain Trainer podcast, hosts Dr. Erica Warren and Darius Namdaran focus on the vital role of teachers as champions of executive functioning. They share personal teaching experiences and discuss the significant challenges educators face, including political and parental pressures, and high rates of burnout. The episode explores practical strategies for integrating executive function skills into classroom teaching, emphasizing the importance of metacognition, explicit instruction, and facilitating different ways of processing information. Erica and Darius also highlight the use of technology and AI in helping students and educators manage workload efficiently. They conclude with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of teachers everywhere.

Links

• Gallup – Workers Reporting Highest Burnout https://news.gallup.com/poll/393500/workers-highest-burnout-rate.aspx 
• Devlin Peck – Teacher Burnout Statistics (NEA data) https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/teacher-burnout-statistics 
• NCES – Teacher Turnover Rates (2020–21) https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/slc/teacher-turnover 
• RAND – Teacher Turnover in Urban Districts (2025) https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA956-29.html 
• North Carolina Department of Public Instruction – 2023–24 Attritionhttps://www.dpi.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/04/02/teacher-attrition-declined-2023-24-school-year-still-higher-average-past-several-years 
• UMass Global – Teacher Turnover and Retention https://www.umassglobal.edu/blog-news/teacher-turnover 
• AIR – Teacher Turnover Brief (2024) https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/Teacher%20Turnover%20Brief.pdf 
• Devlin Peck – Teacher Shortage Statistics (EdWeek data) https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/teacher-shortage-statistics
• Shovel 20% off, use code: DRWARREN:  https://shovelapp.io/dig/108/   
• Notebook LM: https://notebooklm.google/ 
• Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/ 
• SPI and YPPI Assessments: https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=YPPI 
• E-Fun Cognitive Flexibility: Executive Function Workbook for Kids: https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/e-fun-cognitive-flexibility-executive-function-workbook-for-kids 
• E-Fun Inhibitory Control: Executive Function Workbook for Kids: https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/inhibitory-control-executive-function-workbook-for-kids 
• E-Fun Working Memory: Executive Function Workbook for Kids: https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/e-fun-working-memory-executive-function-workbook-for-kids

• Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠ 

• Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/pages/executive-functioning-resources ⁠⁠
• Executive Functioning Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
• How to Teach Executive Functions in Grades 1-6: ⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/how-to-teach-executive-functioning-to-elementary-and-middle-school-students-and-make-it-fun⁠⁠ 
• Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
• EF Coaching with Darius:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.ivvi.app/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
• EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

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• https://learningtolearn.biz/