Imagine the picture-perfect classroom. Children are engrossed in their learning, working independently or collaboratively, with the teacher assisting individuals and small groups of students. Two of the features of this classroom that influence students’ participation in learning are not readily apparent, but are embedded in the students themselves and the learning tasks they are working on: executive function and student agency.

Executive function is the ability to self-regulate, to plan, be on-task, follow instructions, work towards set goals, turn away from distractions and control impulses. If you have spent time in a classroom recently, you will know how important these skills are. Classrooms are busy places with many potential distractions, so children need to develop the dispositions to make the right behavioural choices to effectively engage in the learning. For some children, this will come quite naturally, for others, less so. Ideally, students develop the ability to focus and organise themselves so that their behaviour does not need to be continually managed by the teacher.

The second ingredient, student agency, is seen in the classroom when personalised learning opportunities allow students to have a level of autonomy and control over their learning. Student agency can be as simple as students having a choice about where they work in the learning environment or having options for learning activities. Students with effective executive function skills, who understand the purpose of what they are learning, and find the learning engaging, relevant and challenging, will be able to make, create and collaborate with others in their classroom community. Sounds perfect to me.

 
Mr John Dow
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL