With strong executive function skills, young children can plan, focus, self-regulate, organize, and problem-solve!
Children who do not develop strong executive function (EF) skills often struggle with learning, classroom routines, and relationships. But EF skills can be improved in early childhood, and this book guides teachers to support children's EF in ways that are developmentally appropriate and easily integrated into existing routines and play experiences.
Teachers will discover
As educators support children's development of these skills will the activities in this book, they help children build success in school and in life.
Autorentext
Carrie S. Cutler, EdD, is a clinical associate professor of elementary education at the University of Houston. A former elementary teacher, she has more than 20 years of experience preparing and supporting preservice and in-service elementary and early childhood educators through teaching, professional development, and curriculum work. Her scholarship and presentations focus on developmentally appropriate practice, executive function, and early childhood mathematics.
Dr. Cutler has received the University of Houston's Teaching Excellence and President's Circle awards and was named Teacher Educator of the Year by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. She earned her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston.
Jennifer J. Chen, EdD, earned her doctorate in human development and psychology from Harvard University. She is professor of early childhood education at Kean University in New Jersey. Ranked among the world's top 2 percent of scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier, Dr. Chen is a nationally and internationally respected scholar with more than 100 publications, including four books, co-edited volumes, and numerous peer-reviewed research articles. She is a co-editor of NAEYC's Casebook: Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8 (2023). Dr. Chen is also an award-winning researcher, scholar, mentor, and teacher educator. Honors include the 2025 and 2021 Kean Presidential Excellence Awards in Scholarship, the 2023 Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award from the NAECTE Foundation, the 2022 NJAECTE Distinguished Scholarship in ECTE/ECE Award, and the 2020 NAECTE Foundation Established Career Award for Research in Early Childhood Teacher Education.