DIGGING DEEPER: CREATING A CLIMATE OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION

Build a classroom culture where planning, persistence, and leadership become daily habits.

Quick facts

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Format

Facilitated cohort plus self-paced modules

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Time

25 hours total

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Certificate

Yes

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Price

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Agency by Design:

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Agency by Design:

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Agency by Design:

Why this VLC

Executive function is not a sidebar skill. It is the engine behind conscious control, engagement, collaboration, empowerment, efficacy, and leadership. In this VLC, you will design routines and structures that make those life skills visible and teachable. Your facilitator will coach you as you target your moves, reflect on classroom evidence, and strengthen a culture where students plan, start, stick, and finish.

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Agency by Design:

replace tasks with authentic problems and give learners real decisions to make.

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Structures First:

time, resources, choice, and feedback systems that transfer responsibility to the learner.

Who it is for

Teachers and instructional coaches ready to embed EF into the fabric of class routines

Structures First:

School and district leaders seeking a shared culture of student responsibility

Executive Function for All:

Teams that want practical facilitation tools and structures that scale across classrooms

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Evidence of Learning:

use student work to guide the next move, not just to record a grade.

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Human and Tech Together:

tools serve the design, not the other way around.

Professional Learning That Puts Learners in Charge

Great teaching is design. Our Professional Learning Experiences help teams create learner-active environments where people own the work, build executive function, and solve authentic problems.

What you will gain

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Replace tasks with purpose-driven problems

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Build structures for choice, time, and resources learners can manage

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Coach executive function skills that drive results

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Use evidence of learning to adjust in real time

What you will be able to do

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Name and design for the six life-skill levels: conscious control, engagement, collaboration, empowerment, efficacy, leadership

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Identify activities and structures that build executive function within daily lessons

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Target facilitation moves that strengthen planning, monitoring, and persistence

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Create routines that move responsibility from teacher to learner

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Use reflection protocols and quick checks to adjust supports and celebrate growth

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Design a classroom culture around developing students' executive function skills

Syllabus snapshot

  • THE SIX LIFE-SKILL LEVELS

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    Takeaway: Understand how conscious control, engagement, collaboration, empowerment, efficacy, and leadership depend on executive function.

  • ACTIVITIES AND STRUCTURES THAT BUILD EF

    Group of people working on laptops around a table with holographic icons floating above them.

    Takeaway: Identify routines and class structures that strengthen EF inside daily instruction.

  • FACILITATION THAT TARGETS EF GROWTH

    Group of six people outdoors, conversing, holding papers and tablets near a tree and building.

    Takeaway: Plan teacher moves that build EF at each life-skill level and keep responsibility with learners.

  • DESIGN THE CLASSROOM CULTURE

    Laptop on desk with icons, beside a potted plant, near a window with sunlight.

    Takeaway: Create visible systems for planning, time, resources, and reflection that students can manage.

  • TOOLS FOR DAILY FACILITATION

    Person sitting at picnic table in forest, using laptop. Sunlight shines through trees.

    Takeaway: Develop question sets, cue cards, and quick-check tools that make EF teachable and trackable.

  • EVIDENCE AND ITERATION

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    Takeaway: Use reflection protocols and classroom evidence to refine your EF culture and celebrate growth.

Course materials and access

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Required text: Participants use Building Executive Function: The Missing Link to Student Achievement  by Dr. Nancy Sulla. Please purchase the book in advance.

Included access: MyQPortal  access is included for all participants while enrolled in the VLC.

Evidence and impact

The EF culture tools gave us shared language for persistence and leadership. We saw growth across classes.
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Students began to plan their time and check their progress without prompts. Our work time became productive.
The EF culture tools gave us shared language for persistence and leadership. We saw growth across classes.
Students began to plan their time and check their progress without prompts. Our work time became productive.
Six colorful book covers by Nancy Sulla about classroom instruction and student taking charge

Related Resources

Six colorful book covers by Nancy Sulla about classroom instruction and student taking charge

Dr. Nancy Sulla Books

Unlock Educational Success with Dr. Sulla’s Books

Enter the Library
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MyQPortal

The Pathway to Student-Driven Learning!

Open MyQPortal

FAQs

  • HOW MUCH TIME WILL I NEED

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    Plan for 25 hours total including self-paced work and scheduled sessions.

  • CAN OUR TEAM ENROLL TOGETHER

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    Yes. Seat bundles are available. Price:

    VLC PRICE LINE

  • DO I GET A CERTIFICATE

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    Yes. You will receive a certificate noting contact hours and outcomes.

  • WILL THIS ALIGN TO OUR STANDARDS AND INITIATIVES

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    Yes. You will design routines and tools that fit your curriculum, schedule, and goals.

  • DO I NEED THE BOOK

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    Yes. Building Executive Function: The Missing Link to Student Achievement is a required resource for this VLC.

Ready to Build a Culture of Executive Function

PO accepted. Seat bundles available.