Twenty-seven St. Paul Public elementary schools are blurring the lines between school work and play with a homegrown curriculum called “Discovering Our World.” Kids get around 90 minutes each day to play — or “actively learn” — at any of several stations stocked with blocks, modeling clay and art, or pretend cooking supplies. Stephanie Carlson,…
Executive Function Skills: Measure What Matters
Reflection Sciences’ Professional Development Team and Executive Function Experts have designed an early childhood session, “Executive Function Skills: Measure What Matters” that will be presented, live at Minnesota’s Metro ECSU on January 9, 2018. The session will address: What is Executive Function? Why should we measure it? What is the MEFS? How is the assessment…
Effects of Trauma on Well-being and Functioning
Reflection Sciences’ newest team member and Social Impact Ambassador, Seth Saeugling, is working with North Carolina area schools to research the effects of trauma, specifically the impact of adverse early childhood experiences (ACES), on student well-being and functioning. Saeugling is a learner and builder at heart. His mission is to advance the science and practice of…
Parent Newsletter – September 2017
We are happy to share our September Parent Newsletter! See it here: September 2017 Q3 v2.3
Primrose Schools National Survey Reveals Gaps in Skills Needed for Career Success
Research indicates skills needed should be nurtured in early childhood Entry-level employees are becoming less proficient in the skills most needed to succeed in today’s workplace, according to a recent national survey of human resources (HR) managers responsible for hiring. The survey, sponsored by leading early education provider Primrose Schools®, revealed skills like adaptability, teamwork and…
Mindfulness: Take a Moment and Breathe
Lie down, relax and take a deep breath. Feel the air, fill your lungs as you pay attention to what is happening in the moment, right now. Feel your toes, one by one, think about your feet and your legs, are they heavy, or light? Tired or rested? Move your way up, and think about…
How Executive Function Develops from Infancy into Adolescence
This video (link below) from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child explains how executive function develops from infancy into adolescence, and even adulthood. Experts in the field, including Reflection Sciences’ Co-founder, Dr. Phil Zelazo, talk about Executive Function skills, including working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive or mental flexibility. These skills allow for focusing,…
Father Influence on Cognition + Executive Function
Father influence on cognition + executive function is the topic researcher Alyssa Meuwissen, Ph.D., has explored over recent years. In both research and popular culture, moms have often been depicted as the “default” parent. However, demographic trends show that dads are becoming more involved in the care of young children. There is great variety in…
Civic Science to Improve Child Outcomes
Mind in the Making author Ellen Galinsky, the Bezos Family Foundation, and leading researchers on Executive Function (including our Co-founders!) make the case for citizens and scientists to work together to address our most challenging and science needs to improve child outcomes in the latest issue of Child Development. Contact us to request the article.
Parent Newsletter – June 2017
See our second Parent Newsletter of 2017, highlighting tips and activities for building executive function skills in your children: June 2017 Q2 v2.2.